Junior Ponders A Run For Governor
Posted on January 7, 2009 at 8:16 amBut how hard is the man really thinking? Most people who advance in politics past a certain level either possess, or obtain, a rather healthy ego and anyone who wants to continue in politics knows you need your name out there. You need people talking about you so if you do decide to move up or get back in the game, you don’t start out any further behind the pack in name ID and support than you need to.
So is Harold Ford really pondering a run for Governor or is he just talking in rather vague tones about the speculation surrounding him to keep his name in the paper until such time as he would have to make a real commitment to running?
Yes, Ford came within a hair’s breath of defeating Bob Corker for Bill Frist’s open Senate seat in 2006. But, the point is, he lost. He lost in a year when Democrats were upending Republicans and exceeding expectations all over the country. Bob Corker was, in fact, the only freshman Republican Senator in the class of 2006.
If Harold Ford, an African-American with a tainted political pedigree, was going to win statewide in this increasingly red state of ours, 2006 would have been the year. The stars were aligned as it were and he fell short.
If he fell short then, what would would be different now, especially since he would be running for an executive office, not a legislative one?
Voters, while not extremely astute by and large, intuitively understand the difference between the two offices and take into account the different skill set needed for the two offices. Sending someone off to Washington to vote on national issues in a far different thing than handing over the keys to the kingdom in Tennessee.
And while he certainly has the name ID and the network of support to mount a campaign, Ford hasn’t really been involved on the ground in the state to the degree one would expect a potential governor to be.
He does national televsion. He is in charge of a national political organization and his work for Merrill Lynch has him out of state much of the time in New York where is wife is a native. In fact, it was not so long ago that Harold Ford’s name came up in another potential political race — in New York.
Ford certainly has a base here in state and the potential to do well across the grand divisions — but doing well and winning are two different things.
The pendulum may swing back blue in Tennessee eventually but, by all accounts, that day is not at hand. If Harold Ford is smart (and he is) he will welcome the speculation and even encourage it for the sake of keeping his name in the media as a political player but, ultimately, he will either wait out the red tide rising in the state or find a new state in which to run — if he does in fact want back in the game of electoral politics.
SEE ALSO: GoldnI
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15 Responses to “Junior Ponders A Run For Governor”
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Voters, while not extremely astute by and large
cynic.
I hope you’re right. But while he’s trying to keep his name in the papers, he’s holding the rest of us hostage.
[...] FORD, JR. ponders a run for governor. I hope he does. Our podcast interview with Ford (from his Senatorial campaign) is [...]
[...] FORD, JR. ponders a run for governor. I hope he does. Our podcast interview with Ford (from his Senatorial campaign) is [...]
He may still have a place to live in Memphis, but his heart is not here. he needs to say he’s out. He must believe that he can walk in whenever he likes and take the nomination; he doesn’t realize that his time has passed here.
Harold would do himself, and his party, a tremendous favor if he played the kingmaker this time around–raise money and campaign his heart out for the eventual Dem nominee, restore his reputation among the grassroots, and most importantly, make sure there is a strong infrastructure in place for when he does run for statewide office again.
As the article pointed out, Ford had his best chance when he ran for Senate. He likely lost, owing not to “dirty” campaign advertising, but to his perceived association with (1) ultra liberal leanings that does not solidify support among conservative Democrats and middle of the road Independents, and (2) his unfortunate association with a family and political machinery that has a less than flattering reputation. What would make him think that anything would be different in running for the most important political position in the state?
Voters, while not extremely astute by and large…
I just like that phraseology. Strikes me as diplomatic, even generous.
Harold Ford 2010=Van Hilleary 2006.
Ben, how so? I’m curious to know your analysis of that…
- Matthew
Time for a little fact check here. The truth of the matter is, Harold Ford Jr. is still deeply rooted here in the state of Tennessee. He has taught at Vanderbilt University for the past two years. He is a registered voter in the state. He is a homeowner in the state. And he also maintains a business office in Nashville.
I also think it is a tad bit hypocritical for you to even bring this up as other notable Tennessee public servants such as Bill First and Fred Thompson live all over the place. In fact, Fred lives in Hollywood and Washington. Like Thompson and Frist, Ford has remained engaged in public life. He has said time and time again he is Tennessean and proud of it.
If Ford does decide to seek the Governorship, I am confident he will win and make a great governor. He meets and far exceeds the requirements to be governor. He has the knowledge, experience, leadership as well as good and strong national and international ties and private sector experience to guide our state through these tough times.
It was 50,000 votes, wasn’t it? Not exactly a “hair’s brea(d)th” after Franken v. Coleman.
Aside from the “typo” (wink), good piece of writing. I hope it is his political eulogy and your final word on the subject.
[...] in the stead of two strong, but less…er…vibrant governors (Alexander and Bredesen). Kleinheider thinks the latter’s unsuccessful bid for Senate signifies Ford’s electability as [...]
Ford has a better long term future in television then in the polital realm.
Easier life, pays much more and has more prestige.
Ford would certainly be the most dynamic candidate in a race for the Governorship. With Frist and his money and checkered history out of the the race, a candidate with Ford’s presence and name recognition would gather voter interest if not votes.
On the Republican side we have a do-nothing Congressman with Wamp, a little-known candidate with Haslam, and the potential for entries by Marsha ‘Dingbat’ Blackburn and Ron ‘Bubba’ Ramsey. Of the bunch, Haslam has the most promise. Lord save us if Blackburn won the primary and election.
On the Democrat side Lincoln Davis, who is probably to the right of Haslam on some issues, has the point. But there will be a definite primary battle if Ford enters.
Probably the best qualified person in the state to be our Governor is Congressman Jim Cooper, who has not to my knowledge expressed any interest in the position.
I think Ford will stay out if a Democrat-led administration and Congress don’t accomplish anything. But if Washington has made any strides in cleaning up the Bush mess by the end of 2009, don’t be surprised if Harold Jr is in this thing.