Why didn't Ted Kennedy run for president ?

[Prince Paul]

I know about him wanting to run in the 60's or 70's but couldn't because of the car crash he was in, then ran for the nomination against Carter in the 80's and lost. But why hasn't he ran more recently, like in 2004 or 2008. I think it would be no contest, he'd win the nomination so easily. And he definitely could have beaten bush in 04

[YOY]

1. Baggage

Bad baggage. Nothing that really effects his character, but enough to not get him elected.

[Redneck Socialist]

2. Chappaquiddick initially, then his loss to Carter pretty much took the wind out of his sails.

He's Senator for life and one of the best ever. Running for president is brutal work. I doubt he sees much incentive to give it another go.

[Marrah_G]

3. self-delete

[Totally Committed]

4. He did run -- against Carter for the nomination.

Carter won the nomination.

I think he hasn't run more recently because up until JFK, Jr. died in that plane crash, he was assumed to be the next to run. Ted got too old and too tired, is my guess -- and he knows what happes to Kennedys when they are seen as possible winners of elections...

That's only a guess, though.

TC

[dflprincess]

5. I'm not sure he really wanted to be president

I supported him in 1980, but I got the sense that he was running then to get it over and done with. Once he'd run once and lost, people might not expect him to do it again and he wouldn't have to go throught the "will Ted run?" every 4 years.

[radiclib]

6. I don't think he wants to be president

and probably never really did, but seemed to feel obligated to run in 1980, maybe just to get it over with. I've always felt that if he really wanted it, he wouldn't have chosen to make his only campaign against a sitting prez of his own party.
Also, sadly, he probably couldn't win a national campaign. Chappaquidick alone is too much baggage, not to mention various rumors of drunken debauchery over the years.
Kennedy clearly loves the US Senate, and continues to serve it with unparalleled distinction.

I should learn to type faster!

[Baby Snooks]

9. Debauchery?

I think most would be afraid at this point to start throwing that around. Even some of the Democrats.

I personally believe he has served the American people best as a senator. He at times is a singular voice for those who have no voice in Washington. That makes up for all the supposed debauchery. Emphasis on the word supposed.

[radiclib]

15. RUMORS of debauchery

is what I refer to, and they're out there, like it or not.

[hisownpetard]

7. The skeleton in his closet: Mary Jo Kopechne. n/t

[onenote]

8. he ran in 76 and in 80 and lost the nomination both times

here's a link that provides information about the results of the various primaries in 76 and 80.

http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=200

[book_worm]

11. he didn't run in '76--only in '80

If he hadn't had the Kopechne tragedy he would have run in '72 and perhaps have beaten Nixon. The numbers for '76 are people who wrote his name in.

[onenote]

13. thanks for the info. n/t

[hedgehog]

10. I think he ran in 1980 over frustration with leaders in the Party

who were a proto-DLC. I think the Congressional Democrats were too content with the status quo. I think Jimmy Carter would have taken a stronger stand against torture but that too many people in his administration were pushing a real politik agenda that was very short sighted. It didn't help that Mondale was spreading the anti-gospel that America had no money left to address its problems.

I voted for Ted in the primaries and for john Anderson in the general election because I was so disappointed at Carter's inability to push a Progressive agenda.

As to why he didn't run again; I would suggest two reasons. One, that campaign proved that Chappaquiddick would never go away. Two, Ted had a serious drinking problem. It took him years to recognize that and address it.

[Steve_in_California]

12. The Kennedy Tri-fecta would be too tempting a prize for some maniac.

Having 2 brothers assassinated tends to take the glamour out of the job.

[ginnyinWI]

16. exactly.

Talk about putting a target on your back...

[Connie_Corleone]

14. WAY too much baggage.

Decades of baggage that no one wants to go thru.