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Florida's Sen. Bob Graham 'seriously Considering' 2004 Presidential Bid
AP ^ | 12/23/02 | Ken Thomas

Posted on 12/23/2002 8:44:06 AM PST by Jean S

MIAMI (AP) - Sen. Bob Graham said Monday he is seriously considering running for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, saying he is not satisfied with President Bush's leadership as the country faces "unprecedented" economic and military problems.

Graham, a 16-year senator who also served as Florida's governor from 1978-86, was recently the chairman of the Senate's Intelligence Committee. He spoke Monday after he appeared on a Haitian-American radio talk show, where he received several calls asking him if he intended to run.

"I'm seriously thinking about options, including the option of running for president," Graham told reporters. "This is a very difficult time for America. We're facing unprecedented problems in terms of our domestic economy, in terms of our international relations, particularly the war on terrorism and Iraq.

"I'm not satisfied with the direction we are being led today," Graham said. He said he's "considering what I think could be my contribution toward a new direction for America."

Graham, 66, said he has not decided whether he will seek re-election to the Senate in 2004 if he does not run for president.

Graham said his interest in running for president is not a result of former Vice President Al Gore's decision not to seek the Democratic nomination, which he won in 2000.

Graham said he will be meeting with family members and advisers over the upcoming holidays, but would not say when he hopes to make a decision.

Some other Democrats who might run for president in 2004 include Sens. Tom Daschle of North Dakota, John Edwards of North Carolina, John Kerry of Massachusetts and Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt and Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.

AP-ES-12-23-02 1118EST


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: electionpresident
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1 posted on 12/23/2002 8:44:06 AM PST by Jean S
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To: JeanS
Thanks, I needed a good laugh today.
2 posted on 12/23/2002 8:47:05 AM PST by SCHROLL
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To: JeanS
Some other Democrats who might run for president in 2004 include Sens. Tom Daschle of North Dakota, John Edwards of North Carolina, John Kerry of Massachusetts and Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt and Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.

I hope each of these states has or will have a law saying that they can only run for one seat at a time. Let them all resign.

3 posted on 12/23/2002 8:47:59 AM PST by Betty Jane
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To: JeanS
What "unprecedented" economic problems is America facing? I suspect the RATS will be returning to their 1992 campaign of "worst economy in 50 years." Which was a lie.
4 posted on 12/23/2002 8:48:01 AM PST by Phantom Lord
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To: JeanS
My dog, Fido, just told me he's thinking of running too.

He wants the publicity.

5 posted on 12/23/2002 8:48:06 AM PST by jigsaw
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To: JeanS
Graham said he will be meeting with family members and advisers over the upcoming holidays

So will I, and good for him.

6 posted on 12/23/2002 8:49:16 AM PST by 1Old Pro
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To: Betty Jane; Constitution Day; Howlin
Daschles state, South Dakota, passed a law this year saying a candidate can only appear once on the ballot. And Daschle would have to run for reelection in 2004 or quit the senate to run for president. I dont know about the others, including my home state of NC.
7 posted on 12/23/2002 8:52:42 AM PST by Phantom Lord
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To: 1Old Pro
Graham said he will be meeting with family members and advisers over the upcoming holidays.

He better run this idea past Hillary too. Wouldn't want to see him unnecessarily smeared. Then again, go ahead, don't check with Beastmomma first.

8 posted on 12/23/2002 9:00:20 AM PST by gov_bean_ counter
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To: JeanS
**Sen. Bob Graham said Monday he is seriously considering running for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination**

Good, the more dims the better!
9 posted on 12/23/2002 9:01:36 AM PST by Salvation
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To: JeanS
Plus if he leaves the Senate to run for President Governor Jeb Bush will appoint a Republican Senator from Florida in his place!!!!!!!!!
10 posted on 12/23/2002 9:02:47 AM PST by Salvation
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To: JeanS
And Graham is up for election in 2004.

I think what he is really saying is: "I am afraid I am gonna get whipped in the Senate race in 2004, so I will go after the Presidency to keep myself politically viable.

John Bryant tried that in 1996, running for the Senate against Phil Graham, rather than defending his House seat against Pete Sessions. (Sessions got 48% of the vote in '94, and Bryant, the incumbant 49% to win by a plurality.) Bryant felt he could come back from a loss to Graham. Instead, he got run over in the Democrat primary by Victor Morales, a schoolteacher from Mesquite. End of political career.

Bryant is now commissioner of Texas League baseball. Good place for him. He always was minor league to me.
11 posted on 12/23/2002 9:09:25 AM PST by No Truce With Kings
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To: JeanS; floriduh voter; dorben; gatorman; Fearless Flyers; Luke FReeman; Clemenza; ...
FYI FL Freepers Ping
12 posted on 12/23/2002 9:11:54 AM PST by JulieRNR21
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To: JeanS
... Sens. Tom Daschle of North Dakota, John Edwards of North Carolina, John Kerry of Massachusetts and Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt and Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.

Hmmmm... no mention of the swinette from NY. Guess she's hiding in the tall reeds.

13 posted on 12/23/2002 9:28:03 AM PST by johnny7
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To: JeanS
Good riddance. I just want Graham gone one way or another. Perhaps he can run for Presidente of Cuba once he gets skunked by W. Or Venezuela, he'll fit right in with Chavez and his Marxist thugs. But whatever we can do as FReepers, let's encourage this dirtbag to run so we can get a Republican in that seat.
14 posted on 12/23/2002 9:36:25 AM PST by Nuke'm Glowing
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To: JeanS
There's plenty of laughter about this, probably from people who don't know anything about Florida politics, but Graham has to be taken seriously. In the first place, he can be elected to anything he wants to be in Florida and is the most popular politician in the state. Were he to be the Democratic candidate, IMHO he'd carry Florida.
15 posted on 12/23/2002 9:40:39 AM PST by caltrop
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To: JeanS
Bob who????
16 posted on 12/23/2002 9:44:26 AM PST by RANGERAIRBORNE
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To: caltrop
"Were he to be the Democratic candidate, IMHO he'd carry Florida."

You DO realize that there are, oh, roughly 49 other States- each with a few of those electoral vote thingies?

I'd wager that not more than 5% of the folks outside of Florida have ever heard of Bob Graham, and most of those who have like me) couldn't care less.

17 posted on 12/23/2002 9:47:08 AM PST by RANGERAIRBORNE
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To: RANGERAIRBORNE
Yeah, but who outside of Arkansas had heard of Bill Clinton, when he ran? Or who had heard of Jimmy Carter, outside of Georgia?

Mind you, I can think of worse people than Bob Graham in the Democratic party.
18 posted on 12/23/2002 9:57:42 AM PST by Celtjew Libertarian
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To: JeanS
I guess Sen. Graham didn't take note of how the Dems destroyed Reno's Gubernatorial run in Florida did he?
19 posted on 12/23/2002 10:01:34 AM PST by mass55th
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To: JeanS
Sen. Bob Graham said Monday he is seriously considering running for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination...

Correction: Sen. Bob Graham said Monday he is seriously considering running for the 2004 Democratic VICE presidential nomination...

20 posted on 12/23/2002 10:08:18 AM PST by balrog666
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