Why I just crossed Evan Bayh of my 2008 list...

[nickshepDEM]

We cannot afford to throw valuable Senate seats away. Republican Governor would appoint a Republican Senator who would hold the seat for life.

No flaming necessary. Bayh's not perfect, no one is, but he represents the state of Indiana well. Stay there, Senator.

[thatsrightimirish]

1. it's actually a risk

Indiana will also be voting for a new governor in 2008. I don't know how popular he is.

[Indiana_Dem]

4. BELIEVE ME--he's VERY unpopular....

we've had "Ditch Mitch" bumper stickers everywhere on cars since the first few months he was elected. He's tried to privatize everything from our state prisons to our state mental hospitals and HAS gotten it done in some places--(working his way from the south to the north). He's leased some of our interstates to foreigners--that's a no-no around here. He changed the whole state to daylight savings time which many did not want. Most recently, its been announced that he has contracted the state welfare system over to IBM.

I'm almost dead sure he'll be gone.

[SaveElmer]

2. Well that is certainly a consideration...but

would not be enough to keep me from voting for him...

Right now he would be my number 2 choice for the Democratic nomination if Hillary ultimately decides not to run...

[nickshepDEM]

8. I respect the hell out of Bayh. I like him, but I really think he should hold onto

that senate seat.

[SaveElmer]

11. Well there are a few considerations...

First, my understanding is that Mitch Daniels is incredibly unpopular... so we may knock him off in 2008 and that would solve the problem..

Second, it is likely, though by no means sure we will take more Senate seats in 2008...the dynamics definitely favor us...

Third, It isn't out of the question a Democrat could unseat whoever is appointed...Bayh did succeed in helping turn three seats in Indiana blue this last go around!!!

It really depends on who is running and how they do in the early primaries...but right now this jsut would not be enough to keep me from supporting him.

[Ignacio Upton]

18. We were "supposed" to lose Senate seats in 2006

Because we were defending more seats this past year than the Republicans, so defending more seats alone doesn't mean that the GOP will lose seats in 2008. Also, if we nominate a weak candidate without coat-tails in Congressional races, then we could lose Congress again.

[rep the dems]

21. Wow, wow let's be a little more optimistic.

We've only got 12 seats to defend in '08, and it seems that most of them will stay with us. I know Kerry,Durbin,and Biden will be up for reelection, and they should all win easily. I can't think of any others right now, but I think the overall outlook is pretty good.

[Ignacio Upton]

3. Daniels is up for re-election in 2008

So if we beat him and put a Democrat in, then that won't be a problem.

[IndianaGreen]

5. and he is very unpopular, even among Republicans

His biggest booboo, out of a whole phletora of booboos, was when he messed with the clocks (Hoosiers don't care for daylight savings time).

[indygrl]

22. It's not just daylight savings time.

Some of the state is on Central and some on Eastern. Before he changed
the time some were on Central daylight time year round and some changed from CST to CDT with the seasons. The change was made to correct confusion. ????????

His leasing the road to the foreigners took property tax away from the counties. Any business along the new road will not be charged property tax and as I understand it the other roads that could be used instead of the new one will not be maintained after the new ones are built. In 75 yrs when it turned over to Indiana it and all those other roads will probably be mud holes.

[LiberalFighter]

35. There is I believe a 10 mile restriction on both sides of the toll-road

that the state cannot build new roads while the lease is in effect.

[Bobbie Jo]

24. "My Man Mitch" has been a disaster for Indiana...n/t

[LiberalFighter]

36. Many don't use that all the letters in that phrase.... the last m is not

[Bobbie Jo]

37. That was my first instinct....took the high road.

In the interest of decorum and all.....:evilgrin:

[LiberalFighter]

34. If he runs again... It is possible that he figures the job is too much

[Indiana_Dem]

6. good thinking. I'm a Hoosier and I like

Tom Vilsak (sp?). I heard him speak this weekend and I'm really impressed. He's my favorite right now.

[ruggerson]

7. YOu have to remember Nick

we're probably going to be gaining another 3 or 4 Senates seats in '08. There are a whole slew of vulnerable REpublican seats up and very few Democratic ones.

[nickshepDEM]

10. True and as I've said in the past, I like Bayh, I'm a fan of Bayh.

We're beginning to see just how important control of the Senate is. I just dont think its worth the risk.

[spooky3]

12. I think it all depends on the person--look at the VA example

No one thought ANYONE had a chance to dislodge Macaca in this traditionally reddish state. Who would've thought that Mark Warner and then Tim Kaine would win the governorship? But in state campaigns, unlike national campaigns, you do have the opportunity to make face-to-face connections with a high % of the electorate. If you are someone people are drawn to, and have a good platform and the $ and organization, you have a good chance.

[Hav]

9. .

That were my thoughts after I got to know he is the Senator from Indiana. After I read it, I actually looked it up because I couldn't believe it. I guess he's pretty popular even among Republicans so I'd rather have him as a Senator in a state like Indiana, too.

Even if we might win some new seats in 2008, I don't know whether we could get another Dem elected to the Senate in Indiana in the near future.

[Ignacio Upton]

15. Tim Roemer would be a good replacement if Bayh becomes President

However, we need to unseat Daniels in order for that to happen.

[nickshepDEM]

16. or Elsworth...

[Ignacio Upton]

17. I'd rather not risk any of the three seats we just won

Considering that we will have to defend them again in two years. Bayh could easily help us keep those Senate seats and do well in Congressional races, while someone like Hillary would be a net drag on coat-tails. While Roemer is a little conservative for my tastes, he has enough of a resume to hold that seat if he gets appointed.

[LiberalFighter]

38. There are only two that might had had a chance to be elected state-wide

Former Governor Frank O'Bannon unfortunately he is dead. The other is Joe Kernan as long as Evan Bayh doesn't get in his way.

Supposedly it was Bayh's insistence on having his choice of Party Chair that discouraged Kernan from seeking the position. Kernan announced in December of 2002 that he would not seek the office of Governor. It was only after O'Bannon died in September that Kernan reconsidered his decision not to run. The decision was announced in November of 2003.


Personally, I don't believe any U.S. Senator should have the say so on who should be the Chair of the State Party when there is a sitting Governor of the same party.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

13. I already crossed him off my list because he's a DLCer (no offense)

[FrenchieCat]

14. Bayh has got a strong resume in terms of "electabily.......for sure, but

for he's comes off as a push-over....and for whatever reason, he reminds me of Alfafa!

[Hippo_Tron]

19. It's a dumb reason unless Bayh intends to resign his seat

Control of the White House is far more important than losing a single senate seat. To not make such a trade is foolish. That said I don't like Bayh because he hasn't taken a bold stand on anything in his life.

[Catchawave]

20. I've thought of that too, bummer.

Unless we pick up more seats in '08 ... if the 110th kicks butt, right?

[Eric J in MN]

26. 21 Republican Senate seats are up in 2008 vs. 12 Democratic

...Senate seats.

I'm confident Democrats will have a net gain of at least two seats.

[Catchawave]

32. Cool beans, thanks!

Virginia rumor has it that John Warner's retiring, Mark Warner's on deck. I think, if true, that's a pick-up safe seat ?!

Not ruling out Bayh either ! Think where we were at this time before '76 and '92 ! Jimmy and Bill who?

Are we having fun yet :toast:

[snowbear]

23. Kerry didn't give up his seat....

Why would Bayh have to? ;-)

[Eric J in MN]

25. You're right. Bayh's next Senate election is 2010. NT

NT

[LiberalFighter]

39. Quayle didn't give up his Senate seat in 1992

When Diddy Daddy Bush won in 1992 the Governor appointed Dan Coats as his replacement for the remainder of the term.

[Ignacio Upton]

27. We control the Senate too this time

So we can set key votes in a way that won't compromise his schedule like when the GOP set votes that forced Kerry and Edwards to return to D.C.

[rep the dems]

30. Kerry would have if he had won. And then Romney would appoint

some douchebag to take his seat. So if Bayh were to run and win the presidency in '08, someone will obviously have to take his seat.

[Infinite Hope]

28. Bayh was a proponent of Bush's tax cuts early on.

I remember that causing a lot of outcry from Democrats at the time.

[paulk]

31. he voted against Bush's 2001 tax cuts

http://www.vote-smart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=CNIP9107&type=category&category=Budget%252C%2BSpending%2Band%2BTaxes&go.x=10&go.y=7

[loyalsister]

29. I wrote him off long ago.....

He voted to override Clinton's veto of the partial birth abortion ban.
He has great potential to get even less pro-choice in the current political climate.

[tulip]

33. Mitch Daniels won't survive

08