Douglas opts out of Senate run; Dubie says he may get in (VT)

[Moooooo]

From Boston.Com

Gov. James Douglas opted out of a run for the U.S. Senate, announcing Saturday he will seek re-election next year. Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie immediately said he may jump into the race for the open Senate seat.

Douglas said he had too many unfinished priorities as governor after just a little more than two years in office.

Dubie also stood along the wall as Douglas spoke and he told reporters afterward that he was considering a run to succeed Sen. James Jeffords, the independent who announced two weeks ago that he would not seek re-election to a fourth term.

"I'm interested. I'm very interested," Dubie said. "But I'm not a candidate."

[Keystone Phil]

Not good. Looks like a Senator Sanders.

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

Yeah!  Finally socialists will get our fair representation!  (We are about 1% of the population, right?)

[Moooooo]

This isnt over, yet.  The GOP will fight tooth and nail till the very end in order to keep Sanders out of the U.S. Senate.  Vermont's right-leaning Dwinell Political Report, notes that corporate executive Richard Tarrant "has let it be known that he will personally spend $5 million to buy the seat."  This is just the beginning...

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

if he wants to waste $5 million, go ahead.

[AuH2O]

Sanders can be beaten. But it will depend on his opponent's campaign strength. The truth is that Sanders is to the left of even most Vermonters, whether or not brtd and others with limited knowledge of public opinion data think otherwise.

[Sam Spade]

This isnt over, yet.  The GOP will fight tooth and nail till the very end in order to keep Sanders out of the U.S. Senate.  Vermont's right-leaning Dwinell Political Report, notes that corporate executive Richard Tarrant "has let it be known that he will personally spend $5 million to buy the seat."  This is just the beginning...

There is also a rumor that Tarrant himself might run for the seat, fyi.

[PADem]

Not good. Looks like a Senator Sanders.

Perhaps the right will hate him with the same fiery passion that the left has against Santorum?

[Keystone Phil]

Not good. Looks like a Senator Sanders.

Perhaps the right will hate him with the same fiery passion that the left has against Santorum?

Probably. I know I will (though my least favorite Senator will likely still be Durbin)

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

This isnt over, yet.  The GOP will fight tooth and nail till the very end in order to keep Sanders out of the U.S. Senate.  Vermont's right-leaning Dwinell Political Report, notes that corporate executive Richard Tarrant "has let it be known that he will personally spend $5 million to buy the seat."  This is just the beginning...

There is also a rumor that Tarrant himself might run for the seat, fyi.

Except if you read the Dwinell article, it also has this to say about Tarrant's candidacy:

We wish him well, but we expect an investment in Pan American Airlines might do better. We watched him not work the room at the recent VTGOP fundraising event in Burlington. Terribly shy, aloof, or inept for a political wannabe, he did not meet or greet. He was very engaged with Mrs. Tarrant, certainly a worthy trait, but she only has one vote.

I think you pretty much have to be a decent retail politician to win in a state as small as Vermont.

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

Sanders can be beaten. But it will depend on his opponent's campaign strength. The truth is that Sanders is to the left of even most Vermonters, whether or not brtd and others with limited knowledge of public opinion data think otherwise.

if it were possible to beat him, the GOP would have at least TRIED to win his House seat by now.

[Moooooo]

My take... The GOP polled and Douglas came up short, real short.

Of course Sanders can be defeated.  So can Trent Lott down in Mississippi, but I wouldnt bet the farm.

[Smash255]

Sanders is a landslide

[A18]

Sanders is a landslide

Shut up. All you ever say is "DEMOCRAT LANDSLIDE!!!"

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

Sanders is a landslide

Shut up. All you ever say is "DEMOCRAT LANDSLIDE!!!"

Sanders isn't a Democrat and since it's unlikely they'll be able to find anyone to run against him except the type of joke candidate who runs against him for House every election, he'll probably get as much as he does in the House.

My prediction: Sanders + possible joke Democratic candidate will get at least as much as Kerry did.

[Moooooo]

Sanders is obviously much more extreme then Santorum.

How?

[Smash255]

Sanders is a landslide

Shut up. All you ever say is "DEMOCRAT LANDSLIDE!!!"

Well Sanders isn't a Dem, although he mainly votes Dem & has the backing of the Dems.  Regardless this is a popular liberal in a very liberal state.

[TheresNoMoney]

Here is a quote from Bernie's website:


Dear Friends:

This last week has been cataclysmic for Vermont politics. As you no doubt know, Senator Jim Jeffords has announced that, for health reasons, he will not be seeking re-election in 2006.

All of us owe Senator Jeffords an enormous debt of gratitude. Alone among nationally elected Republicans Jim Jeffords said “enough is enough” - and then bolted from a party which had moved so far to the right that he could no longer support its extremist agenda. As a life-long Republican this was not an easy decision for him and his family and required great courage. As recently as a few weeks ago the leadership of the Vermont Republican Party was continuing to attack him viciously.

I have known Jim Jeffords for over 30 years and want to take this opportunity to wish him and his wife Liz the very best in their future endeavors. It has been an honor and privilege to have worked with him over the last 15 years.

I have told Vermonters for several years that if Senator Jeffords decided not to seek re-election, I would run for that seat. And that is exactly what I intend to do. With 15 years of experience in the U.S. House I feel ready to represent Vermont and working Americans throughout the country as a U.S. Senator in the fight for social and economic justice.

I have no illusions that this will be an easy race. Quite the contrary! By running for the U.S. Senate we will be taking on the most powerful, well-financed and mean-spirited political organization in American history – the Republican National Committee and all of their affiliates.

Because the Republican Party faithfully serves the interests of the rich and corporate America, they will have an unlimited amount of money to spend on this campaign. Because their party has nothing significant to say about the real problems facing the American people, their campaign will no doubt reflect Karl Rove’s politics of personal destruction.

Tell 'em Bernie!

 

[PADem]

Not good. Looks like a Senator Sanders.

Perhaps the right will hate him with the same fiery passion that the left has against Santorum?

Probably. I know I will (though my least favorite Senator will likely still be Durbin)

Durbin? Thats a surprise? I would have expected your least favourite senator to be someone like Kerry, Kennedy or Boxer.

[Keystone Phil]

Not good. Looks like a Senator Sanders.

Perhaps the right will hate him with the same fiery passion that the left has against Santorum?

Probably. I know I will (though my least favorite Senator will likely still be Durbin)

Durbin? Thats a surprise? I would have expected your least favourite senator to be someone like Kerry, Kennedy or Boxer.

Boxer is probably second and Kennedy is likely third on my list. I just can't stand Durbin.

[Jake]

Durbin is very smug, like the kid on the playground who wasn't very well liked, but still acted like he was cooler than everyone else. Boxer just inspires the "turn the channel" reaction from me.

[PADem]

Durbin is very smug, like the kid on the playground who wasn't very well liked, but still acted like he was cooler than everyone else. Boxer just inspires the "turn the channel" reaction from me.

Now you understand how a lot of people feel about Santorum. I think people who spew torrents of liberal ''crap'' such as Boxer are idiots, as well as their right-wing equivalents eg Santorum.