Hart Hints At Running - Twice A Candidate For President, Former Senator May Try Again

WASHINGTON -- Gary Hart still has the look, as if his face has been freshly chiseled from a block of granite.

The boots are gone; standard black shoes have taken their place. His style in ties has not changed - his latest is a red, white and blue horizontal stripe.

And he still commands the attention. A sizable number of reporters turned out as Hart returned to the Capitol, where he served as a senator from 1975 to 1987, to talk to House Democrats about national and homeland security, subjects he's been studying for years.

Mondale, Lautenberg, and now Hart? Why not trot out Dukakis and Carter too? We need a laugh.

And then there's the possibility of dem retreads Moseley-Braun and Cleland. If Daschle had decided to go for prez, McGovern would have run for his seat.

Haha! I wondered if anyone remembered that his birth name was Gary Hartpence, which he legally changed (I guess to sound more electable).

Boy, I am having deja vu to the 70's this morning! If the spring fachion collection features polyester pantsuits, I will be seiously creeped out.

This morning's Des Moines Register has a front pager on the very item:

Hart to gather Iowa supporters
State Democrats say the event probably is meant to be more than just a friendly visit.
By THOMAS BEAUMONT
Register Staff Writer
01/10/200
Iowa supporters of one-time Democratic presidential candidate Gary Hart will meet with the former Colorado senator this month in Des Moines to gauge interest in a 2004 comeback.

Organizers of the Jan. 22 reception, timed to coincide with his speech at Iowa State University's Memorial Union that night, said Hart had hoped to downplay public talk of his interest in running for president.

But Iowa Democratic sources and insiders who helped run his campaigns in the 1980s say the gathering prior to the 8 p.m. speech is intended to reconnect Hart with supporters who might be interested in a Hart campaign for next year's caucuses.

"I suppose it would be silly to deny that it has that appearance," said Des Moines lawyer George Appleby, who supported Hart's past campaigns and is setting up the reception but is committed to Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's presidential bid.

Three other prominent Democrats familiar with the reception said it was clear to them the event was about more than re-establishing old friendships.

The caucuses, scheduled for Jan. 19, 2004, start the national presidential nominating process.

*snip* more:

http://www.dmregister.com/news/stories/c4789004/20191919.html

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