Black senate candidate breaks down race barrier in Tennessee

[T_i_B]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/10/22/wus22.xml

It was not just their uniform yellow union T-shirts but the fact that they were all white that made the table of burly firemen in the ballroom of the Hilton Hotel in Nashville stand out. Most of those waiting with them were respectably middle class and black — just like the dapper 36-year-old, in an impeccably tailored navy blue suit, who strode confidently to the pulpit to preach on the virtue of electing him to the US Senate.

This was Harold Ford, the Democrat running for office in Tennessee, who has been catapulted to national prominence as the man who may become the first black American to be directly elected to the senate by a southern, and former Confederate, state.

"The national press don't understand why people who don't look like me will vote for me," Mr Ford told his prayer breakfast audience. "But people here are just good, decent people."

His rise in the polls, which has put him at least level-pegging with his Republican opponent in an open senate race, has caught even his supporters by surprise in a state where only 20 per cent of voters are black. Just a month ago he was trailing Bob Corker, the former mayor of Chattanooga, by more than 10 percentage points, but now some polls have put Mr Ford — who has represented Memphis, Tennessee, in the House of Representatives for the past decade — a point or two ahead. Even he admits surprise.

[AmericanGal]

1. Related but I am too new to start new thread--Obama may run for president

This morning on Meet the Press Barack Obama said that he is considering running for President. Tim Russert showed a tape of him from a couple years ago where he stated that he wanted to complete his six year term in congress and absolutely would not consider a presidential run at this time. This morning however he said that he has changed his mind and has thought about entering the presidential race in '08. He said that many people has spoken to him about it. It was a very interesting discussion--first I've seen where he had discussed the issue as being possible. I'm sure this will make the news today...

Anyway, this is my first post here on the DU. Just passing along the news....

[mucifer]

2. welcome gal! I'd love to see Obama run. Tho in the primary I'd vote

Feingold.

[AmericanGal]

3. Ditto on Feingold...

Hmmm, just speculating... Feingold/Obama in '08. Now that would be an interesting election....

[Eric J in MN]

4. If Barack Obama runs, it will help voter registration.

But he's not my first choice to the 2008 Democratic nominee.

[Eric J in MN]

5. AmericanGal - Welcome. There is also a board here for Minnesotans

...to discuss Minnesota politics:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=160

[Jai4WKC08]

6. Welcome to DU, AG!

:hi:

I really like Obama, altho I don't think he has enough experience for the Oval Office yet. I'm undecided about whether he'd be a good VP choice. On one hand, VP experience is much better than senate experience in preparing him for a future run (and I definitely think he'll probably be a great choice for 2016). Also, I'd love to see an African American on the ticket, top or bottom. It's way past time. And then there's what he could do for voter turnout.

But I'm concerned that Obama is too "nice" to be a good VP nominee. I don't think he's got enough of the attack dog in him, and I'm further afraid he may hold back if he's looking toward his own reputation for a future presidential run. So far, most of what I've seen of him in the Senate has been all about seeming collegial by compromise with the Repubs.

Nevertheless, I hope he runs. This may sound cynical, but I think he'd bleed off a LOT of support from Hillary Clinton, and that would be a good thing.

[Jai4WKC08]

7. I dunno about Ford...

I used to be wildly enthusiastic about him. And I still hope like hell he wins the TN Senate seat. As someone who grew up in GA, I'm especially thrilled at the idea that an "Old South" state could actually elect an African American to state-wide office. It's a really big step for the good, no matter what the reasons.

But damn, it bothers me somethin' awful the way he is leaning so far to the right to do it.

Like I said... I dunno. Maybe he needs to. I haven't lived in the South for a long time, but there ain't much doubt why those states are as red as they are. And I'm sure Ford knows the voters of his state better than I do.

To tell the truth, I'm hoping that Ford will turn out to be one of the really smart red-state Democrats who manage to vote our way most of the time, but still keep their constituents happy that they aren't one of those "damn lib'ruls" that they are all so afraid of.