Ford’s Theater
Sorry I’ve not been blogging lately… between the blizzard, spec-script-writing, introducing my sister to a great television show and the Harry Potter series, I’ve been busy.
Anyway, this election year is going to be one crazy mother. For example, take ex-Rep. Harold Ford. He’s a center-right Democrat from Tennessee, who narrowly lost a Senate bid in 2006. He’s moved to New York. And now, he may challenge a center-right Democrat incumbent Senator in the primary, from the right, even though the incumbent herself was attacked for being too conservative for New York Democrats.
WTF? I liked Ford, his 2006 campaign, and his legislative ideas. I even donated money, which I don’t do often. But what on earth can make him think that being more conservative than an incumbent Senator in a very liberal state can help him win when he’s only just recently carpetbagged there to work on Wall Street?
Two words – Michael Bloomberg. The mayor’s campaign aides have signed up for Ford’s campaign, because Bloomberg apparently doesn’t like Gillibrand very much.
Still, this is greatly disappointing, as I don’t see any way he can win, or what the point would be in running at all, except to waste people’s money and to keep Bloomberg’s people employed for another year.
Ford won’t run to the right of Gillibrand; as you noted in a later entry, his positions on the issues are going to end up being quite malleable. I think Ford’s best bet for beating Gillibrand will be to paint himself as the “anti-establishment” candidate, especially considering 2010 promises to be a bad year for most incumbents, regardless of their party affiliation.