Friday’s political round-up

December 22, 2006

Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn’t generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:

* Research 2000 released a poll of Iowa Dems yesterday, asking who they prefer in the 2008 presidential race. John Edwards and Barack Obama led the field, tied at 22%. Outgoing Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack was third with 12%, followed by Hillary Clinton at 10%.

* One of the oddities of Barack Obama’s popularity is that he is not as widely known as one might expect. The most recent Gallup poll showed that one-third of Americans still don’t know who Obama is, despite his strong media presence and base of supporters.

* New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) is widely expected to run for president in 2008, so it came as a bit of a surprise to hear that a group of Richardson allies are poised to launch a draft campaign to urge the governor to throw his hat into the ring. Among the leaders of the effort is Reynaldo Martinez, a former chief of staff to incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

* Outgoing Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R), soon to be unemployed, is hoping to become a consultant to Republican presidential candidates, helping them appeal to minority voters. “I’d like to have a hand in helping our presidential nominee … get the messaging right, to communicate not just with traditional voters, but to go outside our comfort zone,” Steele told the Washington Times. Steele claims to have spoken directly to McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Newt Gingrich, and Chuck Hagel.

* Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) is apparently unconcerned about the early buzz around all of the other Democratic presidential hopefuls, and still plans on making a second run for the nomination. One Biden aide told the WSJ that the senator will have raised $5.5 million in new money through September, which is more than anyone except Clinton and Obama.

* And in the ongoing controversy surrounding the results in Florida’s 13th, Dartmouth voting expert Professor Michael Herron testified yesterday that there were major problems in the Jennings/Buchanan race, and that those problems cost the Democrat the election.

Edwards and Obama tied in Iowa, Biden third in the money chase, drafting Richardson.

This could be an interesting (and hopefully useful) presidential nominating cycle (at least on the Democratic side).

So what is Steele doing to tell Republican’ts? Lie about your minority endorsements and bus the homeless into the state to pass out misleading flyers?

What is it about Republican’t candidates that they embrace all the worst characters from their party?

  • Steel is the Judas Goat leading his brothers and sisters to “slaughter”.

    If Lincoln were alive now he would switch parties.

  • One of the oddities of Barack Obama’s popularity is that he is not as widely known as one might expect. The most recent Gallup poll showed that one-third of Americans still don’t know who Obama is, despite his strong media presence and base of supporters.

    I would think that being known by 66% of the public is pretty good for a freshman senator. I imagine that Hillary Clinton is more widely known, as, probably, are McCain and Giuliani, but how does Obama compare to the other potential candidates?

  • “I’d like to have a hand in helping our presidential nominee … get the messaging right, to communicate not just with traditional voters, but to go outside our comfort zone,”

    Unfortunately, importing homeless people to pass out fraudulent campaign fliers is probably inside a lot of Republicans’ “comfort zone”

  • New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) is widely expected to run for president in 2008

    Am I the only one here that is non-plussed about the talk of a Richardson nomination? Maybe I just don’t know enough about him, but he does not seem very inspiring.

    Obama is inspiring in an aspirational-we-can-be-a-better-nation way. Clark is inspiring in a Dems-can-be-unassailable-in-national-security/foreign-affairs way. Clinton is inspiring in a watch-the-GOP-go-insane way. Richardson? Nothing. (no comment on biden other than he’s even worse than Richardson IMHO).

  • “Biden needs to get a life. He has no chance.” – OYG

    Better than Christopher Dodd in my estimation. Biden might be running for Vice President after all.

    “Clinton is inspiring in a watch-the-GOP-go-insane way.” – Edo

    LOL, I’d so love to have that happen 😉

    “Am I the only one here that is non-plussed about the talk of a Richardson nomination?” – Edo

    Richardson has depth of international experience that NO ONE (except maybe Biden) currently threatening to run can match. Not even Clarke. So I’d say Richardson is inspiring in an Yes-We-Actually-Know-What-We-Are-Doing-In-The-World way.

  • Lance,

    I realize that Richardson was Ambassador to the UN, but Clark was the NATO commander in chief. I think that puts him in the same league as Richardson when it comes to international experience.

    More importantly, are you truly “inspired” by Richardson, or are you more “reassured”? Don’t get me wrong, Richardson is better than all the GOP potential nominees and most of the Dem ones. I just don’t find him inspiring.

  • In regards to Edo #6:
    Writing from the state where Richardson is governor, I must respectfully disagree with Edo’s comments, at least in terms of the inspiring part. Richardson is, in my opinion, the best qualified of all the candidates, which I find inspiring and reassuring. Briefly, here it is:
    U.S. Representative for 15 years from NM’s 3rd.
    Secretary of Energy under Clinton
    Ambassador to the United Nations under Clinton
    Two term governor

    Unofficially, it’s probably worth noting that he is the only person the North Koreans want to talk to. His diplomacy record is quite good. He’s the only candidate with a foreign policy and the experience to back it up. (although good point about Clark) He won’t piss off the republicans as much as Hillary. He’s Latino and speaks fluent Spanish (he grew up in Mexico City).

    What’s holding him back? Perhaps it’s because he’s from New Mexco.

    I guess the question should be what counts as inspiring that Richardson could work on?

  • NMDem,

    Richardson is, in my opinion, the best qualified of all the candidates, which I find inspiring and reassuring.

    I’m not questioning his qualifications. I just find him uninspiring.

    I guess the question should be what counts as inspiring that Richardson could work on?

    Now that is a really good question. Perhaps if he wrote a book ala Audacity of Hope and then went on a book tour to tout it, that might help. This of course assumes that the content of the book is inspirational (see Clinton’s It takes a Village for uninspirational content).

    I’m not saying a) that he shouldn’t run or isn’t very well qualified or b) that he has to write a book. I’m only saying that as a fairly interested and knowledgeable observer of national politics, Richardson has his work cut out for him. Clearly his duties as a sitting Governor will pose a challenge to more media appearances, but perhaps more exposure is necessary.

    At any rate, thanks for the NM perspective.

  • Richardson has depth of international experience that NO ONE (except maybe Biden) currently threatening to run can match.

    Due to his work with the OAS, will he be required to register as a Foreign Agent? That would be a fun question that “Citizen Journalists” could ask him if they even get the chance.

  • i dunno, Edo, in contrast to the current occupant of 1600 Penn, i find “reassurring” is rather inspiring in a potential pres. I also think Richardson has a good sense of humor and grounding, and comes across very likable – a nice counterpoint for someone with such a technocratic resume and a critical asset for someone running with any ethnicity than anglo-saxon. i am certainly staying tuned to hear more from Richardson, and he is on my short list to consider.

  • Zeitgeist

    i dunno, Edo, in contrast to the current occupant of 1600 Penn, i find “reassurring” is rather inspiring in a potential pres.

    Talk about the bigotry of low expectations. Please, let’s not use W as the yardstick for evaluating Dem candidates. I already said that I think Richardson is better than all the GOP candidates. Perhaps I want too much by asking for an inspirational candidate. perhaps. Your point about Richardson being humorous and grounded is well taken. I’ll endeavor to stay open minded about his potential candidacy given your and NMDems perspective. Thanks.

  • Edo and Zeitgeist,
    We can only hope that the eventual candidate is someone we can all rally behind. Edo is right in that Richardson doesn’t have the star power of Obama or perhaps even the inspiration of someone like Edwards (or Obama), and that is a point that I am taking to heart. As a New Mexican, I feel now somewhat of a duty to do what I can to make Richardson more palatable as a viable candidate. Of course, if Obama or even Hillary were to win the nomination, I would work on their behalf as well. At this point in the race though, I like Bill. I also like Barak. Funny….neither has actually declared.
    Thanks for the great discussion and read.

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