Michael Bloomberg is the man behind Harold Ford's challenge to Kirsten Gillibrand

[IndianaGreen]

Why wouldn't the head of DLC lie in bed with a billionaire moderate Republican like Bloomberg. DLC and Rockefeller Republicans share the same neoliberal ideology, so why not?

From NY Times:

The New York political world reacted swiftly and strongly to the possibility of Harold Ford Jr.’s candidacy for the United States Senate, with top Senate leaders trying to squash the bid and close advisers to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg meeting with Mr. Ford on Thursday to plot strategy for a campaign.

<snip>

Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic majority leader, called Mr. Bloomberg, and expressed concern about the reports of a possible Ford bid for the Senate, and asked if the mayor or his top political aides were behind the effort.

Mr. Bloomberg, speaking on his cellphone on a drive to an event, reassured Mr. Reid that he was not personally involved in the effort to promote a Ford candidacy, according to a senior Democratic official and an aide to the mayor. But Mr. Bloomberg also told Senator Reid that Ms. Gillibrand, with whom he has at times clashed, was vulnerable and would undoubtedly face a challenger, whether it was Mr. Ford or someone else.

But around the same time that Mr. Bloomberg was distancing himself from the Ford effort, two of his top campaign strategists met with Mr. Ford, 39, for lunch at the Harvard Club in Manhattan. Bradley Tusk, who managed Mr. Bloomberg successful mayoral re-election campaign, and Doug Schoen, the mayor’s pollster, provided a detailed portrait of the city’s political landscape to Mr. Ford, a former Tennessee representative, and described to him what a challenge to Ms. Gillibrand would involve. The senator, appointed by Gov. David A. Paterson last year, has never run statewide, but is considered a prodigious fund-raiser.

Mr. Tusk confirmed the meeting. Mr. Ford declined to be interviewed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/08/nyregion/08ford.html?hp

[Captain Hilts]

1. VERY interesting! Upstate will HATE Ford for being in the sack with Bloomie.

Utica, NY, the Emerald of the Mohawk River Valley!

[TheWraith]

2. Ford is DOA.

If he weren't before, being known as Ann Coulter's favorite Democrat sealed his fate.

[rwheeler31]

3. This mess is disgusting.

[4_TN_TITANS]

13. I agree....

I was for Ford for Senate in Tennessee, but since he couldn't get elected here he's off to another state. It reeks of an old-fashioned carpetbagger willing to do anything to get elected somewhere.

[gateley]

4. I don't understand why "top Senate leaders are trying to quash the bid" --

I know Ford is DLC, but it seems many of those top Senate leaders are right in lockstep. What don't I know?

[Jennicut]

11. If Gillibrand has good poll #'s in NY already then there would be no need to ruin that with a

primary challenger. I think that would be Reid's thinking, keep as many Dems in the Senate as you can. Gillibrand does not seem vulnerable, why mess with a good thing?

[gateley]

12. Oh -- I see. I was thinking there was a hate-fest against Ford (besides here

on DU :7) -- thanks!!

[jillan]

5. Interesting stuff, IG.

[TheBigotBasher]

6. At first I mistrusted Gillibrand

but she has been excellent on gay rights and other Liberal issues.

The idea of a carpet bagger walking in to take the seat off her appalls me. In addition, the Senate needs more women, not less.

[karynnj]

10. Same here

I thought some of the gay rights stuff was grandstanding - as she never introduced any legislation, but her position there is very good.

Ford has always seemed over rated. He has been awful since he lost the TN seat.

[burning rain]

7. Ford was anti-choice in Tennessee.

Hopefully, that by itself should kill him in New York.

[cali]

8. Ford won't run. n/t

[karynnj]

9. Doug Schoen was Mark Penn's long term partner when they supported

Bill Clinton.

[IndianaGreen]

14. Was Schoen doing the polling for Penn when he managed Hillary's run?

Mark Penn is a pig, and an incompetent one at that. Hillary should sue him to get her money back.

[liskddksil]

16. Yes they are partners at Penn Schoen Berland

[Ildem09]

15. Frak Ford.

Useless DLC puppet.