Harry Reid 08?

[Lunar]

He's a rising power in the Democratic senate and set to become Minority Leader.  This obviously means that he'll wield a lot of influence and gain many connections that would allow him to make a successful run through the primaries.  Plus, Nevada's becoming a much more influential state every day.

He has a record of working with both parties, is known as a moderate, and pro-life (voted to ban overseas and partial-birth abortions).  He's been in the Senate since 1986.  He actually has a good "log cabin" type story, being born in a small rural mining town and being raised in a primitive sort of cabin.  Father was a miner, Mother never completed high school, that type of story which seems to help politicians (Edwards and Gephardt couldn't shut up about theirs).

As a side note, I was hoping Kerry would choose him as his VP earlier this year, since I thought Reid, unlike Edwards, would actually be able to deliver his home state.  The smaller the state, the larger the "home-state" advantage is, since the candidate seems more local.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Lets see how the next two years go... if he leads the Senate Dems well and they make solid gains in 2006 he could be in a very good position.

[J. J.]

It would be far better to go with an ex-governor.  A pro-life nominee is going to have a real problem winning the D nomination.

[Nym90]

He's a rising power in the Democratic senate and set to become Minority Leader.  This obviously means that he'll wield a lot of influence and gain many connections that would allow him to make a successful run through the primaries.  Plus, Nevada's becoming a much more influential state every day.

He has a record of working with both parties, is known as a moderate, and pro-life (voted to ban overseas and partial-birth abortions).  He's been in the Senate since 1986.  He actually has a good "log cabin" type story, being born in a small rural mining town and being raised in a primitive sort of cabin.  Father was a miner, Mother never completed high school, that type of story which seems to help politicians (Edwards and Gephardt couldn't shut up about theirs).

As a side note, I was hoping Kerry would choose him as his VP earlier this year, since I thought Reid, unlike Edwards, would actually be able to deliver his home state.  The smaller the state, the larger the "home-state" advantage is, since the candidate seems more local.

Possibly, though his age is starting to work against him. He'd be a great President though.

[Ben.]

It would be far better to go with an ex-governor.  A pro-life nominee is going to have a real problem winning the D nomination.

Bayh, Rendell and Warner are far more pro-life than either Kerry or Edwards and all three would be very competive in any race for the Democratic nomination.

Abortion is an issue where the Poltical centre has shifted in a more conservative direction and the Democrats will have to deal with this, senators such as Bayh positions on the issue are very reflective of most Americans, being personally opposed to abortion and voting to restrict it but at the same time arguing that it has to remain legal so that firstly in extreme circumstances pregnancies can be aborted and to prevent woman resorting to “back-alley abortions”… it’s the most reasonable position in my books and its one shared by the majority of Americans.     

     

[Lunar]

Possibly, though his age is starting to work against him. He'd be a great President though.

His website doesn't say how old he is.  From the other dates, I gather he's around 64..is that correct?

[WalterMitty]

remember when another 'moderate' senate democrat leader was contemplating a run for the presidency.  it turns out, he should have been shoring up his reelection in south dakota instead.

maybe harry reid will suffer the same fate.  we can hope!!

[Ben.]

remember when another 'moderate' senate democrat leader was contemplating a run for the presidency.  it turns out, he should have been shoring up his reelection in south dakota instead.

maybe harry reid will suffer the same fate.  we can hope!!

He won't run and he's safe where he is, unlike Daschle.

[WalterMitty]

safe?  winning by 300 votes is safe?

[Minarchist]

No pro-lifer is going to get the Democratic nomination in our lifetimes.

[Lunar]

remember when another 'moderate' senate democrat leader was contemplating a run for the presidency.  it turns out, he should have been shoring up his reelection in south dakota instead.

maybe harry reid will suffer the same fate.  we can hope!!

South Dakota is a bit different from Nevada.  I predict Nevada will lean Democrat in 08.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

safe?  winning by 300 votes is safe?

He won by a lot more than that this year

[Hermit]

His website doesn't say how old he is.  From the other dates, I gather he's around 64..is that correct?

65, actually. Close!

[Defarge]

No more senators for president! Except for Evan Bayh

[ilikeverin]

No more senators for president! Except for Evan Bayh

Evan Bayh is the One Special Exception(tm)

(although this Reid fellow doesn't sound like much of a failure, either )

[Erc]

If Reid had been the VP pick, the Democrats would have lost both his seat and Edward's...

If the '06 Senate midterms prove successful for the Democrats, he could have a shot at it (as he might be credited at least partially with its success).  Although of course if the '06 Senate midterms go well for the Democrats, then he'll be up against more serious opposition for the nomination.

Lose-lose, really.  Put him down as a long-shot dark horse.

[Ben.]

Lose-lose, really.  Put him down as a long-shot dark horse.

I'd agree, but then again even if things go well in 2006, the GOP will almost certianly still hold the Senate even if by a reduced margin and Reid really doesn't want the nomination, don't think its even crossed his mind... let him get on with his job i say. 

[Hitchabrut]

Maybe for VP. A Bayh-Reid ticket would be painful. Reid's a Democrat that I can respect and I'd vote for him over a Chaffee/Jeffords-type any time.

[zachman]

Reid did well on Meet the Press this morning. He's a maverick voice and it is certainly a good thing to have a non-pro-choice Democratic leader. He in many ways is nearly perfect. He's a mormon and a Democrat. He's from the West. He's a populist. He doesn't have too close ties to the DLC like Bayh. I'll put him on my top four wish list (Bredensen, Warner, Feingold and Reid). On the down side, he is a Senator and being the Democrat's Senate leader for four years may create some issues and he could become unpopular.

[phk]

He's really liked in his state.