RK ARCHIVE - 08: The Underdogs (UPDATE: Gore IS Out)

But if you follow the Democrats nominating process through the years, you'll know that being a "frontrunner" means zilch. Democratic presidential nominees usually come from seemingly nowhere.

So with that in mind:
1) Wesley Clark - When Howard Dean took himself out of the race, many of his army of supporters looked to Russ Feingold to carry the progressive torch. When Russ bowed out many looked to Al Gore* during his recent global warming media blitz, but that's looking more and more unlikely. If former General Wesley Clark got into the race now he could leapfrog Edwards and Obama as THE netroots candidate for '08. In a recent Air America interview Clark said he'd make his decision in a few weeks.

One reason Clark could jump into the race is because he knows that if he played his cards right last election, he could be President right now. Because Clark got into the '04 race late he decided to bypass Iowa and focus on NH. Everyone thought that Iowa was a race between Dean and Gephardt. Well, when the caucus-goers made their decision they felt that a veteran or a southerner would be the strongest candidates. OOPS. Clark is a southern veteran. Maybe competing in Iowa would have been a good idea.

My gut tells me that he won't run because it looks like a real uphill battle compared to last time. When he jumped in the 2004 race it was because there looked like an opening in a field that, outside of Dean, was failing to excite many Democrats. If he runs though he should be taken more seriously than the media will give him credit for.

2) Bill Richardson - Governors do better than anyone other type of politician at getting elected President, the only knock against them is lack of foreign policy experience. But for the Governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, that just happens to be his specialty. In fact Gov. Richardson just returned from Darfur after trying to negotiate a cease-fire.

After serving several terms in the House, Pres. Clinton tapped Richardson for U.N. Ambassador. Later Sec. of Energy. Gov. Richardson is also hispanic and comes from a swing region of the country, the southwest. I mean the guys resume is just eye-popping

The things he has going against him are, obviously, the 800 lb. gorillas in this race he has to compete with. Also, the Wen Ho Lee scandal happened under his watch as Energy Secretary. There are also whispers that have gone around that he likes the ladies a little too much. Plus, he's a little on the chubby side. I honestly don't know how that would play.

3) Joe Biden - I don't have to explain who he is do I? In addition to the fact he's been a Senator since the early 70's, he's an absolute media whore. He's been the Ranking Member/Chairman of the Foreign Relations Comm. for several years now, meaning he's all over the Sunday morning talk show circuit like no other Democrat I know of.

His expertise in the foreign policy arena had him as a possibility for Secretary of State in a potential Kerry** administration back in 2004. For someone who's been in the Senate as long as he has, he doesn't suffer from the same boring, monotone Senate-speak that curses many other presidential wannabes. The main skeleton in his closet is the fact that he dropped out of the '88 race after a plagiarism scandal.

4) Tom Vilsack - If there was a Democrat in the field that had the background of a future President, it's Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack. His humble roots and serving as Governor of a relatively small, rural state reminds you of Clinton or Carter. He was in consideration for the veep slot in 2004 along with John Edwards. For the past few years he's been the Chairman of the centrist DLC.

Here's the problem. If he wins Iowa, he'll be expected to. If he loses, his campaign is done. In 1992 Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin ran for Pres. and scared away the competition. Well Vilsack ain't Tom Harkin and John Edwards and Barack Obama aren't Paul Tsongas and Jerry Brown.

Oh, and another problem. Hillary Clinton is expected to be the DLC candidate in this race. If you're the head of the DLC and someone else is the DLC candidate, that ain't good. Vilsack is just in a no-win situation.

5) Chris Dodd - Nobody knows who Chris Dodd is. And when they find out, they won't care. For those who don't know, he's the real Democratic Senator from Connecticut.

I have nothing against him. He just has nothing going for him as far as I can tell. I don't see and/or understand his appeal.

* If Al Gore jumps into the race, the Big 3 of Clinton, Edwards, and Obama becomes the Big 4.

** I highly doubt Kerry will run again. Too many are angry at his performance in the last election.

Comments

Let the media underestimate Clark... (howardpark - 1/15/2007 12:17:41 PM)

...it won't cause me heartburn. Clark needs to peak in, say, January 2008, not February of 2007.

Also, the word is that there is no way Kerry runs. Gore? Probably not.

No need for Clark to spill the beans yet (vadem - 1/15/2007 2:55:42 PM)

He states emphatically that his biggest concern right now is the policy. Go to http://securingameri... and listen to the Stephanie Miller interview, as well as the other radio interviews he did last week. Meaning, the policy about Iraq/Iran and the catastrophe in the region. It is supremely important to him because he knows the real, deep-down significance of getting it right. He also knows that all that he would have to say on the matter, if done as an announced candidate, would have a political spin on it. Clark cares first and foremost about this country, so he wants to get the policy message out first and if you have followed even 1/4 of where he's gone and what he's said, you'll see he's doing his damnedest to affect policy on this matter.

Will he run? Only he knows where he's heading on this, but the tea leaves lead me to think he will. In the meantime, I remain a staunch supporter and believe he's the best possible choice to drive this debate and direct our country onto a much better course.

Stay tuned!

Will Clark Run? Watch this. (vadem - 1/17/2007 6:28:07 AM)

Catch this brief You Tube video, posted at http://securingameri.... Wes Clark spoke at several events in Alabama over MLK Day, including the swearing in of Alabama Ag. Commissioner, Ron Sparks.

Listen carefully to the first words he spoke in the video.
"When I run for president"...

Not an announcement certainly, but more tea leaves of where he's heading. Then follow up the rest of the video to hear his positions and thinking on matters of importance to the American people.

Clark (JPTERP - 1/16/2007 4:51:59 AM)

If he runs, he'll have my vote. National security cred. Rhodes Scholar. Masters in Economics. Articulate.

Plus this time he'll have more polish then the first go-around. I hope he runs.

Bill Richardson (Kindler - 1/15/2007 3:54:57 PM)

When you discussed Bill Richardson, and made a reference to "800 pound gorillas", at first I thought you were making fun of his, uh, weight issues.

Seriously, he arguably has the best resume in the race, but needs to overcome a major charisma gap. I think he's got a shot at VP (though there are lots of good contenders for that, from Mark Warner to Evan Bayh).

Charisma is not a problem for Richardson (Chris Guy - 1/15/2007 10:32:09 PM)

He's been on television many times in recent years. He's been the Democratic Party's go-to guy on various issues from immigration to North Korea. He's considered a Bill Clinton-type personality.

Obama and Edwards have the monopoly on charisma in this race, they're in their own league. But I'd say Richardson, Biden and maybe Clark are in that second tier.

Hillary and Dodd....yeech.

Richardson (Neal2028 - 1/15/2007 4:11:44 PM)

The more I read about Richardson, the more I like where he's coming from (plus he had that awesome 2006 re-election commercial [http://billrichardso...]).

Right now, I think I would rank my candidates this way:
1-Edwards
2-Richardson/Obama
3-Biden
4-Vilsack
5-Dodd
6-Clark
7-Kucinich
8-Clinton
9-Sharpton
10-Gravel

Gore IS out? (LAS - 1/15/2007 8:43:51 PM)

Where is that said definitively? Do you know something we don't know? Come on, don't hold out on us--spill!

I heard today that the first Demcratic debate is scheduled for April, 2007. That can't be true, can it?

Clark came in too late last time, but there is such a thing as too early. I'm concerned that all these candidates are going to peak and fade away before anyone is seriously paying attention. Rather like our beloved cherry blossoms.

Two sets of debates scheduled (vadem - 1/15/2007 10:10:43 PM)

CNN just announced in the past few days they will sponsor debates in NH, in conjunction with the Union Leader and another NH paper. It will be on two successive days in early April, while the SC debates in Orangeburg will occur a little later in the month.

Agree with LAS that timing can be bad if too early as well as too late. It's a tricky proposition to time it just right, and until its over, who knows what "just right" means.

As for Gore not running, I see the work that he has undertaken as being important for the planet. If he ran for President, who would take that on the way the Gore is doing? I fear there is no one who would do it like he can.

Nevermind! Having a blond moment! (LAS - 1/15/2007 8:50:49 PM)

Sorry, didn't see the UPDATE.

Damn, that is bad news.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could punch the reset button and erase the last six years? If we could just go back to November 2000 and start all over again, this time with the guy who actually WON?

Richardson Should Run (Lee Diamond - 1/15/2007 11:11:05 PM)

Just on the basis of his experience, Richardson should definitely run. He'll certainly be a stronger candidate than some of those already known to be running.

I have started to look at him seriously. I would urge everyone to look for articles,etc He has a book out. I requested it from the Fairfax County Library. A number of branches have it, but not the one close to me.