Posted on 02/20/2003 8:55:06 PM PST by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
The Democrats have a big-time problem as they prepare for the next presidential election - too little money and too many candidates, all but a few of whom have this much chance: none.
At last count there were eight ready to seek the chance to run against George W. Bush next year. That includes such late entrants as Rep. Dennis Kucinich, the one-time boy mayor of Cleveland, and Carol Moseley-Braun, the former U.S. senator from Illinois. Outside of their own states, they have neither a constituency or name recognition.
The field has become so crowded that Democratic consultants are concerned that even the best bets could fail to get much public attention - and be in a good position to take on Bush - until there has been some thinning out.
James Carville, who helped engineer Bill Clinton's 1992 victory over former President George H.W. Bush, told reporters recently that as soon as a candidate emerges as a frontrunner he will personally ask the others to step down and get behind the leader. Otherwise, funds and volunteers will go where they will do no good, and the Democratic message will be blurred, he said.
Well, good luck to that effort. At least it would give us the opportunity to determine just how influential the blustery Carville actually is and see whether he is a media creation living off a reputation that is no longer justified.
The Democrats with the best chance to succeed include Sens. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, the former vice presidential nominee, John Kerry of Massachusetts, and John Edwards of North Carolina and Rep Richard Gephardt of Missouri, the former House minority leader.
It would be enough, one would think, if these four candidates alone fought for the nomination. All clearly are qualified for the job and the others aren't, particularly when it comes to foreign affairs. Of these four, Edwards is the least experienced, just now serving in his first political office after a career as a personal injury lawyer.
Ever since Jimmy Carter received a shot of campaign adrenalin from the Iowa caucuses, Iowa has become the earliest of the proving grounds for presidential hopefuls. While its now celebrated caucuses are seen as a boost, they are basically meaningless.
Kucinich seems to have done well with an antiwar theme in an appearance before the Iowa Federation of Labor last week. In fact, all the candidates who appeared there echoed his disapproval of Bush's Iraq policy. Kucinich voted against granting Bush authority to conduct the war.
But if the Democrats are going to run this early against Bush on the basis of his foreign policy, it could be dangerous ground for them. Should the attack on Iraq ever come, the country could be expected to rally around the president and commander in chief. Most military experts believe the war will be short-lived. If so the Democrats would be left with an issue that is no longer viable.
Any real attempt to handicap the presidential race this early would be suicidal. But Carville is right in his contention that the last thing his party needs is a protracted battle with a large number of candidates whacking away at one another. It is far too expensive in money - which is in short supply - and support. Of course, this is the land where any boy or girl can dream of growing up to be president. It does not follow that all of them should try.
While they have every right to run, the Moseley -Brauns and Kucinichs and Al Sharptons aren't doing their party much good if they are sincere about moving George W. Bush from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue back to his Texas home on a permanent basis. And yet - and yet - there always is a chance that some unlikely person will emerge as a leader of the pack, just as Jimmy Carter did in 1976.
(Dan K. Thomasson is former editor of the Scripps Howard News Service.)
© Copyright 2003 Capitol Hill Blue
Rep. Dennis Kucinich is a Democratic Socialists of America member.
Of all of the dark horse candidates in this race, I think Kucinich of Ohio may have the best chance. He's a typical liberal babbler, but if he packages himself well, he'll appeal to much of the Democrat vote. He is also a threat if he can win Ohio. I think the Democrats are well served by his running.
I think that Carol Moseley Braun and Al Sharpton are just playing games, but I don't think their games really hurt the party that much. The other candidates will be nice to them to keep from alienating their base. If Carville can just persuade them to aim most of their vitriol at President Bush, they'll be doing a service for their party.
In spite of what some people around here think, I don't think a crowded field necessarily hurts a front-runner. The important thing is for the front-runner and his supporters to be gracious towards those who are not doing as well. A haughty and insulting attitude will only alienate the voters that the front-runner will eventually need to win. If the Democrats figure out this truth, they won't be hurt by the large number of candidates.
Click on Kucinich in the second paragraph in post 2. He is so left he is off the radar screen. How can a communist package themselves well enough.
I really think the nation learned a lesson with Clinton and he 'ran as' a centrist leaning right with fake little grassroot forums and made all believe he 'felt their pain.' Everyone the dems have on their docket is left as Hillary's teaspoon. I have more confidence in America and the last Presidential election map to prove that they woke up to this b. s.
I think the only democrat that could steal the WH is the deceased JFK Jr.An Independent flowing in or Howard the democrat would have a far better chance than anything the dems have lined up.
I hate to be a pessimist, but I disagree. If the nation had learned its lesson with Clinton, Algore wouldn't have come within a state of winning the presidency. The 2002 elections were a nice win, but if the nation had really learned its lesson, we'd have 54 or 55 Republican senators, and Bill Simon would be governor of California. I see no evidence that we've really learned our lesson, and I think even a socialist like Kucinich could package himself in a way that might make him palatable to the voters. When we have nominally conservative Republicans falling all over themselves to have the government pay for prescription drugs, the notion that people would rebel against an outright socialist is just wishful thinking.
WFTR
Bill
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