Graham strategy pins all hopes on Iowa

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Sat, Sep. 27, 2003

Graham strategy pins all hopes on Iowa
The senator's advisors believe a fourth- or fifth-place finish in the caucuses would give him newfound legitimacy.
BY PETER WALLSTEN
[e-mail]

NEW YORK - After a spate of last-place finishes in early opinion polls and indications of dismal fundraising, Sen. Bob Graham has settled on a shoot-the-moon strategy for his struggling presidential campaign: Pour all he's got into Iowa and hope for the best.

The best, his campaign strategists say, is finishing as high as fourth in the state's Jan. 19 caucuses -- enough, they say, to let the political world know that Graham is a factor.

''It's not a question of winning as much as it is beating expectations,'' Paul Johnson, Graham's campaign manager, said in a telephone interview from his home in Shreveport, La.

Even as national pundits and strategists for competing campaigns wave off Florida's senior senator and former two-term governor as a footnote in the 10-person field vying for the Democratic nomination, Graham and his advisors have carved out what they readily acknowledge is a long-shot, lightning-strike scenario. (snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/6871321.htm

[bluestateguy]

1. Who? Oh, yeah him...

Is he still in the race? Isn't that cute. :)

[CMT]

2. I like Graham

a great deal but when candidates start talking about all or nothing, pinning all on one state that is a sign that the campaign is in trouble. Graham is a great life long Democrat and has raised many questions during the coarse of this campaign about Iraq and Bush's national security credentials. I think he would be a good choice for VP.

[jamesinca]

3. This is not looking good for Graham

I hope he will consider a job in the Cabinet of the eventual winner.

[fla nocount]

4. "Big Sugar" Daddy Graham

(Developers Darling-Fla.) needs to be looking after his Senate seat if he wants to continue the illusion of doing what's good for the party. Graham IMHO is the perfect innocuous corner dweller who doesn't offend (unless you study him for years) but certainly cannot lead. His contacts would be valuable in cabinet but his senate seat counting on the Dem. side of the isle is much more important.

[indigo11153]

5. I like Bob

I think he is really the best person of the whole field. He had the good sense and courage to vote against the war as well.