Posted on 02/16/2005 9:57:44 AM PST by dead
Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.) is expected to announce next week that he will run for the Senate, seeking to replace Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) when he retires in 2006.
Ford’s office declined to comment on his senatorial plans, but three sources close to Ford said that he has decided to run and that an announcement will be made soon. One informed source said, “He will absolutely, 100 percent, run for the Senate. He wants that seat.”
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Ford will be traveling in the Middle East later this week, according to those sources, and is scheduled to be back in Tennessee, with some major appearances planned, on Feb. 25.
President Bush won Tennessee 57 to 43 percent, and Ford would face an uphill battle to win statewide. The fifth-term congressman, whose father held the same seat for 22 years, has recently seen his statewide prospects hindered by his family name. His uncle, state Sen. John Ford, is embroiled in a child payment scandal and recently testified in juvenile court that he keeps two homes and lives with two different women whose children he fathered. The scandal has received considerable attention in Tennessee and has dominated political conversation among Democrats speculating about Ford’s plans.
The source said business leaders in Memphis are lining up behind Ford and noted that the congressman is conservative on fiscal matters. Ford last year indicated support for Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-S.C.) Social Security reform bill.
While the odds are against Ford’s winning the seat, the source said Ford will raise a lot of money: “He will raise money from California to New York to Florida and everywhere in between.”
State Sen. Rosalind Kurita is the only other Democrat who has entered the race. Three Republicans have launched their campaigns, including former Rep. Ed Bryant, state Rep. Beth Harwell and Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker. Former Rep. Van Hilleary (R) is also considering jumping into the race.
Isn't this the guy with a closet full o' skeletons?
2nd generation corrupt politician, like Al Gore, except Harold is smart. If he wins, Hillary had best watch out in '08.
SO9
I think that's his uncle. Harold, I think, is clean. He's also marching to the WH. Watch this man.
If he's got an uphill battle to win, as this article says, why would the Dems risk running him? Why not "push him aside" in favor of another Democratic congresscritter like Jim Cooper or Lincoln Davis? (Granted, I don't want to give them advice, I'm just very curious)
Nooooooo!
From the picture it looks like he might be in the closet (I not sure if he has any skeletons with him though...)
Because he'll probably win and it really isn't an uphill battle. He's charismatic, he's popular, he has a huge donor pool, and he's conservative for a Democrat.
I'm not sure about him
But I believe his father as a record
Damn, Derek Jeter should stick to wearing pinstripes!
If he teams up with Hillary I might worry a bit.
Many a slip between the Senate and the White House - just ask John Kerry! And every other Senator who has run for the top job since 1960!
Skeletons yes, but he continues to be elected by people with even more skeletons than him.
Watch out?????? Are you kidding? You're looking at her Running Mate.
Maybe to make up for the railroad job they did to him so Nancy Botox Pelosi could be the Minority Leader
His uncle is as corrupt as the winter night is long. Harold Ford Sr. is no doubt just as corrupt as his brother, just smarter about it. Jr. has benefited from their corruption without having to personally get his hands dirty. Outside of Memphis, the Fords are not liked or trusted.
This is common knowledge in Memphis. I doubt he'll win a senate seat because he's FROM Memphis. Middle and east tenneseeans generally don't like Memphians.
Don't count on it. Tennessee is a Red State and getting redder.
Can Ford/Obama be far behind?
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