Kerrey mulling comeback, revives Democratic hopes

[Judi Lynn]

Published: Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012 / Updated: Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012 03:47 PM
Kerrey mulling comeback, revives Democratic hopes
By MARGERY BECK and HENRY C. JACKSON - Associated Press

By MARGERY BECK and HENRY C. JACKSON OMAHA, Neb. -- More than a decade after he left this heartland state for New York City, former Sen. Bob Kerrey is considering an improbable comeback run for his old Senate seat, a prospect even he rates as a longshot.

"I would say if you bet ... you'd have to bet against me," Kerrey told The Associated Press this week. "I've been away 11 years. I'm a Democrat. Obama's going to top the ticket, and he's probably going to be unpopular. So I'd say the odds are probably not good."

Since the Senate was founded, only 22 senators have been re-elected to the chamber after a two-term or more gap, according to research by Eric Ostermeier, a research associate at the University of Minnesota, who runs the web site Smart Politics. An even smaller sliver of those, Ostermeier said, have occurred in the "modern era" of political campaigns.

More:
http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/01/12/3659583/kerrey-mulling-comeback-revives.html

[MrModerate]

1. "Obama's going to be unpopular . . ."

A very dickish, unhelpful, craven, and probably incorrect statement. I think Bob should stay in NYC.

Between Omaha and NYC, I know which I'd choose.

[karynnj]

14. He's speaking of Nebraska - and it is likely pretty realistic

I would guess that he is simply thinking out loud - and there he is listing the real difficulties. It may signal that he is pretty leery about doing it - or he might be making that case - in advance - that he knows it will not be easy.

[disndat]

20. I think Kerrey meant

Obama is going to be unpopular in Nebraska, not in the U.S.

[CoffeeCat]

27. It's important to note that Obama was popular in Nebraska...

...during the Democratic primary and in the Presidential election. Nebraskans rallied
around Obama. There were unprecedented lines at the polls--people voting for Obama
and there was a lot of enthusiasm and support for him.

Nebraska has a caucus system and Obama won handily over Hillary Clinton.

I live in Iowa and remember how our Nebraskan neighbors reacted, as I was an Obama
precinct captain and watching the process very closely.

[paulk]

35. he lost to McCain in the GE by 57 - 42, he won all of 4 counties...

and while he may have won the caucuses by a large margin, he only won the non binding primary, where almost three times as many voters participated, by a 49 - 46 margin. Not exactly a crushing victory and a good argument as to why a caucus system is not a good barometer for "support".

Kerrey is right, Obama is not popular in NE and will be a drag on the ticket down ballet. Any Democrat would.

[Tx4obama]

2. Why the hell did he spew that shit ?

What he said was uncalled for !!!:

"I would say if you bet ... you'd have to bet against me," Kerrey told The Associated Press this week. "I've been away 11 years. I'm a Democrat. Obama's going to top the ticket, and he's probably going to be unpopular. So I'd say the odds are probably not good."

Asshole!
Betcha President Obama won't be doing any campaigning for him!

[karynnj]

15. The context is that he is speaking of Nebraska

I would bet that, if he ran, Obama likely would campaign for him in Omaha. The reason, Obama got one elector from Nebraska because they split their vote by districts. It would be good for Obama and good for Kerrey.

If Kerrey is willing to do it in spite of the low odds (and this was a seat thought 100% certain to be lost when Nelson opted not to run), more power to him. It will be a tough campaign.

[DallasNE]

25. There Is Another Unknown

Concerning Nebraska politics and that there has been this unwritten rule that this Senate seat is the Omaha seat. Nobody from Omaha runs for the seat currently held by Mike Johanns and nobody from outstate runs for this seat. As of today, there is nobody from Omaha running for this seat. Will this matter? Only time will tell. Nebraskans may not be too happy if both Senators come from Lincoln.

[aquarius venus]

26. So any Dem who doesn't support one of his own is automatically an a-hole?

Really? No matter what said Dem does? Wow, just wow...I thought we loved CHOICE so much here...

[JI7]

3. Bob Kerrey was an ass to Obama in 2008 also when he supported Hillary

although even though he likes Hillary he hated her husband.

[limpyhobbler]

4. What are his positions on issues?

like NDAA, SOPA, public option health care, defense spending, social security, etc.

Let's find out what his positions on modern issues are, and then decide whether to support him, based on that.

He has an interesting take on Obama's popularity. He's probably been looking at Nebraska opinion polls where Obama is unpopular. Or he was just speaking off the cuff. It would be incredibly childish and simplistic to harp on that one statement and try to somehow pretend Kerrey is "against obama" or something.

[riglerej]

5. +1

[DCBob]

7. He's a moderate so I suspect many on this site would trash him on many of his positions.

But he could win in NE and that would help us keep the majority in the Senate and stop the Republicans from potentially steamrolling the country.

[center rising]

24. yeah, moderates have no voice in both political parties.

[Grins]

29. It doesn't matter what his views are.

The problem is he's 69. At that age there is no way he can ever build what you need to be a power in the Senate - seniority. Kerrey ran for Senate and won when he was 39. If he had continued to serve he would be running for his 6th term and be a force in the Senate. He didn't, and the party and Nebraska lost. If he gets elected he will most likely serve one term, turn 75, and be gone.

Nebraska, and all states, need to start nominating and electing people in their 40's for the Senate.

And 40's for the lower-court Judges; to be ready in their 50's for a shot at the Supreme Court should there be an opening, I might add.

[MADem]

31. OTOH, he doesn't have to build his network from scratch--he knows people already.

He wasn't sitting on his butt in a closet in NYC--he was out and about there, running the New School.

I'd want to see him saying those words to be sure of the context, but I think he was talking about the voter mood in NE, not doing any personal indicting.

He could probably come back up to speed VERY quickly.

As for age, Teddy Kennedy was very active and getting quite healthy, thanks to his wife, before his cancer came on. Absent the cancer, he probably would have lived a decade or more longer, and he died at 77. Robert Byrd lasted a long time, and he was pretty vigorous for much of his later years. Kerrey could do two tours easy, maybe even a third if he stayed well and had a really sharp staff.

Another article on this topic, with a bit of video:

http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/Kerrey_Returns_To_Nebraska_As_Decision_To_Run_Again_Looms_137222353.html?ref=353

[Hawkowl]

39. I believe his previous seniority counts

I don't think he starts over as a freshman senator. I think his previous time counts towards his overall seniority.

[DCBob]

6. I hope he goes for it..

it may be long shot but its our only shot.. imo.

[disndat]

22. Absolutely

The Obama team would support him 100% and that would be countervailing to Kerrey's other negatives. The Senate control is gong to be the election battleground, more than the Presidential race.

[MarianJack]

9. Maybe He Meant that the President...

...would be unpopular in Nebraska, which is one of the deepest red states in the union. This is in spite of the fact that he did pick up one of their electoral votes last time around.

PEACE!

[Omaha Steve]

10. I agree

K&R!

[Wait Wut]

12. You could be right, but...

...then why mention it at all? Because Nebraska is a red state, I would think alienating those that support Pres. Obama would be a bad idea. Why not just run on his own merits instead of either kicking to the curb or latching onto our President? It would be a much more politically safe move. It sounds like he's already accepted defeat and is ready to blame the President for the loss.

[Jester Messiah]

11. Kerrey can go soak his head. [nt]

[BootinUp]

13. I guess he figures

he needs to start making snide disparaging remarks on Obama right away to improve his chances.

[LibDemAlways]

16. When last seen Kerrey was a member of the 9/11

cover-up commission. He's a snake, and, IMO lost all credibility with his participation in that travesty.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

19. I was going to post something similar. Instead, I'll just endorse your statement

Thank you.

[wakemewhenitsover]

21. Bingo.

Yet... if he could win, it's better than having a Republican.

[OrwellwasRight]

34. He co-taught a class I took in college.

Probably the most progressive class I ever took. All about racism, and anti-semitism, and the travesty of the Vietnam War. I'm not sure where all the anti-Kerrey anger is coming from in this thread (not just your post), but I'm not convinced he is the guy you think he is.

[mopinko]

17. jesus. find someone new.

you just can't tell me there is ONE good candidate for that senate seat in the whole f'ing state.

[sarcasmo]

18. NO!

[JJW]

23. Term Limits

Come on people we can stop the insanity in DC. Stop electing these career stooges.

[OrwellwasRight]

33. What does that even mean?

Bob Kerrey was a good, truth-speaking Senator, not a career stooge. And the point of term limits, to erase the advantage of incumbency, would not apply to Kerrey after his long hiatus.

[CoffeeCat]

28. Bob Kerrey acted like an ASS to Obama!!!

Does anyone remember what a schmuck Bob Kerrey was to Obama, during the
2008 Democratic primary?

Kerrey endorsed Hillary and then went on to say this about Obama, when a reporter asked
Kerrey about Obama's presidential qualifications, "It's probably not something that appeals to him, but I like the fact that his name is Barack Hussein Obama."

At the time, people were getting to know Obama (as Iowa led off the beginning of the primary) and many conservatives were trying to undermine Obama by suggesting that he was a Muslim. The Republicans launched a huge smear campaign--suggesting that Obama was a Muslim. So Kerry's remarks were not innocuous, as he later suggested. He clearly knew what he was doing.

It appeared that Kerrey was attempting to help Hillary--by disparaging Obama.

Kerry made these Muslim comments in Iowa, and he later wrote Obama a letter of apology for those heinous remarks!

Kerrey never liked Obama. Kerrey is also a big warmongering-neocon. He is one of the corporatist Dems who would sell their soul to any corporation. The last thing we need is another neocon, corporate loving, corrupt politician in DC. Kerry must really love all of the sociopathic behavior happening in DC these days. He sees our county rotting to the core, and he wants in on all of the money and power that is being coalesced at the very top echelons--which are stacked with powerful politicians, greedy corporations and other mucky mucks.

Kerrey wants in on the psycho party. He can go to hell, as far as I'm concerned.

[paulk]

37. boo hoo

I mean, it's all about Obama, isn't it?

It's really about control of the Senate, kind of shocking, I understand - but just because the fellow was a schmuck (OMG!) to Obama doesn't mean we don't need him to win in NE.

And he has the best chance of any potential Dem candidates, having won that seat in the past.

[CoffeeCat]

38. It's not about Obama...

I'm just pointing out that Kerrey is a third-rate chump and a total ass.

What he did to Obama was smarmy and Rovian. Democrats aren't supposed
to be that shitty to other Democrats. It really has nothing to do with Obama.

And what he did to Obama pales in comparison to his corporate toe sucking
and warmongering.

Hell if we need another corrupt, cowardly Democrat in office who will continue
the neocon warmongering wet dreams while helping the corporate mucky mucks
take over our democracy and make "We The People" irrelevant.

Kerrey blows.

[Citizen Worker]

30. Bob Kerrey is not a friend to working people. Just another Ben Nelson, only worse.

[rebel999]

32. time for everyone to save America from being taken over by the Republicans!

America is in the mist of an revolution and if we don't organize and ALL put our best foot forward we the people will lose this revolution and the rich and the Republicans will again RULE America and furthur enslave us ALL as they have done with Reagan and the Bush sr. and Bush jr.. Sen. Kerry may be the best candidate we have to win a seat in Congress from his state so he has an OBLIGATION to run for the Senate. This election is the most important election in our lifetime and EVERY single Republican will be voting. We NEED candidates to overcome the Republicans. This is no time for Democrats and ALL others to sit on the sidelines and say that they will not vote or not run for office for one reason or the other. If the Republicans win this election then the Bush tax cuts will become permanete, abortions will become illegal, laws that protect our lives and environment will be gutted and our lives will be made miserable in many other ways by the Republicans! Is that what you want Mr. Kerry and the rest of YOU! Wake up and start fighting back! Read my web page at www.mybetteramericaplan.com to see ideas about how the Republicans have destroyed America and how we can win this election by moving voters from sure to win states and sure to lose states into too close to call states and need to win states.

[BlueIris]

36. Interesting. Not because I like the guy, (not a fan, trust me)

but because I find anyone's desire for a comeback to be potentially fun.