McIntosh quitting [Indiana] governor's race

Indianapolis Star ^ | September 4, 2003 | By Mary Beth Schneider

[68skylark]

Former U.S. Rep. David McIntosh is ending his campaign to win the governor's office.

McIntosh, who was the Republican choice to run for governor in 2000, is holding a news conference this afternoon at Indiana GOP headquarters in Downtown Indianapolis to announce he is getting out of the race.

[68skylark]

Does anyone know if we might have a shot at defeating Sen. Bayh in the next election? He's been okay on some foreign policy matters. But on domestic issues he's been pretty much right in lockstep with Ted Kennedy, Hilary Clinton, etc -- that's not right for Indiana.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Bayh is senator for life and will likely be on the ticket in 2008.

[comebacknewt]

Sadly, I see no shot at knocking off Bayh -- ever.

[opus86]

I'm glad to see that McIntosh is dropping out...More room for Mr. Daniels to take the nomination.

Regarding Bayh, he's probably got a job for life. Unfortunately he's portrayed himself as a conservative Democrat, and too many Hoosiers will vote for him without checking his record.

For awhile I thought Bayh was being groomed as a presidential candidate for 2008. But now I wonder how that will fly with the Clintonite democrats.

[68skylark]

Yeah, he's certainly been grooming himself for a shot at the top (President or VP). That may be our best shot to get rid of him as a Senator!

Whether he'll ever be acceptable to the left wing kooks in this country is something only they know.

[68skylark]

You know, a few of you people need to improve your attitude a little. (I mean that in a friendly way.) Lots of so-called unbeatable politicians end up getting beat. Maybe it will happen to Sen. Bayh. I know I'll donate and work for a good alternative candidate. And if others will do the same then good things can happen. We're the party of optimism, fer cryin' out loud, so cheer up a little!

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Does anyone know if we might have a shot at defeating Sen. Bayh in the next election?"

---

If nobody runs for the GOP, then no, we won't defeat Bayh. But if David McIntosh runs and runs hard, we can take down that phony "conservative." Only by comparing his record to that of Hillary Clinton or Barbara Boxer is Bayh a conservative. What's his ACU rating, somewhere in the 30s? If McIntosh points to Bayh's record, and takes advantage of the Bush coattails (and perhaps Daniels coattails as well), I think he can win. Remember, nobody thought that young Congressman Quayle could beat Old Man Bayh in 1980, yet he send that entrenched liberal packing thanks in part to the Reagan Landslide.

Does anybody else have an opinion on the odds of McIntosh defeating Bayh next year?

[Pubbie]

Would McCintosh want to run against Bayh?

I suppose he might be able to take down Baby Bayh, given the Bush Bounce, if he runs, but I doubt he's interested.

[68skylark]

Nobody thought that young Congressman Quayle could beat Old Man Bayh in 1980, yet he send that entrenched liberal packing.

That's a great example -- it's a real inspiration to do the same thing again.

[fieldmarshaldj]

One advantage for Bayh is that he's nowhere near as liberal as his father and he likes to have it said in the media that he's not part of the hard-left fringe in Washington. McIntosh is a good man, but barely registered a blip running against Bayh's heir apparent, Frank O'Bannon, in '00. His inability to garner much support for the Governor's race this time demonstrated how weak he is perceived to be. I doubt he'd do much better against Bayh. I'm still angry at Dan Coats for handing the seat over to Bayh on a silver platter. He could've fought for the seat instead of pulling a Paul Trible. Better to have fought a valiant contest and lost then to turn tail and run, and Dan Coats would've been the name we'd be considering to run for Governor. BTW, there is one person who could beat Bayh, or at least give him a tough run, and we all know who that is...

[Pubbie]

You think Qualye may come back to challenge Bayh?

[fieldmarshaldj]

I'm saying he could if he wanted. He's of no use in Arizona and had he never left for there on the late Pres. Nixon's advice, he would've taken the IN Governorship easily when Bayh left office in '96.

[Ann Archy]

Is that Andrews creep running for Gov. of Indiana? What a smirky little twerp.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Yup. Joe Andrew is expected to be the 'Rats nominee. He was not their first choice, that was Lt. Gov. Joe Kernan. Kernan knew that his party was probably going to lose this year and didn't want to go down with the ship.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"BTW, there is one person who could beat Bayh, or at least give him a tough run, and we all know who that is... "

---

If Vice President Quayle ran against Bayh, that would certainly make it a barnburner. The best thing about Quayle beating Bayh, of course, would be that it would pretty much finish Bayh's career in national politics, and he'd be a dangerous RAT presidential or VP candidate in 2008.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Not enough time for Quayle to move back and get himself reacquainted with his state (what on Earth is he doing these days, anyhow ?). I can tell you this from a liberal Democrat activist and former officeholder acquaintance of mine that Bayh will NEVER get their party nod for either President or VP. He's considered too Conservative (especially on abortion), and so it matters not a whit whether he wins or loses his upcoming reelection, his career in national politics is as far as it goes now (save perhaps a non-controversial Cabinet position, say, Transportation). Just goes to show you how truly far-left the grassroots of the 'Rats has moved. When they start losing election after election, they may wise up, and then that's when we need to worry.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"He's considered too Conservative (especially on abortion)"

---

Too conservative on *abortion*? Unde-freaking-lievable! Bayh is a hard-core pro-abort, by no means a pro-life Democrat. Sure, Bayh voted for the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban, but not before first voting for the phony "substitute" measure introduced by Dick Durbin that purported to ban all abortions in which the child has reached viability outside the womb, but which allowed exceptions when the mother's *health* is "at risk." Durbin's substitute amendment was similar to Greenwood's in the House, and had the same intent---creating a loophole large enough to drive a Mack Truck through it, since abortion doctors have stated they can ALWAYS claim childbirth has risks. So if Bayh is "too conservative on abortion" for the RAT primary voters, I can't wait to hear what they think of his views on issues on which he actually *is* a moderate (such as taxes).

Regardless of what your liberal acquaintance says, I am scared of a Bayh presidential candidacy in 2008, especially given the fact that it is a foregone conclusion that the RATs will nominate someone to the left of Dukakis in 2004 and lose in a landslide. Bayh is smart, attractive, articulate and experienced, will look all the more "moderate" to the media (remember how Clinton was viewed as a moderate in 1992 because he was no Mondale or Dukakis) and the RAT primary voters would not be stupid enough to nominate another Dean-type candidate that year (unless Hillary runs, in which case Bayh could well be her runningmate).

[fieldmarshaldj]

As long as any 'Rat supports even one iota of restrictions on abortion, they are considered DOA as Presidential material. They would support a candidate in favor of school vouchers (also a killer position, because it goes against teacher labor) before they'd support someone perceived as pro-life. Bayh is considered a "right-winger" and will NOT in any way be able to cinch the nomination. Even renouncing his stance against PBA wouldn't matter, since they'd use it against him (they used Gore's past pro-life stance against him in the primaries in both '88 and '00). I don't think we have much to fear from Bayh as long as this is the prevailing wisdom. The 'Rats may not nominate a hard-core leftist like Dean again in '08, but it'll be mighty close (if it's Hillary, there's no difference), and that also goes for the VP candidate (who will likely have to be a Southerner, I can't say whom at this point). I wouldn't worry too much about Bayh (same with Bob Graham, who has gone senile).

[Impy]

He only managed 42% against O'Bannon. I doubt he has a chance against Bayh but it would be nice to have someone viable run against him. His '98 opponent was a RINO who praised Clinton's tax hike.

[fieldmarshaldj]

That would be ex-Fort Wayne Mayor Paul Helmke. Not only a RINO but a major-league a$$hole. He tried to kneecap Rep. Mark Souder last year in the primary by encouraging 'Rat crossover, which fortunately failed.