An Open Seat in Vermont... Could be a tough race.
Moooooo:
The Hill reports on Senate contenders in Vermont:
The announcement [by Jeffords] paved the way for a match-up between Rep. Bernie Sanders, the independent whose politics are to the left of most Democrats, and Gov. Jim Douglas (R), a centrist who easily won his second term last year by more than 20 percentage points.
A Vermont source with close ties to the state Republican Party said that President Bush had called Douglas yesterday asking him to run. While Douglas has yet to announce his plans, the source said that Douglas “is definitely going to run for the Senate seat.”
Jason Gibbs, a spokesman for the governor, said Douglas is focused on the state legislative session and has not made any decisions about the Senate race. The governor was attending a policy forum yesterday in Columbus, Ohio, organized by the Republican Governors Association, Gibbs said.
The governor was portrayed as supportive of abortion rights and more middle-of-the-road than the president when it came to the environment. Still, he served as Bush’s campaign chairman in Vermont in 2004.
As for Sanders, he left little doubt that his long-held plan to run for the Senate was unwavering. “I know the discussion will turn quickly to the November 2006 election,” the congressman said in a statement. “I have been clear about my intentions, which have not changed, but today is not the time to talk about politics or elections.”
Also, from the Boston Globe:
Representative Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, said his party members expected Sanders to run for the Senate. If that happens, Frank said, senior members of the party would discourage other Democrats from challenging Sanders, avoiding a three-way race that could tip the election to a Republican in the liberal-leaning state.
they don't love you like i love you:
I'm no worried at all about Douglas:
1-Governors of hte wrong party, while they may be popular and can win their gubernatorial races easily, don't always end up as great Senate candidates. See William Weld and Tony Knowles.
2-Douglas may be popular, but the main reason he won so easily last time is he had a very weak opponent and the Democrats didn't bother to try to beat him. Hardly proof he can win a tough competitive race.
3-Vermont has two year terms for governor. Why would Douglas abandon the governorship for a long shot Senate race?
4-Sanders got almost 10 points better than Douglas did last time. It's no contest as to who is more popular.
MHS2002:
Hmm...I hope Douglas runs and can at least force the DSCC to put some money in the state. Still Sanders' seat to lose, methinks.
they don't love you like i love you:
Quote from: Attorney General MHS2002 on April 22, 2005, 11:08:03 AM
Hmm...I hope Douglas runs and can at least force the DSCC to put some money in the state. Still Sanders' seat to lose, methinks.
Keep in mind how large Vermont is. It would hardly be a drain.
AuH2O:
Here's my question: how is it determined, and who determines, whether or not there is a Democratic primary at all?
And if there isn't, what is Vermont's process for getting on the ballot?
This is another race, by the way, on what amounts to Democrat turf. Douglas is competitive, without question, and is rather moderate but nonetheless a Republican. Sanders, in reality, is leftist even by Vermont standards, primarily on economic issues.
What this amounts to is at least another headache for the Dems, who now are trusting that an independent Socialist can win a seat to limit further damage to the Senate Democrats.
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