Posted on 07/11/2005 9:55:26 PM PDT by Crackingham
Indiana Senator Evan Bayh is keeping his options open when it comes to the 2008 presidential election. That's what he told people in New Hampshire Monday where he was, in part, raising money for democrats.
"People can spot a phony a mile away, that's the number one, number two, you really got to fight for those things you believe in," said Bayh.
Bayh is in his second term as senator of Indiana and he served two terms as governor. He was also on the short list of running mates for Al Gore in 2000. Now this darling of the democrats is looking at an '08 run for president.
"Not the speeches, not the votes, the results, so I've always tried to keep that perspective. I'm really more of a former governor than anything else," said Bayh.
The senator says he brings a practical approach to politics, dump the partisanship and get the job done. And on paper, Bayh is what many democrats want: experience, looks, and youth. He's also a democrat from a republican state. He wants to boost the economy and better protect the U.S. in a post 9/11 world.
" We're spending about five to six billion dollars a month in Iraq. Surely we can afford a bit more to secure our trains and bus terminals," said Bayh.
Monday in New Hampshire, Bayh toured the statehouse and sat down with Governor John Lynch for a private meeting. Then he met with house democratic leaders, who were impressed.
Bayh knows a thing or two about running for president. His father, Senator Birch Bayh lost to Jimmy Carter in a presidential run in 1976.
What a phony.
Bayh has a pedantic, cliched and soporific mind and style. He is going nowhere in his quixotic presidential quest. Of course, he is really running for VP. But he will run so poorly, and drop out so early, if he runs, that it just won't happen. That's what Torie's crystal ball reveals.
Bayh has been allowed to get away with casting himself as a moderate / conservative Dem. In reality he's as left as any of the others.
There's a small event between Bayh and the Presidency...called the Democratic Primary. This one should be more aggressive than the last. So, pass the popcorn, and wear goggles, there is going to be a lot of mudslinging while they eat their own.
It all depends on who the Republicans choose as well. A moderate Republican vs. a moderate Democrat will mean the winner will likely win with about 40% of the popular vote, as both the right and left would splinter off to third parties...
Thank God. That rules out a presidential position. Even he says he's not qualified. A retired governorship is the best he can do.
Even if he did make it through the primaries, he'd have a hard time rallying the Democratic base around him the way someone like Hillary Clinton would...which could make it easier for the Republicans to win, even with a smaller overall vote share...
He is very good at mush-mouthing about how he suports "Hoosier values" and then votes as liberal as most of the Rats.
You nailed the VP prediction many moons ago. I say the Hillary hype is designed so she can win New York in 2006 and keep the power as a Senator. Governor Jeb on the ballot as pres? I think it's as good as gold...
His father must have been a REAL loser!
Tancredo !!!
I agree with both of you - Bayh should not be underestimated. The real question is whether the Dems will have come to their senses and realized they must nominate a perceived moderate to win. No sign of that yet, but wait to see how '06 shakes out.
Hillary is of course the 800-pound gorilla in this match. The problem for the Dems is that her negatives are so high she'd lose no matter how "moderate" she tried to make herself look. And she cannot triangulate anywhere near as good as her husband.
Yep. Bayh is like John Edwards, just a tad big smarter.
Good point. Interesting point.
I saw a commencement speech of Bayh's on CSPAN a couple of days ago. He sucked big time. He's going nowhere.
He's a simpleton. Makes an initial impression as a true moderate, but the dims are so far over the edge they'd never realize that, with much help and luck in the debates, he could actually win it for them. He'd have a much better chance of actually winning than Hitlery. In that sense his line about being real is very much on point.
No, he is dumber actually. The guy really has not been exposed to prime time. When he is, it won't be pretty. It will remind us of Dan Quayle.
"Kennedy was the last."
"Johnson, remember?"
He was President already because of the assasination. When he ran for President he already held the office.
If he can get past the lefty wackos he has a 50/50 shot of beating anyone the GOP puts up.
Bayh is pretty moderate and some will even say he's to far to the right and would probably pick up a few midwest states and maybe even a few in the south !
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.