Sanders Scares Douglas Out, United Front Crucial

[realFedUp]

http://www.davidsirota.com/2005/04/sanders-scares-douglas-out-united.html

Sanders Scares Douglas Out, United Front Crucial
David Sirota

Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas (R) today announced he is not running in the open-seat 2006 Senate race. This is huge news, and a reflection on how Bernie Sanders has become a dominant force in Vermont and national politics. Douglas was heavily courted by the White House, with President Bush personally lobbying him to run. The fact that he declined such high-powered pleas shows just how frightened the Republicans are - and should be - of Sanders. They no doubt polled the situation, and saw just how wide and deep Sanders support is throughout Vermont. The GOP understands that over the years, Sanders has built an unrivaled following not only among progressives, but, as the Washington Post notes, also among working class conservatives who see Sanders as a lonely voice in Washington with the guts to speak up for their economic concerns. And they understand that for millions of Americans who feel ignored by both parties, Sanders has become a powerful symbol that politicians can be successful AND represent the interests of ordinary people.

Moveon.org also deserves a huge amount of credit for forcing Douglas to back down. They sent an early and strong message that they are not going to let the Republican Party buy this Senate race from Vermonters, and that Sanders is the strongest candidate to win this seat.

Make no mistake about it - the GOP has lost its candidate, but they will find someone to run, and they will still spend a huge amount of money to try to prevent Sanders from winning this seat. Vermont's right-leaning Dwinell Political Report, notes that Republican corporate executive Richard Tarrant "has let it be known that he will personally spend $5 million to buy the seat."

That's why Sanders is still going to need a lot of grassroots help during his campaign. It will also be necessary for Democratic Party officials in Vermont to not try to split the vote and throw the election to the Republicans. The Rutland Herald notes, that while "Democrats have, so far, seemed to be shy to enter" that "decision is far from a certainty, according to speculation among top Democratic operatives in the state." Throwing a nominal Democrat into the race to peel off 5 or 10 percent of the vote could seriously embolden the Republicans - even national Democratic Party leaders understand the danger of that, and are strongly backing Sanders.

This is an area where, as DNC Chairman, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean can play a huge role in making sure a nominal Democratic spoiler doesn't split the vote and help give the seat to the GOP. He knows as well as anyone that progressives and Democrats must remain united behind Sanders (as they have in Vermont for years) in order to make sure we hold this critical Senate seat.

Sources:
Sanders' strength among working-class conservatives: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4481-2005Apr20.html
Sanders boosted by grassroots fundraising support: http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050426/NEWS/504260355/1004
GOP millionaire Tarrant will try to buy the race: http://www.dwinellpoliticalreport.com/dpr_04_28_05.shtml
Help out Bernie: https://secure26.activehost.com/bernie/
Rutland Herald says Dems might field nominal candidate to split vote and throw race to the GOP: http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050430/NEWS/504300379/1004
National Democrats coalesce around Sanders: http://www.davidsirota.com/2005/04/dems-coalescing-around-sanders-in-2006.html

[eleny]

1. Time to open our checkbooks wherever we live

I like listening to Sanders regular visits to Thom Hartmann's radio program.

[realFedUp]

2. yep nt

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. Whoo Hoo Bernie!

a true leader.

[democrank]

4. A year or so ago

I read an ad in our local Vermont paper. Come to a FREE spaghetti supper and chat with Bernie. It was everything I hoped it would be.
Bernie made a short speech then for the rest of the evening he listened. People poured their hearts out about their smal farms, health care, the war in Iraq.

Bernie consistently supports veterans issues and works tirelessly on issues meaningful to the working class. He`s smart, truthful and courageous... so courageous that Washington winces when he opens his mouth. If you`re a middle class or low income American, you can count on Bernie to speak up for you...no matter what.

[realFedUp]

5. Spaghetti and Bernie...

love it.

[Mark E. Smith]

6. Is There A Chance Dean Himself Would Want To Run?

I know Howard Dean has taken on some fairly important responsibilities recently, but wouldn't his voice add something to the Senate as well? And I'll bet once this Tarrant fellow finds out Dean is interested he'll take his $5 million and do something Republican with it like invest in 3rd world sweatshops.

Besides, the Senate is a passing fair soapbox that Dean would certainly make good use of...

[DFLforever]

7. Dean won't run. He has said he has NO interest in the Senate seat.