November 6, 2004
WELCOME TO THE GOP CIRCA 1965:
Three Senators Consider Bids for Governor (RAYMOND HERNANDEZ and ALISON LEIGH COWAN, 11/06/04, NY Times)
In a sign of growing Democratic powerlessness and despair in Washington after Tuesday's elections, Senator Christopher J. Dodd is considering running for governor of Connecticut in 2006, fellow lawmakers and an adviser to the senator said yesterday.Mr. Dodd, who was just re-elected to a fifth term on Tuesday, recently declined to make a bid for the minority leader's post in the United States Senate, after it became clear that Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the No. 2 Democrat in the chamber, had rounded up enough support from his colleagues to be formally elected leader later this month.
Instead, Mr. Dodd is turning his attention to the idea of helping Democrats reclaim the governorship of Connecticut after nearly a decade of Republican rule in Hartford, according to leading Democrats who have discussed the matter with him.
Should Mr. Dodd choose to make a run for governor, he would be among three Democratic senators from the New York region giving thought to such a leap, particularly in the wake of Tuesday's elections, when Republicans expanded their majority in the Senate with a net gain of four seats.
The other two, Senator Jon Corzine of New Jersey and Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, are said to be dispirited over their continued minority status - as well as the reality that their party does not appear to have a shot at winning the majority any time soon.
Mr. Dodd, Mr. Schumer and Mr. Corzine are highly ambitious men. Their potential departure from the Hill underscores how impotent Democrats now feel in Washington.
A minority becomes permanent not just because of the political mood of the country but because it can not recruit and retain sacrificial lambs. In addition to defections from Congress you'll also see the ambitious defect from the party--people like Harold Ford, Evan Bayh, etc.. We are nowhere near the point yet where the Democrats bottom out. Posted by Orrin Judd at November 6, 2004 9:38 AM
Evan Bayh could start by reversing his votes aganinst cloture of debate of judicial nominees. I was surprised to find out that he was rock solid, 4 for 4 against Estrada, Pickering, Pryor, and Owen.
Posted by: Moe from NC at November 6, 2004 10:01 AMSchumer vs Spitzer for the Democratic nomination for governor might have to fought out in a steel cage at Madison Square Garden.
Corzine is the only credible candidate the Dems have which shows the utter weakness of NJ politics.
My guess is Chris Dodd is looking at a Presidential run. The job of Connecticut governor is not especially difficult as long as you stay away from real estate developers, so he'll have lots of time. You can expect to see him run as an opponent of Clintonesque triangulation, as the candidate of the 'Democrat wing of the Democrat Party.'
Posted by: Bart at November 6, 2004 10:42 AMGo, Dodd, go! Run, Dodd, run!. See Dodd run!!!
Senator Kerry without the Vietham record, but a long and leftist Senate one. Yep, there's a candidate I'd bet on.
Posted by: Raoul Ortega at November 6, 2004 2:52 PMI told you Schumer was a leading indicator. One of the first rats off the ship.
Lord, this is delicious.
Posted by: Robert Schwartz at November 6, 2004 3:39 PMHas anyone ever asked Dodd about his drunkfests and grope sessions with Teddy Kennedy?
Posted by: ratbert at November 6, 2004 9:58 PMOh, goodie! Another NorthEast liberal running for President. Haven't we seen this movie a few times? Do they keep playing it over and over again in the hope that the ending will be different?