Tuesday, January 5, 2010
New York Times: Harold Ford Jr. Ready to Run for the Senate in New York
Posted by Jackson Baker on Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 9:00 PM
Times writer Michael Barbara, in a piece datelined January 5, alleges that “[a]bout a dozen high-profile Democrats have expressed interest in backing a candidacy by Mr. Ford…” Among those mentioned by name are Richard Piepler, co-president of HBO, and New York mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Barbaro states outright,” To test the viability of a candidacy, Mr. Ford is trying to line up a network of major donors across the state in the weeks ahead.” Ford would be entering this fall’s Democratic primary to challenge the incumbent, former congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand, who earned an appointment to the seat of former Senator Hillary Clinton after Clinton resigned to become Secretary of State.
One problem that the erstwhile Tennessean, Merrill Lynch rainmaker, and current head of the Democratic Leadership Council may face is touched upon by Barbaro: “The state’s senior senator, Charles E. Schumer, has been aggressively elbowing out potential primary challengers to Ms. Gillibrand.”
Barbaro points out that “New Yorkers are unusually welcoming to political newcomers,” but also notes, “Mr. Ford, who lives in Manhattan, represented a conservative Southern state and, if he runs, may himself have to adjust some of his positions, like his opposition to same-sex marriage, to appeal to New York voters."
Comments (21)
Showing 1-21 of 21
like
dislike
Kirsten Gillibrand is a wonderful successor to Hillary Clinton and continues the New York tradition of progressive effective advocacy in the US Senate. If Mr. Ford is devoted to public service, he would be wise to run again from Tennessee which might be more hospitable to his conservative views.
At least he should carefully consider Senator Gillibrand's awesome fundraising record and her ability to win over voters. He should also consider that the very impressive group of women who supported Hillary Clinton are very enthusiastic about Kirsten.
I second DT's well-expressed sentiment. Jr. is a douchebag. NY voters are also dumb enough to be conned into voting for him. These factors - Jr.'s extreme douchebag-edness and, more specifically, an unctuousness that would embarrass used-car salesmen, along with the credulity of NY voters - should give him a depressingly strong chance. Plus, Gillibrand is remarkable for her unremarkability. She's a true Albany hack, who actually shares the aforementioned douchebag's legacy of capitalizing on political nepotism to scale the heights at a young age. About the only thing she has going for her is Chuck Schumer's advocacy. Given the general lameness and stupidity rampant in both the House and Senate, Harold will, of course, fit right in.
Julie's right. Calling Harold Ford a douche bag really isn't fair to the valuable service douche bags provide. He's more of a hydroaspirator.
BTW. FYI, Michael Bloomberg isn't a democrat. He's a member of the Greedy Opportunists Party. Or was, until it was no longer cool to be a Republican. Now he's a member of the Bloomberg for New York Party.
I don't know why Junior just doesn't come out of the closet and run as a Republican.
You know Jr sucked as a congressman here because of one thing. When he left, nobody looked back and said "wasn't his constituent services great" or "Jr really fought for his district".
Maybe all his buddies on Wall Street can bankroll him now as payback for his prostitution when he was on the Finance Committee.
Junior is only out for Junior.... and whoever donates enough money to his campaign.
Junior is totally a douche bag. A Republican douche bag. All Gillibrand has to do is play cuts of his Bush-licking Iraq war loving bullshit. It won't play well in NY. Junior is a Southern Lieberman.
I can't believe that Harold Ford Jr. is running for Senate in New York and not Tennessee. I hope he win. Good Luck!
Is there a term for reverse carpet-bagging?
Maybe Jr should be considered to be "Tea Bagging" since he is (not so) secretly a Republican? Just some random thoughts...
Hahahah... it's the gift that keeps on giving:
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/01/nobod…
but wait, there's more:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/011…
Mr. Ford still wants to be a U.s. Senator. I am would not be surprised if he ran. He can't run in Tennessee because he would definitely loose. If Hillary cmove from the small town of Park Ridge, Illinois to become a U. S. Senator, why can't Harold do the same thing. David Letterman is waiing to talk to you, Harold.
Now that Mr. Ford has a beautiful blonde wife, he'll never be elected a US senator in Tennessee.
Not all of TN is opposed to a politician having a beautiful blonde wife. Would you have rather he married a blonde like...oh, say...Janis Fullilove?
Mayfield, your comment has racial under(over)tones or your wife is butt ugly and you are jealous.
THIS WEEK'S ISSUE
SPECIAL ISSUES
