Posted on 07/11/2005 9:55:26 PM PDT by Crackingham
Indiana Senator Evan Bayh is keeping his options open when it comes to the 2008 presidential election. That's what he told people in New Hampshire Monday where he was, in part, raising money for democrats.
"People can spot a phony a mile away, that's the number one, number two, you really got to fight for those things you believe in," said Bayh.
Bayh is in his second term as senator of Indiana and he served two terms as governor. He was also on the short list of running mates for Al Gore in 2000. Now this darling of the democrats is looking at an '08 run for president.
"Not the speeches, not the votes, the results, so I've always tried to keep that perspective. I'm really more of a former governor than anything else," said Bayh.
The senator says he brings a practical approach to politics, dump the partisanship and get the job done. And on paper, Bayh is what many democrats want: experience, looks, and youth. He's also a democrat from a republican state. He wants to boost the economy and better protect the U.S. in a post 9/11 world.
" We're spending about five to six billion dollars a month in Iraq. Surely we can afford a bit more to secure our trains and bus terminals," said Bayh.
Monday in New Hampshire, Bayh toured the statehouse and sat down with Governor John Lynch for a private meeting. Then he met with house democratic leaders, who were impressed.
Bayh knows a thing or two about running for president. His father, Senator Birch Bayh lost to Jimmy Carter in a presidential run in 1976.
He's been preening awhile for this. Has quite a collection of
baby hugging photos too.
Bayh has been running for president for the last 20 years or so....Hope he has to resign to run....Then it's Bye Bye Bayh!
A complete nothing, won't even carry his immediate family.
LOL!
Senators rarely win. Kennedy was the last. Barely and still controversial.
Democrats had best go with a Southern Governor if they want any chance of winning.
If they have any southern Governors left?
How many?
ping
Johnson, remember?
I would venture a comment that he would certainly be a much better choice than the Marxist Witch of Arkansas. God, what a disgusting thought, to even associate her name with the office of President...the epitome of evil, incompetence, fanatic politics, politcal control and hate.
ANYTHING but Hitlery...
Here's why pretty boy should bother you:
He's a very telegenic politician who comes across as a moderate (no arguments on what that is, please, it's just that he's no "extremist," and I'm talking about how the average voter does and will perceive him).
But here's what's really scary:
As the nominee, he could peel off Indiana.
That means we would likely lose the WH.
He would be less likely to do that in the Veep spot (especially if he were running with Hillary), but he'd still threaten our electoral total by jeopardizing Indy.
May I answer the Indiana FReepers in advance? If your impulse is to say, he won't carry Indiana, he's just a pretty boy...why do you keep electing him senator? More to the point, you should remember that you (me, too) basically only talk to people who think like you, so they're really not a great barometer.
Anyway...Go Irish!
Correction: People whose last elective office was that of a legislator rarely win. Johnson was already President when he ran.
I've been arguing this for a long time. He peels off Indiana AND Ohio next door and with it the election. To beat him the Republicans will need to beat him at his own game. That's going to be a whole lot more difficult than taking on Hillary with her multitude of liabilities. Hillary would certainly not carry Indiana but Bayh would. Do the arithmetic.
I have seen NO evidence that this is true for Dim primary voters.....
He had his shot in 2004 and might have won. But Mrs. FBI file is going to win the nomination, or someone will end up with a horse head in their bed.
Yes, but I always think of Senator Johnson.
Evan dont ya know, the Democratic primary is already set.
Is this the smae "moderate" Dem who voted against Condelezza Rice?
If so (hint, it is so) then he is not a moderate.
Birch Bayh, the father, lost his Senate seat to J. Danforth Quayle.
FWIW.
What a phony.
Bayh has a pedantic, cliched and soporific mind and style. He is going nowhere in his quixotic presidential quest. Of course, he is really running for VP. But he will run so poorly, and drop out so early, if he runs, that it just won't happen. That's what Torie's crystal ball reveals.
Bayh has been allowed to get away with casting himself as a moderate / conservative Dem. In reality he's as left as any of the others.
There's a small event between Bayh and the Presidency...called the Democratic Primary. This one should be more aggressive than the last. So, pass the popcorn, and wear goggles, there is going to be a lot of mudslinging while they eat their own.
It all depends on who the Republicans choose as well. A moderate Republican vs. a moderate Democrat will mean the winner will likely win with about 40% of the popular vote, as both the right and left would splinter off to third parties...
Thank God. That rules out a presidential position. Even he says he's not qualified. A retired governorship is the best he can do.
Even if he did make it through the primaries, he'd have a hard time rallying the Democratic base around him the way someone like Hillary Clinton would...which could make it easier for the Republicans to win, even with a smaller overall vote share...
He is very good at mush-mouthing about how he suports "Hoosier values" and then votes as liberal as most of the Rats.
You nailed the VP prediction many moons ago. I say the Hillary hype is designed so she can win New York in 2006 and keep the power as a Senator. Governor Jeb on the ballot as pres? I think it's as good as gold...
His father must have been a REAL loser!
Tancredo !!!
I agree with both of you - Bayh should not be underestimated. The real question is whether the Dems will have come to their senses and realized they must nominate a perceived moderate to win. No sign of that yet, but wait to see how '06 shakes out.
Hillary is of course the 800-pound gorilla in this match. The problem for the Dems is that her negatives are so high she'd lose no matter how "moderate" she tried to make herself look. And she cannot triangulate anywhere near as good as her husband.
Yep. Bayh is like John Edwards, just a tad big smarter.
Good point. Interesting point.
I saw a commencement speech of Bayh's on CSPAN a couple of days ago. He sucked big time. He's going nowhere.
He's a simpleton. Makes an initial impression as a true moderate, but the dims are so far over the edge they'd never realize that, with much help and luck in the debates, he could actually win it for them. He'd have a much better chance of actually winning than Hitlery. In that sense his line about being real is very much on point.
No, he is dumber actually. The guy really has not been exposed to prime time. When he is, it won't be pretty. It will remind us of Dan Quayle.
"Kennedy was the last."
"Johnson, remember?"
He was President already because of the assasination. When he ran for President he already held the office.
If he can get past the lefty wackos he has a 50/50 shot of beating anyone the GOP puts up.
Bayh is pretty moderate and some will even say he's to far to the right and would probably pick up a few midwest states and maybe even a few in the south !
I don't believe Johnson was elected. He "inherited" the presidency in '63 when JFK was assasinated. Perhaps he was elected.
Not in '08.
I'd worry more about it if I actually thought Bayh could win the Dem nomination.n Most of them seem to despise him...
I am honored to be agreed with by the venerable Miss Marple. By the way, this Pennsylvanian has a daughter at Notre Dame, so I've gotten to know your...turnpike.
"Hillary is of course the 800-pound gorilla in this match."
Y'know, for the first time in my life, I actually feel some sympathy for 800-pound gorillas.
add to those voices -- dick durbin, leahy, kerry (yes, still yappin'), hillary (saying stupid things lately), bill (today I heard he said global warming was more important in the country than terrorism -- is he losing it like Gore and Kerry?), teddy kennedy, harry reid, nancy pelosi, barbara boxer, etc., etc., etc.).
Hillary on the ticket would send them screaming back to the Republican candidate, or to the outhouse. Such a strategy (a Bayh-Clinton ticket) is the worst possible one, and a good way to have a GOP landslide victory.
Yeah I suppose I should call my lawyer tomorrow and tell him to be prepared for me to be sued for defamation by the 800-pound gorilla association. ;)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.