If not Gore, then how about Dodd?

[smoogatz]

I know he's barely a blip in the polls right now, BUT, he's a smart, savvy guy who seems to be getting it right on Iraq before the front-runners. Where he is on the rest of the issues I have no idea. Any thoughts?

[connecticut yankee]

1. He's my Senator

and I have the highest regard for him, but I don't think he'd be a strong enough candidate.

[jobycom]

2. Why not Clinton?

Gore will endorse her, she has similar positions to Dodd without the corporate scandal... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Dodd#Criticism

If Dodd were the front runner and Clinton the underdog, people would be clambering for his overthrow and Clinton's ascendancy.

[Bluebear]

3. 'Gore will endorse her' - do you think so?

[bpeale]

5. i think Gore will endorse Edwards or Richardson

big reason: they are friends who think alike

[smoogatz]

6. If Gore doesn't run, he'll endorse whoever wins the nom.

He'd have no reason to express a preference before then. I'm really not sure why Clark popped so prematurely.

[jobycom]

12. Yes.

Gore is a long-time politician, the son of a long time senator. He understands the game she has to play, knows what she really stands for (not all good, but not nearly as bad as some make it seem). And he's all about party unity, because he knows that's the only way to win. He knows that all too well, in fact.

I think if Obama or one of the other candidates pulled up to Clinton, things might change. I can't see him endorsing Edwards, unless Edwards just pulled way ahead in the race and it seemed inevitable.

But I have no inside knowledge, beyond what anyone can gain looking at Gore's history. I could be way off. That's just what I think will happen.

[smoogatz]

7. I don't hate Hillary.

But a lot of people do. If she gets the nom, she'll be forced to run the dirtiest negative campaign in the modern history of Democratic party politics in order to push her opponent's negatives as high as hers. Frankly, I'm not sure I can stand it. That said, Hillary is a smart, tough opportunist who wouldn't hesitate to personally jam an ice-pick into Rudy Giuliani's eye socket if she thought it would get her elected. These are qualities the next president will require, I'm pretty sure--especially if he/she is a Democrat.

[ludwigb]

4. I admire his service

but from the perspective of the Average Amerikkkan he's basically a crusty white dude, who doesn't even grant them the satisfaction of bloodthirsty talk about terrorists. Plus he hasn't been particuarly active in Congress from where I'm sitting--hasn't really impressed me. I thought he pretty much went along with the crowd on the Lieberman issue--only switching his endorsement when Holy Joe won the primary.

Nitpicking, I realize. Dodd is cool I guess--I'm just not enthusiastic about his candidacy. We have too many great alternatives.

[iamjoy]

8. Another New England "Liberal" Senator

oh sure, that's the way to win.

:eyes:

[smoogatz]

9. Uh...

So the big advantage Edwards would have is that he's from the South? Wasn't that supposed to be his big selling point in '04--that he'd help Kerry win in North Carolina, at least? How'd that work out, exactly?

[iamjoy]

13. Yeah, Edwards Didn't Do Much Good

But that doesn't mean if he'd been at the top of the ticket or VP for another candidate that he wouldn't. One cannot expect the #2 on the ticket to fill the likeability/charisma gap for the person at the top. The #2 on the ticket (and this applies to governor's races) can help with a certain demographic, but will not necessarily carry it on their own if that group has little regard for the actual nominee.

I don't think any running mate would have made the difference in Kerry's campaign. There were just too many other things stacked against him. It was a bad year for Dems all around. At least five Southern Democratic Senators didn't run for re-election in 2004, each one of them was replaced by a Republican. So, I don't know that any candidate would have made a difference.

The comment about "Liberal" New England Senator was more tongue in cheek, although I'm still wary of nominating another.

[blm]

10. If the election process was secured, there'd be a liberal in office today.

.

[smoogatz]

11. And his name would be Al Gore. n/t

[lonestarnot]

14. Dodd has been sounding very much like a President should lately, but Dennis has already sounded like

a President. I've already made up my mind for the primary.