Posted on 04/18/2008 2:56:12 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Ordinarily, presidential endorsements from two former red-state senators, neither of whom are especially high-profile right now, wouldn’t be especially newsworthy, but I think today’s announcement that Sam Nunn and David Boren are backing Barack Obama is a little more interesting than most.
The Obama campaign sent out a press release, noting the endorsement, and adding that both Nunn and Boren have accepted Obama’s invitation to serve as advisers to his National Security Foreign Policy Team. With Nunn having been a chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Boren’s record as the longest-serving chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee in history, these guys carry some institutional heft.
There are a couple of different angles to this, but Josh Marshall emphasizes the fact that Nunn is from Georgia, and Boren is from Oklahoma.
This continues to be one of the most striking features of this campaign — the tendency of politicians who do or did make their careers on the votes of people from small towns and rural areas to come out for Obama.
It’s been going on for three months.
I’ve always been highly skeptical of Hillary Clinton’s argument that she’s a stronger candidate in rural areas and red states. But the pols who know these areas best seem to be even more confident she’s wrong than I do.
Quite right. I haven’t seen a comprehensive analysis in a while, but it seems Obama has enjoyed an advantage among red-state Dems, despite the perception that he’s likely to Clinton’s left, ideologically.
But the angle that stood out for me is that both Nunn and Boren were major players in the drive to launch a Michael Bloomberg presidential campaign.
The NYT reported in December:
On Sunday, [Bloomberg] will join Democratic and Republican elder statesmen at the University of Oklahoma in what the conveners are billing as an effort to pressure the major party candidates to renounce partisan gridlock.
Former Senator David L. Boren of Oklahoma, who organized the session with former Senator Sam Nunn, a Democrat of Georgia, suggested in an interview that if the prospective major party nominees failed within two months to formally embrace bipartisanship and address the fundamental challenges facing the nation, “I would be among those who would urge Mr. Bloomberg to very seriously consider running for president as an independent.”
In fact, both Boren and Nunn, conservative Dems while in Congress, have been so active in the “post-partisan” approach to politics that Nunn even flirted with the idea of being Unity08’s presidential candidate. Last August, Nunn told the Atlanta Journal Constitution, “My own thinking is, it may be a time for the country to say, ‘Timeout. The two-party system has served us well, historically, but it’s not serving us now.’”
And now, with some enthusiasm, he and Bloomberg’s other biggest backer are rallying behind Obama.
This a) points to a possible edge for Obama in wooing independents; b) will renew speculation about who Bloomberg might support; and c) should help Obama with the party’s conservative flank, such as it is.
Update and Post Script: As some emailers have noted, I neglected to mention that Nunn and Boren are also wildly popular with the David Broders of the world, so today’s news might have an effect on him.
As for the conservative wing of the party, I probably should have noted that it mainly consists of Nunn and Boren.
Nunn is a BIG globalist so I’ve heard.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Sam Nunn handing the military over to Obama.
These politicians are more corrupt than anyone could imagine.
Just goes to show there is no “moderate” wing of the Democrat Party. Just some Democrats who are better then others at lying about their agenda
Two retired Senators looking for a cabinet post. That’s all this is.
Where on earth do they find these idiots that support “The O” ...even after what he’s said over these past few weeks.
Have to come up with a name for this guy - like they’ve done with Hillary Rodent-Rodent or “The Hildebeeste” .....
My opinion of Nunn just took a nose dive. He’d have a much better chance at a cabinet post if he endorsed McCain since there is no way Obama can win a general election.
Let’s not forget that, had Sam Nunn had his way, Saddam Hussein would have kept Kuwait and would have nuclear weapons today.
Sam Nunn handing the military over to Obama.
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The thought and reality of Obama as C-in-C is beyond the worst nightmare I can invent....
I am a FR supporter from way back and I can tell you I support BO with every fiber of my conservative body. He is saying what I truly believe. If he is 1 % serious about working with the uckers in Washington I am for him all the way. I am asking all of you to listen to his message and stop the divison.
I won't call you a liar, but I'd sooner believe elephants can fly than believe what you said. As far as nobama is concerned, I believe he is an evil person, and I hope and pray freedom loving Americans will defeat him.
Do you have any idea what his 'Amnesty' will cost this nation?
He's a product of the Chicago Machine, groomed and milk fed to bring back the good old days of corruption on a scale we haven't seen since the 1880's.
...I can tell you I support BO with every fiber of my conservative body....
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Obama and conservatism are as far apart as communism and democracy. Are you feeling OK ???
You would give him the next SCOTUS nominations and turn control of our men and women in Military over to him? I can't support that in any way, shape or fashion....
Perhaps Nunn and Boren are supporting Obama because they know Clinton is not going to get the nomination. They probably know the Clintons all too well. These two respected former Democrat Senators are saying nooooo to the Clintons.
I can only tell you he is the one who is telling us he is the one who is going to disc Washington. He is the only one who is saying he is going to work together to fix what is broken.
Ya want the Bitch????
She will defeat the unspoken.
In my mind we are at the point of no return. Want more drama??????????????? Vote Betch !!
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