Posted on 02/16/2005 9:57:44 AM PST by dead
Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.) is expected to announce next week that he will run for the Senate, seeking to replace Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) when he retires in 2006.
Ford’s office declined to comment on his senatorial plans, but three sources close to Ford said that he has decided to run and that an announcement will be made soon. One informed source said, “He will absolutely, 100 percent, run for the Senate. He wants that seat.”
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Ford will be traveling in the Middle East later this week, according to those sources, and is scheduled to be back in Tennessee, with some major appearances planned, on Feb. 25.
President Bush won Tennessee 57 to 43 percent, and Ford would face an uphill battle to win statewide. The fifth-term congressman, whose father held the same seat for 22 years, has recently seen his statewide prospects hindered by his family name. His uncle, state Sen. John Ford, is embroiled in a child payment scandal and recently testified in juvenile court that he keeps two homes and lives with two different women whose children he fathered. The scandal has received considerable attention in Tennessee and has dominated political conversation among Democrats speculating about Ford’s plans.
The source said business leaders in Memphis are lining up behind Ford and noted that the congressman is conservative on fiscal matters. Ford last year indicated support for Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-S.C.) Social Security reform bill.
While the odds are against Ford’s winning the seat, the source said Ford will raise a lot of money: “He will raise money from California to New York to Florida and everywhere in between.”
State Sen. Rosalind Kurita is the only other Democrat who has entered the race. Three Republicans have launched their campaigns, including former Rep. Ed Bryant, state Rep. Beth Harwell and Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker. Former Rep. Van Hilleary (R) is also considering jumping into the race.
He is a young tyke so he won't be kicking the bucket of old age anyway any time soon. We have a long road a head unless people will wake up and not give him the time of day for anything state or nation wide.
Like I said :) I only see his talk show persona :) Thanks for setting me straight!
The rest of Tennesse is no way near as stupid or dark as Memphis.
He's slicker than Willie and more dangerous!
Any chance he would switch to the GOP?
Dark?
He's a very smart guy, comes off well on TV and is from one of the most corrupt families in American politics. We'll see how much the stink sticks to him, though. He's good, make no mistake.
...and don't forget they also like kicking people in the nuts and letting loose their unhinged ex-wives...
He can be fairly called the most liberal Congressman from Tennessee. And, why is TN's house delegation 4R and 5D?
Home of the Wussy Major University.
No kidding. Ford lost worse than Keyes in that election.
He's not a moderate. He is a very dangerous wolf in sheep clothing.
His family is very very corrupt. He took his daddy's seat after his dad was identified as one of the leaders in the house post office scandal (remember that one?)
His uncle John Ford makes Billy Carter look normal.
Memphis and Philly is not a good comparison. Memphis & Nashville are about the same size. Despite the appearance of the county red versus blue map of Tennessee, Ford could win this seat. Yes our state is getting redder, but Ford could win this by running as a moderate Democrat (e.g. lying his arse off). The liberal TV & papers in the state will help him. He is a very very smooth talker.
I'm pretty sure Ford could give up his house seat and get it back in 2 years. My guess is that his contingency plan is to run for VP in 2008 and if both fail, then he's back in the house in 2010. It's also easier for a Dem to win governor in a red state than Senator. It's not such an ideological job.
No Doubt. His district is as black & blue as they come.
May GOD open the eyes of the blind that they may SEE what we who live in or near Memphis know. JUNIOR is a wolf in sheeps clothing. You are seeing only his media created persona.
The list goes on and on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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