(Andrew) Young says he won't run for Senate

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 10.3.03 | JIM THARPE and MELANIE EVERSLEY

[mhking]

Former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young announced today that he would not enter the race for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Zell Miller.

Young made his announcement at an 8:30 a.m. news conference. "I decided I could not be the candidate. I was afraid I would win," he said to laughter from supporters.

He was surrounded by his exploratory committee as he made the announcement. He said he would continue in the public realm in an effort to "restore faith in American governnment."

The guessing game had reached a fever-pitch this week, when Young on Wednesday indicated he was leaning against a Senate bid, then seemed to contradict that position Thursday morning after he met with a congressional committee in Washington.

Although he never announced that he would seek Miller's seat, Young appeared just last week to be on a fast-track for the race, buoyed by warm public reception and encouragement from state Democrats, who have been unable to field a high-profile candidate. Four Republican candidates, including two congressmen, are seeking that party's nomination.

Political analysts believed Young, 71, would be a formidable fund-raiser but would face a tough battle in Republican-trending Georgia.

Michelle Nunn could be waiting in the wings. Nunn, 36, the daughter of former Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.) and founding director of Hands on Atlanta, said Thursday night she will give the race "serious consideration" if Young backs out.

So far, the only Democrat in the race is little-known state Sen. Mary Squires of Norcross.

As confusion over Young's plans swirled Thursday, the name of former Democratic Sen. Max Cleland surfaced as a possible candidate. Cleland, who was upset last year by Republican Saxby Chambliss, was the subject of an article in the Washington publication Roll Call in which unnamed Democratic senators encouraged him to run. Cleland could not be reached for comment.

But political observers believe Cleland would face tough going. "It's very hard for a defeated incumbent senator to regain a Senate seat," said Merle Black, an Emory University political scientist. "It would be an uphill battle."

-- Jim Tharpe's e-mail address is jtharpe@ajc.com. Melanie Eversley's is meversley@ajc.com.

[mhking]

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[Joe Bonforte]

Political analysts believed Young, 71, would be a formidable fund-raiser but would face a tough battle in Republican-trending Georgia.

The story in a nutshell. The Democratic Party is on the verge of imploding. When a long-time operative like this turns down a chance at a completely open high-level seat, it's indicative of a complete lack of confidence in the party.

[TUX]

afraid I would win

NOT!

Carter and those around him are a sad part in the dust bin of history.

[CFW]

I'm supporting Cain. I like him and his values.

[GraniteStateConservative]

I think that Slade Gorton is the only person to pull off what Cleland would try to do.

[Kuksool]

***Max Cleland surfaced as a possible candidate. Cleland...the subject of an article in the Washington publication Roll Call in which unnamed Democratic senators encouraged him to run***

Max Cleland could actually be a viable candidate against Johnny Isakson. If Cleland runs in 2004, he would probably present himself as the victim of vicious personal attacks by the GOP in 2002, and portray Isakson as a "Country Club Republican" who cares only about corporations in Atlanta. A "Country Club Republican" is a hard sell to the Yellow Dogs of Middle Georgia. In order to win statewide in Goergia, Republicans must nominate candidates who have working class appeal like Saxby Chambliss & Sonny Perdue.

[JesseHousman]

This is, without question, the smartest decision Andrew Young has ever made.

[Ole Okie]

This is, without question, the smartest decision Andrew Young has ever made

Aw, Andy is waiting for the Atlanta airport to be renamed Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson-Young-Franklin airport.

[southernnorthcarolina]

If Andrew Young had run and been elected (never would have happened, but play along for a sec), would he have been the oldest freshman Senator ever elected?

Elizabeth Dole in my state was 66 when she won last year; I was one of only a very few to be so ungallant as to point out the fact that she'll never gain significant seniority. (Though I had misgivings about her, I have subsequently defended her against charges of RINOism. She'll be a pretty good Senator.)

Cleland or no Cleland (man, has he gotten bitter, or what?), the only way the GOP blows this one is by getting too nasty in the primary, and chopping each other up.

The Southeast is the epicenter of the 2004 Senate battle. Republicans should be heavily favored to score pickups in GA and SC, and at this point should be slight favorites to pick up Edwards' seat in NC. If all three of these elections go the right way, consider this: every Southern state east of the Mississippi save FL (which really isn't "Southern" in the cultural sense) will have two Republican Senators. VA, NC, SC, GA, AL, MS, TN, KY -- eight states, potentially sixteen GOP Senators.

The "Solid South" returns, in a different guise.

[aynrandfreak]

I think it's possible that Rep. Marshall could run for that seat. He seems to be trying to take the Miller mantle of moderated Dem.

[Wright is right!]

In addition, Joe, Young is 71 and is no doubt in a fine financial position and wants to enjoy life. He's had a good career and, frankly, he doesn't "need" the job. It's a good decision on his part.

Michael

[sboyd]

Marshall knows that he would have to give his House seat up and Calder Clay would win it easily. Marshall does not have the name or the fund raising ability for state-wide. Cleland is finished. He is too bitter to come off sane to any moderate or conservative voter in GA. The GA Democratic Party is getting desperate and the DNC is starting to look at other winnable seats. I am not sure what Sam Nunn's daughter could do, but I am sure she is way more liberal than her father and most people in this state around Atlanta are not from GA and do not remember Sam Nunn.

[Theodore R.]

Cleland should be taken as a serious opponent. He will be excellent at "passing out Kleenex" to gain the vote of the "compassion lobby." And I think he would defeat, perhaps, Isakson, who will not stir up support from rank-and-file conservatives. Isakson is the epitome of the "country-club" set, an image that Haley Barbour has apparently thwarted in his MS race this year. Remember as Reagan once said, "In politics, perception is reality."

[G L Tirebiter]

Cleland is finished.

Agreed.

I believe Max doesn't live in GA - he's full time in D.C. - probably making plenty of money and livin' the good life.

I don't think any of the better known state wide Dems will venture forth (Cox & Taylor come to mind). They are keeping their powder dry for a shot at Sonny and the governor race in '06.

[mac_truck]

The "Solid South" returns, in a different guise.

I'll let Louisiana know she's been kicked out of Dixie...

[aynrandfreak]

You're right that he doesn't have the name recognition yet, which may be why he's been so in the Dem's face on the "bad news on Iraq" issue.

[southernnorthcarolina]

I'll let Louisiana know she's been kicked out of Dixie...

Well, I did say "...every Southern state east of the Mississippi save FL...", which excludes most of Louisiana, and Arkansas (as well as ever-more-Republican Texas. Anyway, Louisiana's always been in its own world.

So add FL, LA, AR, and TX to the eight states I mentioned, and consider all twelve states of the old Confederacy. Currently, the Senate lineup is 15 Republicans and 9 Democrats. That fact is in itself amazing from an historical perspective. As things look today, the GOP is favored to pick up Dem seats in GA, SC, and NC, which would make the lineup 18 Republicans and 6 Democrats. It could get even better: assuming Bob Graham drops out of the Presidential race and files for Senate re-election, he'd be favored to hold his seat in FL, but his kookiness having been exposed nationally, an upset is possible. In LA, rumors of Breaux not seeking re-election continue to swirl around; if that transpires, the GOP has a shot at a pickup.

And, of course, Dubya carried every state in the South in 2000 (one by a margin which was, shall we say, uncomfortably close), against a Southerner to boot, and has a good chance of repeating the sweep in 2004. I think that qualifies as a "Solid South."

[blake6900]

Young made his announcement at an 8:30 a.m. news conference. "I decided I could not be the candidate. I was afraid I would win," he said to laughter from supporters.

So were we, Andrew...so were we.