" "(Hackett) said privately that he's running," said Dem. Senate source.

[Algorem]

"He's going through the process of hiring staff and getting ready." "

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/elizabeth_auster/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1127554730276460.xml&coll=2

Sunday, September 25, 2005
Elizabeth Auster
Plain Dealer Columnist

Ohio may be in for its liveliest U.S. Senate race in a long time...

Paul Hackett, the charismatic Iraq War veteran who became an overnight sensation in Democratic circles this summer when he nearly won a special election for Congress in one of Ohio's most Republican districts, has all but decided to take on DeWine, sources in Washington and Ohio say.

After making the rounds recently in Washington, Hackett has begun trying to assemble a campaign team in hopes of announcing his candidacy in October, they say.

"He's said privately that he's running," said one Democratic Senate source. "He's going through the process of hiring staff and getting ready."...

[liberalnurse]

1. I'm behind this man!

I will be ready on day one to help the campaign.

[Ian David]

2. Fuck that. He needs to run for PRESIDENT!

Hackett/Clark or Hackett/Boxer.

I also think John Kerry would make a good vice president.

[safi0]

3. A few people

Were hesitant about a Hackett run. But I think at this point with Strickland running for Gov. and Brown and Ryan passing on the race Hackett is easily the best option. If he passes you guys probably would've been left with some State Senator which as a Wisconsinite I can tell you isn't that bad(Feingold got elected from the State Senate) but that guy would've been a fairly big underdog.

I also think one thing a lot of people don't take into effect is the rockstar factor. Very few politicians have it as someone who has a Senator who does have it, let me tell you its a huge advantage. The fact is Hackett has it. People will take 2-3 months off there job or leave school to work for this guy. On the other hand I don't know what type of people would really get excited about someone like Dewine. Hes not charimsatic, I just can't see people getting excited about someone like him. Dewine may have more money and I say may because the way Schumer is raising money vs the way Lizzy Dole isn't raising money it could be quite close, but all of the energy will be on his side. Which in a mid-term election is 10x more important than in a General.

[WCGreen]

6. Dewine has a much charisma as a can of sardines.....

Hackett will make him look like the dweeb he is....

[Blue for Ohio]

7. Sherrod Brown might be reconsidering...

according to Chris Cillizza for Washingtonpost.com's new blog:

WashingtonPostBlog

I hope it links properly

[safi0]

9. I doubt this

Very highly. Brown was given first dibbs on the seat and he passed. It seems like the DSCC has moved on and have there focus squarely on Hackett now.

[WCGreen]

10. Sherrod likes what he is doing....

I have known him for years....

He was a first term rep the first year I was a page....

And he was only two years older than I was...

Great guy...

If he leaves the House, it will probably be to come back and end his career in Ohio.....

[safi0]

11. I also think

Sherrod is the only one that genuinely has something to lose of all the candidates who've been considered. He's the ranking member on a subcommitte and I believe hs' second or 3rd on some other committee. Its the same reason Steny Hoyer didn't run in Maryland. If Steny Hoyer wanted to run, he would win. But, if/when the Dems take back the House he'll probably be Majority Leader

[WCGreen]

12. The same with Sherrod....

He would defiantly be in a leadership position...

Remember, they were going to try and take him out with redistricting in 2002....

But he prevailed....

[AngryOldDem]

4. Where do I sign up?

>>>Hackett has begun trying to assemble a campaign team in hopes of announcing his candidacy in October, they say.>>>

Lemme know. I'll be there.

[DemReadingDU]

5. I'm in

when Hacket makes his decision, post how we can sign up!

[Eurobabe]

16. Ditto, please share the goods...

[mtnester]

8. I hate to see him run for Senate

I would rather see him governor, that way, it would be better for him to run for President after bringing Ohio back from the brink, and returning some damn ethics to the state.

And we all know what abysmal luck Senators have with running for Prez...

So, we get him for Governor, Strickland for Senate.(Sorry Mike Coleman, you are the odd man out, unless you want to go for Lt. Governor or SOS).

[safi0]

13. Hackett's in

Short of him making the official speech announcing he's in, this is the closest we'll get: Hackett's campaign manager says he's in and will announce on October 24th in Cincinnatti

http://www.onnnews.com/Global/story.asp?S=3932333&nav=Ls19Lsgn

[Kolesar]

14. Will he change his Iraq War position from "Stay the Course"?

Even better question: Should he change his position??

[rexcat]

15. I will ask him on October 8 in Warren County...

He is a speaker at the Warren County Democratic dinner and there is a "meet the candidates" prior to the dinner.

[Eurobabe]

17. Is this that dinner at Twenty Mile?

how much are tickets?

[rexcat]

18. Here is the information,,,

Democratic Party

Dinner With The Candidates
When: October 8, 2005
Meet and Greet @6PM (Cash Bar)
Dinner Served @7PM
Where: Twenty Mile House
(corner of Montgomery and Columbia in Deerfield Twp.)
Cost: $50/Person

Warren County Democratic Headquarters, 8 E. 5th Street, Franklin, Ohio 45005-2412

Please RSVP. If you need a reservation form, please contact the office at [phone] or via email at [e-mail].

[OhioBlue]

19. I also heard he will announce on 10-24

Let's just hope Sherrod doesn't announce and throw the Ohio Dems into turmoil.