Only executives can win. By that, I mean Presidents, Governors and Generals. Yes, Kennedy won, but he beat another legislator (Senate President and former elected Senator Richard Nixon).
Senate President and former Senator Al Gore lost to Gov. Bush
Sen. Dole lost to Pres. Clinton
Former senator and Senate President Walter Mondale lost to Pres. Reagan.
Senator Hubert Humphrey lost to President Richard Nixon
Senator McGovern lost to Governor Richard Nixon
Senator Goldwater lost to President Lyndon Johnson
Senator John Kennedy beat Senate PResident and former elected Senator Richard Nixon
Notice the pattern?
There are no 20th century exceptions.
Or 21st century ones.
Dangerous Democrats:
Gov. Bredeson of Tennessee.
Gov. Warner of Virginia. (Will be unemployed in 2006.)
Gov. Easley of North Carolina.
I thought Ed Rendell was viable until
1. I saw him. He looks like Jabba the Hutt made up to look like Lou Grant.
2. He drank the Kool-Aid for Sen. Kerry, allowing incarecerated felons to vote, but initially resisting allowing soldiers to vote. THat'll help him in the primary but hurt him in the general.
Gov. Blogojevich just sounds too much like a Serbian war criminal.
Gov. Granholm is ineligible, being Canadian.
And those are the only other major state Democrats left.
Among Republicans, Benson (NH) lost. Owens's (CO) state is in partisan disaster. Ahnold (CA) is an immigrant. Pataki (NY)is liberal. So is Voinovich (OH). Romney (MA) or Ehrlich (MD) would have to prove themselves to pro-lifers. Pawlenty (MN) is doable. Sanford (SC) might be a bit scary and he's from a small state, but maybe. Perry (TX) seems to be coasting and bland, but he is working out. Riley (AL) became hated for tax hikes.
"Only executives can win. By that, I mean Presidents, Governors and Generals. Yes, Kennedy won, but he beat another legislator (Senate President and former elected Senator Richard Nixon)."
Not true if Dems pick a senator TOO!...
Don't forget Bill Richardson. Hispanic, governor of New Mexico which is split between Democrats and Republicans so he's shown he can appeal to both, former congressman and cabinet official. Team him up with someone like Evan Bayh of Indiana or, if they're feeling risky, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and they might be hard to beat.