Posted on 01/04/2003 5:04:38 PM PST by MadIvan
FEW American presidential campaigns have been hatched in the King’s Arms, a venerable Oxford student pub. As fate would have it that is where Gary Hart, once a promising Democrat contender, met two impressionable Rhodes scholars to discuss politics over a pint a couple of years ago.
After monkey business on a boat of that name with Donna Rice in 1988, Hart assumed his presidential ambitions were at an end. He was merely footling around Oxford doing some historical research. Yet the two youngsters, now back at Harvard in America, have become the most ardent champions of Hart for President in 2004.
Improbable? Yes. But in the vacuum of Democratic politics, even a Hart comeback cannot be entirely ruled out. “He’s thinking about it very seriously,” said Antwaun Smith, one of the Rhodes scholars who is Hart’s unofficial campaign manager.
Hart, 66, a former senator, is preparing a series of speeches for late January and February on national security, the economy and social policy. “One of his conditions for running is to see whether he can put forward a saleable platform and what kind of reception he receives,” said Smith.
He will not be given an easy ride. “It’s a hilarious idea,” sniffed Larry Sabato, a political analyst at the University of Virginia. “He’s a serious person, but the Democrats are not going to resurrect the scandals which tossed him out before.”
Whatever Hart’s intentions, one of the uncanny throwbacks to the Democratic campaign of 1988 is the resurrection of the “seven dwarfs” jibe. Hart was one of the Democrat dwarfs who briefly became a giant before bowing out in favour of another pygmy, Michael Dukakis, who went on to lose to George Bush Sr.
As in 1988, there is a queue of short-of-stature, seemingly no-hope Democrats lining up to take their chances against another Republican Bush. They are rushing to lodge their bids before war with Iraq pushes their efforts to the bottom of the news agenda and hampers their fundraising efforts.
After the announcement last month by Al Gore, the former vice-president, that he would not stand, there is no obvious frontrunner. Hillary Clinton is the only Democrat with serious name recognition and she still excites many negative emotions.
Dick Morris, one of her husband’s former advisers, observed bluntly last week that her best tactic is to lie low. “The less she says, the better she does. In her own interest, Hillary Rodham Clinton should sit down and shut up.”
“I never count Hillary out, but we have to take her at her word (that) she’s not running,” said John Zogby, a pollster.
In these unpromising circumstances, the Democrats have to hope a giant-killer emerges. First out of the starting blocks last month was John Kerry, a patrician liberal who is married to a Heinz heiress. His problem is personality, not money.
“He has some important assets, but essentially represents the Michael Dukakis formula,” said Zogby. Like the loser in 1988, Kerry is an east coast liberal with scant appeal to southern voters.
Senator John Edwards of North Carolina announced his candidacy last week. A lawyer with little foreign policy expertise, he was more fancied in peacetime. Even in his home state his poll numbers are soft and he looks vulnerable to a future Republican challenge.
Dick Gephardt, who confirmed his intention to stand yesterday, was one of the original seven dwarfs in 1988. He has kept a strong base among organised labour in the party, but the Democrats’ failure in the midterm congressional elections was a blow to his prestige.
Tom Daschle, the former Senate majority leader, was even more bloodied by the November elections and came under withering fire for failing to present a coherent party message on the war on terror, Iraq and the economy. Yet he, too, is expected to throw his hat in the ring soon.
Joe Lieberman, Gore’s running mate, is also set to join the queue. He is highly rated by Morris, who recently observed: “Lieberman grows on you. His integrity, stability and centrism could make all the difference.”
Others are not convinced, complaining of his fuzzy image. There is also just enough lingering anti-semitism in America to make Lieberman’s faith an issue.
Other names bandied about include Howard Dean, governor of Vermont, and Senator Bob Graham, co-chairman of the joint intelligence committee.The joker in the pack is the Reverend Al Sharpton, who hopes to win the votes of African-Americans and the ultra-left.
Sabato rates Hart’s chances as little better than Sharpton’s, but he refuses to write off the other Democrat challengers.
“If the economy continues to go badly, a giant will emerge. Bush is in danger of being the second one-term Bush and he knows it,” he said.
The seven dwarfs
John Edwards, 50
Cute but lacks bottom. Too inexperienced
John Kerry, 60
Patrician liberal, anti-Vietnam war vet. Unpopular in the south
Dick Gephardt, 62
Has failed repeatedly to win nomination. Resigned as leader of lower house
Joe Lieberman, 61
Al Gore's running mate in 2000. Flip-flopping centrist
Tom Daschle, 55
Lost the Senate for Democrats. No message
Bob Graham, 66
Boring centrist. Keeps a diary of what he wears and eats
Howard Dean, 54
A president from Vermont? Who? Where?
The normally subdued and responsible Sunday Times seldom goes so far as to call politicians "dwarfs". ;)
Regards, Ivan
We represent the Democrat Party, the Democrat Party, the Democrat Party - we represent the Democrat Party and wish to welcome you to Oblivion
...Freepers. Run Al, RUN!!!
John Edwards: Pretty
John Kerry: Lurchey
Joe Lieberman: Whiney
Tom Daschle: Shorty
Gary Hart: Horny
Howard Dean: Lefty
Taking Hillary at her word? - Laughing hysterically here...
Rhodes Scholar has developed a tawdry reputation...we'll have no more of that!
Hmmm - we do have one legitimate dwarf named Tommy..but it would be too much trouble to pay someone to cart a box around for him to stand on.
Gephardt = Scarey
g
g
Regards, Ivan
This is true. If the economy doesn't start producing jobs -- and if the market doesn't stabilize -- Bush could follow his father to one-termdom. Translation: He better push, hard, for major tax cuts, (not targeted meaningless micromanaging) and not be intimidated by the NY Times and the other liberals. The fact is, the "rich" have to have their taxes cut, or they can't give us new jobs.
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