posted on November 3, 2004 02:32:12 PM new
Countdown for 2008 Election Begins
26 minutes ago Politics - AP
By TOM RAUM, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - The day that dropped the curtain on the 2004 presidential race raised one for the 2008 contest, with Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (news - web sites) and John Edwards (news - web sites) jockeying for advantage among Democrats and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist the first on the stage for Republicans.
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It's only four more years to go minus a day. Who's counting? Lots of folks.
"You can be disappointed, but you cannot walk away. This fight has just begun," Edwards told Democratic loyalists in Boston in a concession speech that also could qualify as the leadoff stump speech of the next presidential campaign.
The Democratic decks are cleared with John Kerry (news - web sites)'s defeat, and Edwards and Clinton start off as early favorites within their party for 2008. Not that they or Kerry are talking about any plans so soon.
Since Bush cannot run again, the race is wide open on the Republican side as well, even more so than it would normally be. Usually the outgoing incumbent's vice president is the automatic favorite for the nomination. For instance, Democratic Vice Presidents Walter Mondale in 1984 and Al Gore (news - web sites) in 2000, Republican Vice President George H.W. Bush in 1988.
But Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites), who is 63 and has a history of heart disease, has ruled out a run on his own for president.
That leaves a potentially crowded field including Sens. Frist of Tennessee, John McCain of Arizona, George Allen of Virginia, Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (news - web sites), New York Gov. George Pataki and Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with no early favorite.
Frist wasted no time in putting himself into play, beginning a "victory tour" of the South on Wednesday that included stops in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina with victorious GOP Senate candidates.
"Last night was a monumental victory" for the GOP-led Senate, Frist said. Wins included a five-state sweep of the South and the defeat of Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle in South Dakota. Frist's expanded GOP majority gives him a high-profile platform at least for the next two years. Frist said he will stick with a pledge to resign from the chamber when his second term is up in 2006.
Clinton, who would have been sidelined in 2008 with a Kerry-Edwards victory, is now front and center among would-be Democratic contenders. And her supporters were busy getting her name in circulation.
The former first lady has plenty of name recognition and a wide following. But some analysts suggest she could meet the same fate as Kerry as a liberal senator from a Northeastern state, despite the years she spent in Arkansas.
"She's already known. The public is already polarized around her," said political analyst Stuart Rothenberg.
Doug Schoen, who served as former President Bill Clinton (news - web sites)'s presidential pollster, said it was too early "to talk personalities. The party's got to get repositioned first. It has to get back to the center with an aggressive assertion of traditional values."
Edwards might seem to have an advantage, being from the South. He drew high likability ratings on the campaign trail, both during the Democratic primaries and as Kerry's running mate. But his liabilities include a lack of political and foreign policy experience. And his decision not to seek re-election this year will make it hard for him to stay in the spotlight.
A trial lawyer, Edwards urged Kerry on Wednesday not to concede so quickly, but to make sure all options were explored.
Other Democrats who might run for the nomination in 2008 include Kerry himself, Sen. Evan Bayh (news, bio, voting record) of Indiana and Govs. Rod Blagojevich of Illinois and Tom Vilsack of Iowa. And, up and coming, the party's rising star, Barack Obama, of Illinois, who will be the only black member of the Senate when he is sworn in January.
"There is an abundance of people" willing and eager to run, said Ross Baker, a political scientist at Rutgers University.
And Baker said a campaign like the past one long, bitter and costly may be becoming the norm in American politics. "It's like the Iditarod. It's this long race. You're exhausted and the dogs die," Baker said.
posted on November 3, 2004 03:44:46 PM new
If the dems ever run hillary...they're just asking to lose again. She's to dividing a personality. And then there's all those who thought her husbands administration was one of the most corrupt. Plus, as a woman, I don't like women who steal silverware from others.
Edwards might seem to have an advantage, being from the South. He drew high likability ratings on the campaign trail, both during the Democratic primaries and as Kerry's running mate.
Edwards 'likability' didn't even get his own state to go to kerry. Besides his inexperience being a major problem for one just a heartbeat away from being President.
Now Obama has 3-4 years to prove himself...prove he's a uniter who doesn't just blindly following the democratic platform - as he claims he doesn't. He might be a possibility in 2008...time will tell.
posted on November 3, 2004 04:00:42 PM new
Linda - honestly here... those people that you think would never vote for Hillary... do you think they would vote for a different democrat or are they in reality, Republicans who would not vote for god himself if he were on a democratic ticket?
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on November 3, 2004 04:25:29 PM new
Yes, fenix, I believe many would vote for another moderate dem...with the right qualifications...or a RINO like McCain over another liberal democrat in a minute.
I believe there are some in each party who would never vote other than their party line. Then I feel there are the more moderates, also in both parties, who would swing into the 'other' party if the 'right' candidate was nominated. Then there are those from the ever growing Independents that will make their decisions on the individual themself rather than a party line of any sort.
So...the dem party doesn't have enough registered voters to win any election without either reps and/or Indep. joining their ranks.
And I believe there are many conservative and moderate dems that would not support a hillary presidency....because she's too liberal...like Ted Kennedy. Too much old history...too many enemies accumulated over the years. Like I said...maybe fresh faces like Obama...should he prove himself in the next 3-4 years. Or others like him.
posted on November 3, 2004 04:30:47 PM new
I would like to see Gore run again.
Lets see I think Hilary vs. Jeb?
Let's see Jeb - that would be an unwise choice. That would turn into another anybody but Bush campaign. I think the public has had enough Bush in the White House.
There's an old saying in Tennessee I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee that says, fool me once, shame on shame on you. Fool me you can't get fooled again." George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002
---------------------------------- "Give it up for George W. Bush, the best friend international jihad ever had."
posted on November 3, 2004 04:43:16 PM new
I think the main reason that Jeb will never run is the inevitable flair up over the exotic dancer that ended up on his payroll.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on November 3, 2004 04:43:47 PM new
I am a moderate Republican and do not always vote along party lines....I did this time though.
However...I would not vote for Hillary. I would be willing to see how Obama does in the next few years, but see him as VP first. I always liked McCain, Santorum, and Powell. Too many choices, and too much can happen in 3+ years (they'll make a choice by then).
posted on November 3, 2004 04:46:57 PM new
I'd like to see another gore run too.
Boy you lefties must really not ever want to have a dem WH ever again according to who you'd like to see nominated for your party. LOL
gore has totally flipped out and even his own party laughs at him. I wonder if he ever figured out just who the 'real' gore is yet...or if he's still changing the 'face' he puts out each time we hear from him. Last time I saw him he was busting his blood vessels and screaming at the top of his lungs. Figures some dems would want to see a half crazed man representing their party. oh brother...you can't be THAT desperate.
posted on November 3, 2004 05:43:39 PM new
Linda! its been a long time since I 'heard' the phrase RINO (Repubican in name only) or DINO (Democrat in name only)
I think.... that they'll try and change things, so Arnold could run. Though I like Arnold, I believe that would be too drastic a change.
posted on November 3, 2004 05:47:44 PM newI think.... that they'll try and change things, so Arnold could run. Though I like Arnold, I believe that would be too drastic a change.
I would be voting against changing the constitution to allow foreigners to be President. First Arnold, then we will have members of the Osama family that will become residents of the US and run for office in 2020.
There's an old saying in Tennessee I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee that says, fool me once, shame on shame on you. Fool me you can't get fooled again." George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002
---------------------------------- "Give it up for George W. Bush, the best friend international jihad ever had."
posted on November 3, 2004 05:50:24 PM new
The Republicans want a return to family values so much, you should get Alan Keyes to make a run for President again in 2008.
He would make a great choice after that fine showing here in Illinois for the U.S. Senate.
7 out of 10 people decide to vote for sin (Obama) instead of family values (Keyes). Makes you wonder what people really think of "family values"
There's an old saying in Tennessee I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee that says, fool me once, shame on shame on you. Fool me you can't get fooled again." George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002
---------------------------------- "Give it up for George W. Bush, the best friend international jihad ever had."
posted on November 4, 2004 12:10:37 AM new
I think the Republicans should run the conservative spokesperson for family values and morals.....Bill O'Riley.
