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.
I never figured out just what Sunquist was trying to pull with the state income tax. I agree about Lamar. I went against my own rule and voted for him just to keep the Dem out.
I never figured out just what Sunquist was trying to pull with the state income tax. I agree about Lamar. I went against my own rule and voted for him just to keep the Dem out.
I never figured out just what Sunquist was trying to pull with the state income tax. I agree about Lamar. I went against my own rule and voted for him just to keep the Dem out.
I heard today Van's thinking about it.
If unappeasable means I expect Republicans to get other Republicans (and that means REAL Republicans, not your Arloon Specter types) butts packed into as many elective offices as possible, then I'm as guilty as charged. As always, your old "2/3rds" argument has been refuted by myself and others time and time again. It seems no wonder why you defend Lamar! types on their inability to get more Republicans elected because your boy Ah-nold has been equally as successful... not one single solitary legislative or federal gain since he was elected (oh, yes, you got Sec of State, only because Shelley had no ethics, but Ah-nold insisted upon appointing one of the biggest RINO losers of the '02 cycle, Bruce McPherson. Is it any wonder why the 'Rats are sniggering at the appointment and so anxious to give it the thumbs-up. They get a liberal for the interim and then get to replace him with a real 'Rat in '06). Y'know, with liberal RINOs, you ain't gettin' 2/3rds, you're just giving away the whole farm while the 'Rats laugh all the way into office succeeding (or beating) them.
Apparently ole Donnie never read our state Constitution strictly forbidding it (ah, the wisdom of our early statesmen !), and apparently couldn't understand when TN voters (of both parties) told him no, we damn well meant it. I am expecting Pharoah Phil to pull a similar stunt in his 2nd term.
Yeah, though I wish he'd realize that if he jumps in, he'll split the vote, and we'll get Bob Corker as the nominee. I really feel badly for Van, because he got majorly screwed in '02. If Bredesen hadn't chose to ignore campaign finance laws (and if the State AG, a 'Rat hack, had actually chosen to enforce them), Van would've won.
Sir,
We are both black, too.
Sincerely,
Mr. & Mrs. Jeter
I thought the incumbent party always goes second. Where did you hear otherwise?
Thanks for proving my point.
I live in Washington, and I wanna tell you one thing right now: I 100% guarentee you, if Dino got into office, you'd say he's worthless and we'd be better off with Gregoire.
What are you smoking ? You've not proven a thing. You counter facts with simplistic baseless opinions.
"I live in Washington, and I wanna tell you one thing right now: I 100% guarentee you, if Dino got into office"
Dino DID get the office.
"you'd say he's worthless and we'd be better off with Gregoire."
Depends on what course of action he chose to pursue. If he pursued a course that improved the fortunes of the state GOP and the state itself, I would praise him. If he became John Spellman, Part Deux, I'd rightly condemn him. BTW, last time I checked, it was one of your beloved RINOs (Sec of State Sam Reed) who proceeded to clusterf*ck Dino and the voters of WA state with that sham certification of glaring mass-scale fraud. Where's your 2/3rds now, buddy ?
JUNIOR will remain a Dem as the people in his district have been conditioned from birth to ONLY vote Dem.
Do you work for Larmar? I can't imagine a conservative thinking Lamar is anything but a RINO.
As far as the candidates go, Corker scares me. He is busy raising piles of money and has some big name support in Chattanooga. Zach wanted that seat. My daughter was an intern in Zach's office and it was well known that he wanted to run when Frist retired. What happened? How did Corker get the nod for this Senate run over Zach? It has forced Wamp into a sticky situation with his broken promise not to run for another term. Corker's only political experience is being a one term mayor of Chattanooga. He is power hungry RINO who wants to buy a Senate seat. Tennessee doesn't need two RINO senators.
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_61931.asp
http://cita.chattanooga.org/slcmdc/thornton-thunder.html
http://billhobbs.com/hobbsonline/005243.html
My choice was Ed Bryant for senate. I vote for him in the primary, and had to vote for Lamar as second choice in the general election.
Don't forget the role the press played in the gov's race. There was NOT one positive story on Van Hilleary. Where as the press had nothing but glowing stories on the Snake Oil salesman..Phil. I followed the race very closely and know the press played a big part in Van's loss.
Remember last year in OK, the party establishment wanted to run a former OK City mayor for the Senate, but Dr. Tom Coburn had other ideas. Coburn managed to hold the seat despite strong Democrat opposition. For a while it even looked like Coburn was such a polarizing figure that he would lose. So I don't think running a former Chattanooga mayor is the best course of action here.
You might also remember that Pharoah Phil didn't run nearly as well in middle TN that he should have (guess why ? We knew him and his liberal tax-hiking ways), but ran TOO well in East TN where he illegally dumped all his money to snooker the rubes who didn't know him at all. Of course, he didn't carry East TN, but managed to hold down Van's margins in the areas where that RINO traitor stooge (Jim Henry) of Scumquist's and Lamar!'s in the GOP primary performed the best.
Believe me, even if Corker gets the nod, he'll still beat Junior. Gail and I and all the rest of us will suck it up and put on our Corker pins after the primary to defeat Junior. This is simply too important.
I live in Tennessee, East Tennessee. Ford is well respected throughout Tennessee. He's often a guest on the most popular talk radio show in East & Middle Tennessee. I'm telling you, he's a Black Bill Clinton. When he speaks, you can feel yourself being pulled in even though you disagree. The guy has got looks, talent, and charisma.
The two Democrats that we should fear most in 08 are residing in the great state of Tennessee. Harold Ford and Phil Bredesen, they both are "supposed" centerists that can talk the talk. I fully believe a centerist Democrat could carry a good portion of the South. There were alot of conservative Democrats that held their nose and voted for Bush this time and last.
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