Day: January 20, 2007

She’s In: Hail Hillary, the Ralph Nader of 2008

Trish

It’s what passes for official. Hillary Clinton has announced she is forming an “exploratory committee” to run for president. Editor’s note: When did this particular euphemism/hedge get adopted? Didn’t people just used to declare they were running? When did they start declaring they were exploring?

Anyway.

The trailblazer doesn’t usually win but she does open a door that never closes in the same way again

It seems to me that by grabbing all the true believers for whom being their idea of right is more important than being elected, Hillary Clinton will be the Ralph Nader of the 2008 elections. By siphoning off primary votes from candidates who stand a chance in the general election, she will lead us to ultimate loss in November.

The woman just has too much baggage all the way around. She will never be forgiven for marrying Bill, for being too secure to pull a Knots Landing/Desperate Housewives/soap opera maneuver and instead determining adultery isn’t a deal breaker for her, and for, as the Dixie Chicks would say, not making nice.

But maybe it’s time for a woman to be a serious contender in a presidential election. Part of me has to hand it to Clinton for being willing to chart this particular territory. What usually happens in these situations is not that the trailblazer wins but that she opens a door that never closes in the same way again.

Check her out here.

Richardson to Announce Prez Plans Sunday

Jon Ponder

Looks like Gov. Bill Richardson is in the race:

Richardson, 59, is a former congressman, U.N. ambassador and Energy Department secretary. He brings a wealth of experience in international affairs that has extended even into his governorship of a sparsely populated but politically important swing state.

He has hosted talks on North Korea’s nuclear program and most recently traveled to Sudan to meet with the country’s president to press him for an end to the bloodshed in Darfur.

Both Al Gore and Senator John Kerry considered Richardson as their running mate because of his impressive portfolio, his potential to win over Hispanic voters and his home in a western swing state.

Yet Richardson enters the 2008 race as an underdog. Polling in early voting states shows him ranking near the bottom in a very crowded Democratic field led by Clinton, Obama and 2004 vice presidential nominee John Edwards.

Out of the candidates listed here, my money is on Richardson. He has the most experience and (probably) the least amount of baggage.