Lincoln Chafee independent bid

[Thunderbird is the word]

Could Lincoln Chafee be setting himself up to run as a third party candidate? Also if he did who would his running mate be and what effect would he have on the general?

[Indy Texas]

Chafee/Huntsman 2016

Honorary Campaign Co-Chairs:
Michael Bloomberg
Angus King
Colin Powell
Christine Todd Whitman

[NHI]

Potentially, but I don't see him having enough of an impact to swing the election either way, maybe gets 0.5%-1% tops in RI.

[Fuzzy Says: "Abolish NPR!"]

What's the demand for such a candidacy?  What credibility would it have?  Chaffee was a Republican, than an Independent, then a Democrat, and then an Independent again?  What special attributes does he have that would make his Presidential candidacy credible even as a protest candidacy?  What would such a candidacy be other than an ego trip?

People see through these things.  People know when a guy has no substance, but is on an ego trip.  That's what Chaffee's candidacy is about.  If he had been serious, he'd have mended fences in Rhode Island and attempted to be reelected as a Democrat.  That would have taken the kind of gritty work of both governing and politicking that is much different from campaigning.

[Bakersfield Uber Alles]

I could definitely see it happening. He might beat Gary Johnson's 2012 performance, but that would put him at 1% nationwide (maybe 2-3% in RI).

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I could definitely see it happening. He might beat Gary Johnson's 2012 performance, but that would put him at 1% nationwide (maybe 2-3% in RI).

No, he wouldn't beat Johnson's record. That just won't happen.

[Mister Mets]

I don't believe he has the money for it. Nor does he seem like a match for parties that can get ballot access.

Will Hillary moving left to excite activists and a nontrivial chance of Republicans nominating someone divisive (Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul), there might be a better opening for a centrist independent candidate than we've seen in years. It won't mean he has a shot at winning.

The preferred running mate would be a centrist with a solid resume, who doesn't mind buring bridges with their party. Either that, or a popular outsider.

[Simfan34]

Chafee/Huntsman 2016

Honorary Campaign Co-Chairs:
Michael Bloomberg
Angus King
Colin Powell
Christine Todd Whitman

Huntsman would have nothing to do with a loser like Chafee.

[Senator Cris]

Chafee/Huntsman 2016

Honorary Campaign Co-Chairs:
Michael Bloomberg
Angus King
Colin Powell
Christine Todd Whitman

Huntsman would have nothing to do with a loser like Chafee.

[Simfan34]

Chafee/Huntsman 2016

Honorary Campaign Co-Chairs:
Michael Bloomberg
Angus King
Colin Powell
Christine Todd Whitman

Huntsman would have nothing to do with a loser like Chafee.

Nor would dear Bloomie or anyone else on that list, for that matter.

[history nerd]

Chafee/Huntsman 2016

Honorary Campaign Co-Chairs:
Michael Bloomberg
Angus King
Colin Powell
Christine Todd Whitman

Huntsman would have nothing to do with a loser like Chafee.

Nor would dear Bloomie or anyone else on that list, for that matter.

Lets take a look at who might actually be interested then...

Jesse Ventura - Similar anti-interventionist views, also supports progressive causes but with a fiscal conservative streak. Also Ventura is crazy enough to sign on, ideology doesn't seem to matter much to him considering he has been checking names as diverse as Ross Perot, Dick Lamm, Gary Johnson, Cynthia McKinney, Roseanne Barr and Howard Stern as potential running mates in the past.

Buddy Roemer - Also a "loser" with relatively centrist goals and desire to be in the race, just add Roemer's pet issue of campaign finance reform and I bet he is in. Again, he endorses people all over the spectrum and doesn't seem to be tied to any one ideology.

Who else might he recruit? I can't think of many centrists... Manchin isn't a good fit... Perhaps America's only independent Governor Bill Walker of Alaska or a recent third party campaigner with some experience like Larry Pressler?

[Torie]

Actually, this article suggests the Bloomberg is at least not ruling out running for POTUS - as a Dem. That might squeeze Hillary some, as she loses votes on the right to him, while losing votes on the left to O'Malley and Sanders. Chafee's quixotic quest is not worth spending any time on really.

[Bakersfield Uber Alles]

Actually, this article suggests the Bloomberg is at least not ruling out running for POTUS - as a Dem. That might squeeze Hillary some, as she loses vote on the right to him, while losing votes on the left to O'Malley and Sanders. Chafee's quixotic quest is not worth spending any time on really.

I think that a Bloomberg primary victory would get me to vote for Chafee as an independent.

[Vega]

Any independent candidate would have to have a lot of money, but that's common knowledge, I hope.

[Thunderbird is the word]

Chafee-Roemer: Disaffected Dixiecrats and Rockefeller Republicans unite!

[Thunderbird is the word]

I really can't see Bloomberg appealing to the Democratic primary electorate and I don't think that he's seriously thinking of running. Everything from the NY Post should be taken with a grain of salt.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Lincoln Chafee / Lowell Weicker. We have the anti Iraq war southern New England moderate Republican Senator turned Independent governor vote down pat.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Actually, this article suggests the Bloomberg is at least not ruling out running for POTUS - as a Dem. That might squeeze Hillary some, as she loses votes on the right to him, while losing votes on the left to O'Malley and Sanders. Chafee's quixotic quest is not worth spending any time on really.

Just LOL if another warmonger neoliberal decided to get in the race.

[Simfan34]

Actually, this article suggests the Bloomberg is at least not ruling out running for POTUS - as a Dem. That might squeeze Hillary some, as she loses votes on the right to him, while losing votes on the left to O'Malley and Sanders. Chafee's quixotic quest is not worth spending any time on really.

Just LOL if another warmonger neoliberal decided to get in the race.

Bloomberg is a warmonger?

[Bakersfield Uber Alles]

Actually, this article suggests the Bloomberg is at least not ruling out running for POTUS - as a Dem. That might squeeze Hillary some, as she loses votes on the right to him, while losing votes on the left to O'Malley and Sanders. Chafee's quixotic quest is not worth spending any time on really.

Just LOL if another warmonger neoliberal decided to get in the race.

Bloomberg is a warmonger?

Yes, and you should feel sorry for ignoring the plight of the citizens of Cokeville and Pepsiton.

[Donerail]

Bloomberg's previous statement on running for President does seem to only have addressed whether he'd run as an independent, and his rationale for not running is just that he couldn't win. Still probably won't happen, but not totally out of the picture.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

He wont run, he sees his candidacy as helpful to Dems, not as Nadar sees it. Exploit Dems weaknesses like he did to Gore and Kerry.

Trump, hopefully runs for president, and exploits weaknesses of GOP.

[Ebsy]

This thread shouldn't exist.