Posted on 09/02/2007 11:08:22 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
NASHVILLE -- When Tennessee Republican Fred Thompson formally announces his presidential candidacy Thursday, the former U.S. senator will join a handful of fellow Volunteer State politicians bitten by the presidential bug over the past 55 years.
Beginning in 1952 with Democratic U.S. Sen. Estes Kefauver, a Chattanooga attorney, four prominent state politicians have sought the presidency.
None became president, but the last Tennessean's bid came close in a historic nail-biter: the 2000 Democratic nominee, Vice President Al Gore, won the popular vote but lost Florida, Tennessee, the Electoral College and ultimately the presidency to Republican George W. Bush.
Other Tennesseans who have sought the nation's top elected post are former U.S. Sen. Howard Baker, R-Tenn., in 1980, and Republican Lamar Alexander in 1996 and 2000.
"It must be something in the water is all I know," quipped Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville.
Mr. Thompson, 65, has been an all-but-declared candidate for months, traveling the country, speaking to Republicans and raising funds through a "testing the waters" committee. That changes this week when he officially enters the race with a webcast from his committee Web site, www.imwithfred .com.
"The response that we've received makes me confident that we have an opportunity to change politics in Washington and across the country," Mr. Thompson said in a statement last week.
Volunteer State distinction
U.S. Sen. Alexander, a former governor and U.S. education secretary, noted that during the 19th century, Tennessee produced a number of major national political figures including three presidents -- Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk and Andrew Johnson.
U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., said there is a reason for Tennesseans' prominence in national affairs.
"Tennessee is right out of the heart of America, and there's something about charismatic leaders from Tennessee that is attractive to the American people," the Chattanooga congressman said. "I think we raise people in Tennessee with the responsibility to serve and to lead."
Since the 1960s Tennessee has "had a lot of our Democrats and Republicans in the national picture," Sen. Alexander said. "I think a competitive state attracts good people to office."
In Sen. Alexander's 1996 run for the presidency, he finished third in Iowa's caucuses and was surging in New Hampshire polls until the eventual nominee, Bob Dole, forced his exit from the race.
In the 2000 campaign, Sen. Alexander dropped out after a poor finish in Iowa Republicans' August 1999 straw poll.
In 1980, then-U.S. Senate Minority Leader Baker's presidential quest was cut short by defeats in the early contest states of Iowa, where he lost to George H.W. Bush, and New Hampshire, which he lost to Ronald Reagan.
Sen. Kevauver first ran in 1952, challenging incumbent President Harry Truman, a Democrat. The Chattanooga lawyer entered more than a dozen primaries and won in many including New Hampshire, according to "Estes Kefauver: A Political Biography."
But the book notes that the primary system was in its infancy with most delegates still determined by state party officials and not voters. President Truman decided not to seek re-election, and Democrats, reluctant to back Sen. Kefauver, nominated Adlai Stevenson, who lost in the general election to Republican Dwight Eisenhower.
"It was a backroom deal, and I'm not sure the big bosses really trusted Kefavuer," said Robert Swansbrough, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga political science professor.
Sen. Kefauver ran again in 1956, but Democrats again nominated Mr. Stevenson. However, Mr. Stevenson threw open the vice presidential nomination selection to delegates who nominated Sen. Kefauver. The team lost to President Eisenhower.
By the time then-Sen. Gore first ran for president in 1988, primaries had become the main vehicle for deciding nominees. Dr. Swansbrough said Southern Democrats hoped to steer that race to one of their own by holding most of their primaries on the same day in a "Super Tuesday."
The strategy failed, Dr. Swansbrough said. But in 1992, Democratic presidential nominee Bill Clinton tapped Sen. Gore as his running mate, winning the presidency. Mr. Gore served as vice president from 1993 to early 2001.
Before Mr. Thompson's decision to enter the race, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., appeared an all-but-certain candidate. But Dr. Frist, who did not seek re-election in 2006, abandoned his quest after Republicans lost control of the House and Senate.
Time for Tennessean?
Mr. Baker, who has served as political mentor to both Mr. Thompson and Sen. Alexander, was an early promoter of Mr. Thompson's bid.
"We haven't had a Tennessee president in a while, and we need one," Mr. Baker said.
While the most recent four Tennessee hopefuls failed in their presidential quests, Rep. Wamp said he believes Mr. Thompson will prove different.
"I actually believe that based on gravitas (seriousness and substance) and appeal to the common man, Fred Thompson has the best chance to become president of the United States," Rep. Wamp said.
Tennessee Democratic Party spokesman Wade Munday said Tennessee political leaders "generally have the good common sense to be moderate ... and have proven leadership and that's most evident in former Vice President Al Gore."
Mr. Thompson, who won Mr. Gore's Senate seat in a special election in 1994 and then a full term in 1996, has "already proven that he is another Washington insider, Washington lobbyist and Hollywood actor." Mr. Munday said. "I hope he can prove that he's a thoughtful leader, although I don't expect that to happen."
But Sen. Alexander said Mr. Thompson is off to a solid start.
"Without even announcing, he's second or third in most of the national polls," he said. "If he can become well organized enough to run a yearlong campaign, which I think he can be, he has a very good chance to be the nominee and the president."
''Marshall (Chief Justice of the USSC at the time) has made his ruling. Now, let him enforce it.''
Ping!
Poor Gore, the only Candidate with the distinction of losing his home state cost him the election.
Really Zach? Ever heard of the Tennessee Waltz, Zach? And, what exactly qaulifies you to be a leader? Is it the fact that you never graduated college? Is it your shady employment history, your history of cocaine abuse or the fact that you are such a good fence sitter? You lost me and many of your constituents in your district when we were faced with eminent domain rights being given to a private, for profit company that tried to sieze our homes and land while you sat by and did nothing. It's a good thing the districts were rearranged or you'd be back in Chattanooga flippin' burgers, pal.
Tell us, Zach, what exactly qualifies YOU to be a leader? It's got to be more than just the fact that you were raised in Tennessee......
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