Have something to say? You can register and post your own stories in minutes.
Find out how to use this site, and join the conversation today.

Evan Bayh throws his hat in the ring, (again)

by: Thomas

Mon Sep 24, 2007 at 09:03:27 AM EDT

This morning brings a few more details on today's endorsement of Sen. Hillary Clinton by Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh. For those who haven't yet read about it, here is the essence of what was announced yesterday:

Sen. Evan Bayh today will endorse Hillary Rodham Clinton, a former rival campaigning for the Democratic nomination for president, The Washington Post and The Associated Press reported Sunday.
Clinton's presidential campaign said late Sunday that it would receive a national endorsement at 1 p.m. today but didn't say from whom.
Bayh spokesman Jonathan Swain said he could not confirm that Bayh will be making an announcement today.
Joe Hogsett, head of Clinton's Indiana campaign and a former top aide to Bayh, said any endorsement should not be seen as a sign that Bayh is seeking the vice presidential nod.

Uh, yes it should.

Bayh supporters can play coy if they want, but this represents nothing short of a full announcement that the Senator wants into the Veepstakes, and he knows the horse that can take him there. Why else would the venerable politician from Indiana stick his neck out to endorse a candidate who conventional wisdom says isn't exactly the most popular political figure in the state? For someone who has never made a political move without the most cautious and careful consideration as to the consequences, this represents a stark statement of intent, and I would expect to see even more positioning on the part of the Bayh camp to make themselves look attractive as possible.

I know some of you have choice words for Sen. Bayh, so I won't restate anything you are likely to comment on yourself, but I will say that ideological debates aside, the addition of Bayh to a Clinton ticket would probably be a net-positive for the 2008 down-ticket races in the state. While some question whether Hillary's polarizing personality would represent a drag on lower-tier campaigns across Indiana, I can't help but wonder what positive effects having Bayh active on the campaign trail could have.

Perhaps it is entirely too early to speculate, but it obviously isn't too early for Evan Bayh, so I figure we might as well give the idea some thought ourselves.

What do you think?

Thomas :: Evan Bayh throws his hat in the ring, (again)

Tags: Election 2008, Evan Bayh, (All Tags)

Print Friendly View

Send As Email

Evan Bayh throws his hat in the ring, (again) | 2 comments

What does he bring to the table? (4.00 / 1)

I'm not sure what Sen. Bayh would bring to the table for Candidate Clinton. He is a competent guy and would make a fine Vice President, but I don't think he would make Indiana competitive to go Democratic in a Presidential race and I'm not sure he has much effect at all outside of Indiana.

He is a good DLC Democrat, so that squares nicely with Hillary's political view - they'd get along nicely while in office. But, I don't think he shores up any part of the political spectrum not already in Hillary's corner.

It's possible that Sen. Bayh endorsed Sen. Clinton simply because she is the Democratic candidate whose views he agrees with most.

There is no windchill at absolute zero.

by: Masson @ Mon Sep 24, 2007 at 08:53:19 AM CDT

I agree with you... (0.00 / 0)

...that Bayh will have a tough sell when it comes to proving he would be more electorally beneficial than someone from the West, but at the same time if Kerry won Ohio than he would have been President, wouldn't he? Bayh would help in some ways in the Midwest, I think, although how much I can't really say.

On the whole, I guess the cynic in me just doesn't see Evan Bayh doing this unless he had a reason to. Not many other Senators are sticking their necks out at this stage of the game, so it just strikes me as a maneuver more than a token display of support.

by: Thomas @ Mon Sep 24, 2007 at 10:09:53 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Evan Bayh throws his hat in the ring, (again) | 2 comments

All logos and trademarks in this site are property of their respective owner. The comments are property of their posters, and all other site content may be used for any purpose without explicit permission unless otherwise specified.