Senator Bob Graham out of 2004 race

[DemDogs]

Just announced on Larry King.

[qanda]

1. I already wished Bob Graham well

Last week when the news came out that he was withdrawing. Now that it's official I repeat my sentiment that Bob Graham is one of the good guys and I wish him all the best.

[alcuno]

7. He sure is one of the good guys.

Of all the candidates, he has consistently come across as the most serious and the most sincere.

[Kahuna]

25. Yep! Bob is the real deal. He's too good for this country.

[TSIAS]

2. Watching now

He said he hasn't decided whether he'll seek re-election to the Senate

[DemDogs]

3. Will decide on Senate race later

Prepared to "contribute" to Democratic victory, when asked about VP

[Lefty48197]

4. Too bad

I thought he had a lot to add to the debate. He's an 800 pound gorilla when it comes to potential VP nominees.

[Cha]

5. Sweetheart...I know that has to be hard!

I hope he runs for Senator from Florida, again!

[HerbieHeadhunter]

6. Good luck to Sen. Graham....

I hope there is a role for him in a Democratic Administration in 2004.

[Syrinx]

8. Is he endorsing anyone?

[TSIAS]

9. Said he wasn't yet

He may have plans to, but not at the moment.

[DemDogs]

10. Not yet

He did not endorse, vague suggestion (I think) that he might. War vote will not decide who he endorses.

[burr]

22. Who do you think Graham will endorse?

My guess would be either John Kerry or Wesley Clark. He might endorse Kerry because they have similar views on trade, foreign policy, and on tax policy...especially when it comes to cutting the FICA tax. I think he might pick Clark because they have similar positions on trade, security issues, and both were the only moderates running who opposed the War Resolution on Iraq.

[Syrinx]

24. I don't know

But your guesses seem pretty good to me.

[dolstein]

11. So was his appearance at the DNC meeting a sham?

Didn't he know he wasn't going to seek the nomination at the time he spoke to the DNC?

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

12. Too bad, but not unexpected

Once it became a 10 person race I'm sure everyone had to re-evaluate where they were in terms of money, support, etc. There are other candidates, who shall remain nameless, who I wish would have a similar epiphany.

Graham was one of the good guys, definitely. He brought some substantive discussion to the table, particularly when it came to the 9-11 investigation. Let's hope this isn't the last we hear from him.

And yes, he would make a welcome addition to any ticket, or any cabinet, for that matter.

[Superfly]

13. Bob who?

Now, let's get the rest of the party focused.

[davhill]

14. Do Glitz and Packaging Count more that Wisdom and Experience?

Bob Graham being the first candidate to withdraw should give us a lot to think about in our electoral process. Are we fated to be ruled forever by airheads and manipulators? Are good looks and chrisma our central values? Is celebrity the only thing we long to see in our leaders? If so, I fear this nation soon may perish from the earth.

[Democat]

17. Looked at California lately?

Celebrity seems to be everything today.

[candy331]

19. Liars and the Lying

Liars too. I am afraid you are right it has come down to stardom and who can do the best photo op. Country in nosedive if not pulled up crash expected soon.

[sleipnir]

15. About time

Liked the guy, but he was wasting his time and money. I'm sorry to be negative, but it's time to start whittling down the candidates. I'd love to see it down to 4 or 5 by January. The debates are ludicrius with 10 people. Nothing gets said or done. Granted, the more opinions the better, but as the signs say "serious applicants only."

Who'll be next...

My prediction....CMB.....

[NewYorkerfromMass]

18. I'll bet Bob agrees with most everything you said

Now he's back on the sidelines with Gore, aiming to unseat the fraud.

[Democat]

16. Bob Graham is a great Democrat

He has done a lot to add credibility to the arguments against Bush.

I like him a lot and hope he stays in politics for a long time. 2004 isn't his year, but his future looks bright.

Thanks, Bob!

[karlschneider]

20. A great fellow. Hopefully we can keep him in the Senate.

I met Bob briefly when I lived in Florida (god, can it really be 20 years? !!)...he's one of the actual good guys. Shucks.

[Mari333]

21. Bye Bob...Now its time for HOLY JOE to leave

Get OUT Joe!!! Its been far too long.

[arwalden]

32. I'm Guessing You Mean Joe Lieberman?

... or simply "Lieberman". That one?

[Wickerman]

23. Well, it needed to happen

but I am sorry to see a quality man bow out. He would make an excellent VP choice, I believe. hope he gets back on the state race.

[TheReligiousLeft]

26. Without Bob who's my new number 3?

Bob was so cool. He got the Garrison endorsment and everything. I hope he's VP.

[T_i_B]

36. When I look at the Dem candidates

I came to the opinion that Bob Graham was the best one. I really liked what he had to say on terrorism and I will be sorry to see him drop out. If I had to endorse any of the 10 it would be Graham. (although there are still quality candidates out there)

:-(

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/10/06/elec04.prez.graham/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Bob Graham of Florida dropped out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination Monday.

"I'm leaving because I have made the judgment that I cannot be elected president of the United States," Graham said on CNN's "Larry King Live."

Graham said his campaign did not receive enough funds or have a strong enough organization to complete the run.

"We have an excellent field of Democratic candidates," he said. "All of them would be superior to the current incumbent in the White House, and I am anxious to give my full support to whichever candidate the Democrats of the United States select to be our nominee."

[davidinalameda]

27. damn shame

there are several other candidates that I would have much rather seen drop out before Graham.

I hope that he endorses Clark though. Having someone like Graham on board would only strengthen Clark's already extremely strong foreign policy and intelligence credentials.

[sleipnir]

28. If he endorses anyone, it'll be Kucinich

He's probably holding off on an endorsement until he sees if Kucinich will play for awhile. My guess is wait another two or three weeks, then Graham will pick him. If not, I think it's even odds on both Dean and Clark. But a hunch has me leaning to Clark, but just a hunch...

[mndemocrat_29]

35. He'll endorse a senator

Probably Edwards or Kerry.

[juajen]

29. He's a swell guy and a great senator

Does this put paid to his being a senator for the rest of his life?

[DarkNite]

30. Very sad.

Graham was the most qualified candidate in the race by far IMO. But sadly glitz often trumps substance, and he just didn't have the charisma to get people to listen to his message. Wesley Clark's entry into the race was the final nail in the coffin for his campaign, as he snatched away Graham's biggest selling point-nat'l security credentials.

Here's to hoping he'll return to the Senate, or be tapped for VP/Secretary in the Cabinet.


-DN-

[robbedvoter]

31. Pretty please, stay in the Senate!

Florida is too treacherous a place for experiments!

[rhite5]

33. If the door is open for a VP bid, he can't endorse anyone .

He would be an excellent fit with Dean. Bob's strengths on Intelligence and Foreign Relations make a nice fit. Also he represents the South which Dean does not. No chance at all of being a Clark choice -- both from South, duplication in areas of expertise.

[LosinIt]

34. It's sad to see him go, he is such a likeable guy, like MOST of them

the candidates that is, with apologies to Ms. Carol for calling her a guy, there is a size limit to that title. Hope he stays in the Senate. We need more like him.