2008 Contenders

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:11pm

I was just reading an article discussing the potential Democratic candidates for 2008 who have ALREADY begun to make repeated trips to New Hampshire (see link below).

It got me thinking -- Who do you think will be the contenders in each party? Who do you like? Who can WIN?

Here's a list I compiled through a little googling -- I know it's incomplete so please add any candidates you can think of:


DEMOCRATS

Gov. Mark Warner (Virginia)

Sen. Russ Feingold (Wisconsin)

Sen. Evan Bayh (Indiana)

Gov. Bill Richardson (New Mexico)

Gen. Wes Clark

Sen. John Edwards (North Carolina)

Sen. Tom Daschle (South Dakota)

Sen. John Kerry (Massachusetts) -- proved he can't win a Red State -- should be gone before the primaries are over

Sen. Hillary Clinton -- the most HATED person in the Red States -- has no chance of winning

Sen. Chuck Schumer -- very oily, gives off a vibe like he might want to run -- he should stay put in the Senate; he has no chance

Sen. Joe Biden (Delaware) -- His last attempt was a fiasco (remember the plagiarism scandal?)

Sen. Barack Obama (Ilinois) -- give him till 2012 or 2016 to take over the world and reform it in his image; he's the chosen one

Sen. Barbara Boxer (California)

Gov. Phil Bredesen (Tennessee) -- southern moderate

Gov. Mike Easley (North Carolina) -- southern moderate



REPUBLICANS

Sen. John McCain (Arizona) -- popular among moderates; has a shot

Gov. Jeb Bush (Florida) -- If Dubya's numbers are still in the toilet, he'll probably hold off until 2012; otherwise....

Rudy Giuliani (New York) -- a pro-choice, pro-gay, divorced, New Yorker will piss off the evangelicals and much of the South, but his 9-11 credentials might give him some traction

Gov. George Pataki (New York) -- the second coming of Gerald Ford (zzzzzz); maybe a VP candidate, but doubtful (he can't deliver NY for the Republicans)

Newt Gingrich -- has been hinting

Rep. Mike Pence (Indiana) -- Deputy Whip of the House

Condi Rice -- there's a draft Condi movement and an Iowa primary poll earlier this year had her beating Giuliani and McCain 2-1

Sen. Sam Brownback (Kansas)

Sen. George F. Allen (Virginia) -- former Governor

Sen. Chuck Hagel (Nebraska)

Gov. Mike Huckabee (Arkansas)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (Minnesota)

Gov. Mitt Romney (Massachussetts)

Rep. Tom Tancredo (Colorado)

Gov. Mark Sanford (South Carolina)

Sen. Elizabeth Dole (North Carolina)

Gov. Christie Todd Whitman (New Jersey) -- former Gov

Link

Updated On: 11/9/05 at 04:11 PM

[Calvin]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:20pm

I can say the following, if elected President, would make me strongly reconsider my citizenship:

Sen. Sam Brownback
Sen. George F. Allen
Gov. Mike Huckabee (Arkansas)
Gov. Mitt Romney (Massachussetts)
Rep. Tom Tancredo (Colorado)

Actually, if Brownback could even get the nomination, that would make me reconsider my citizenship. That man is frightening.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:21pm

What about Haley Barbour, governor of Mississippi? His leadership during Katrina and rebuilding of the damage could position him to throw his hat into the ring.

[BrendanStryker]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:22pm

From my perspective, there are as many on both lists that I would and wouldn't vote for. I know one thing, I can't wait until the next Presidential election. It's going to be fun!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:26pm

I almost included Barbour before. You're right, he should be on the list.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:32pm

Brendan and I have both expressed interest in another thread for a Mark Warner/Barack Obama slate.

[Plum]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:36pm

Where has Whitman been since she discovered being the head of Bush's EPA was a non-starter?
Updated On: 11/9/05 at 04:36 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:42pm

Where has Whitman been since she discovered being the head of Bush's EPA was a non-starter?

"Consultant"

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:43pm

I think Dick Durbin might be looking for a VP nomination?

[Calvin]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:45pm

Do you think Lieberman will try again after his pitiful performance last time?

Hillary has a better chance of winning a red state than Boxer. And Daschle shouldn't even try.

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:46pm

Take Boxer off the list - she said at a book signing last week that she wants to retire and continue her writing partnership with her daughter.

[Plum]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:47pm

Lieberman's a fake Democrat; screw him. And Boxer has a better chance at winning a red state than Hillary because her last name isn't synonymous with "minion of Satan" over there. Name recognition, baby.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:48pm

Well, the Dems have to have someone who can win a few Red states, which probably means grabbing a southerner. That means Warner, Edwards, Easley and Bredesen should be looked at as strong possible candidates, right?

And as the for the other side, who's their frontrunner? McCain? Does Giuliani have any chance of appealing to the Republican base or is he too liberal?

Updated On: 11/9/05 at 04:48 PM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:53pm

If McCain runs for the Republican nomination, he'll be hard to beat, IMO.

[Calvin]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:55pm

The Christian right will not stand for Giuliani. Same goes for Pataki. Gingrich is a has-been, as is Whitman. Condi's too green, despite the movement behind her. And she might not be interested. I hope, hope, hope the ones I listed above will be seen as too extreme, although you'd never know. Jeb Bush isn't even well-liked in his own state. Most of the others don't have much name recognition. Elizabeth Dole is weak, although that worked for our current president.

From that list, I'd say McCain or Hagel has the best chance, although McCain might have too many enemies within his own party.
And the Christian right doesn't like him, either. Updated On: 11/9/05 at 04:55 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:57pm

McCain is extremely likable and personable (his appearances on the Daily Show and other talk shows are terrific) and will draw a lot of the moderate vote. I like him a lot, but would never vote for him (as nice as he is, he's still VERY conservative). He'll be a tough opponent for whomever gets the Dem nomination.

[Calvin]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 5:00pm

Oh -- I meant to add that I wouldn't be surprised if Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas) decided to run at some point. She was really gung-ho on running for governor, and probably would win if she did run over the current unpopular governor, but she decided not to. Hmm.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 5:01pm

I was in Nashville for awhile when Bredesen was mayor. He's a smart man. He really grew Nashville despite a lot of opposition. They hated him because he wasn't a southerner. But he has a very strong business mind. His problem will be trying to step away from people associating him with Nutjob Al Gore.

Guiliani won't play well in the Red States. He's on his third marriage. He will have to overcome the smear of how he dumped second wife Donna: letting her know they were finished via the media.

[Plum]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 5:45pm

Forget that, Goth- Giuliani is pro-choice and pro-gay; that'll end him faster than any marital difficulties, despite his cachet as a post-9/11 leader and exactly the kind of tough law-and-order politician that appeals to the Republican base.

And in what universe is Gore a nutjob? Boring, sure, but crazy?

For some reason, I'm thinking McCain or someone a bit different like him will get the Republican nom. The party isn't going to be able to straddle the neocon-fundie line much longer; we'll see how that goes.
Updated On: 11/9/05 at 05:45 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 5:49pm

I hate Giuliani like the red states hate Hillary.

Posted: 11/9/05 at 5:50pm

Would America really vote a man who lisps president? I'm just asking...

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 6:00pm

Gotta love the comb-over.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 6:02pm

Why not PalJoey for VP, or does he have a combover also?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 6:02pm

Giuliani had WAY too much dirty laundry before the Bernie Kerik scandal. Since then, he's become completely unelectable.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 6:06pm

Guiliani does not have a chance!