Democrats Fear Dean
Congressional Democrats are afraid of what a Howard Dean nomination would do to them:
Vulnerable House Democrats are worried that Howard Dean’s negative coattails will whisk them out of office in 2004.The incumbent lawmakers — especially those from culturally conservative Southern states — are concerned that if he is nominated, the former Vermont governor’s antiwar, pro-gay positions will create a national mood that will make it more difficult for Democratic incumbents to keep their seats, let alone win back the House.
If it’s bad for House members, it’s worse for senators. As I put it in June, when I asked my readers to help make Dean the Democratic nominee:
Imagine a Democratic presidential candidate who’s rabidly anti-war and promises to repeal all of the Bush tax cuts. Imagine such a candidate so wrapped up in a cocoon of liberal activists that he believes he can win by being more stridently liberal than any other presidential candidate. Ever.Now imagine Southern Democratic senators having to run for re-election with such a candidate at the top of the ballot.
Southern Democratic senators seem to have gotten the message. There are three confirmed retirements and two likely retirements among Southern Democratic senators in 2004. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas is the only Southern Democratic senator who’s sure to run for re-election in 2004. My full 2004 Senate analysis is here.
Subscribe to blog feed.