Life just isn't fair for Bob Graham

[ringmastery]

He's got a stellar resume, two term governor of 4th largest state, 3 terms in the senate, etc. He voted against the Iraq war resolution before it became "popular." Unfortunately, he's just not charasmatic enough to be president. You have to "engage" people and make them believe in you. It's sad that politics is as much part style as it is substance, but that's the world we live in.

Life just isn't fair for Bob Graham.

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/276/wash/Graham_considers_future_of_pre:.shtml

Graham considers future of presidential campaign
By Nedra Pickler, Associated Press, 10/3/2003 11:52

WASHINGTON (AP) Democrat Bob Graham is weighing the future of his presidential campaign as senior aides were leaving the campaign and the candidate continued to struggle with finances.

One Graham adviser, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the senator was taking the next 24 to 48 hours to review new budget figures that are so low they leave him with few options. He must either exit the race or drastically scale back his operation and narrow the states where he will campaign.

[demnan]

1. I don't know

To be a United States Senator is one of the most important and permenent jobs you can have in government. The President at most will make an impact for 8 years and then he/she is gone, a Senator can affect legislation for half a century if his/her health holds up.

[KittyWampus]

2. I've Really Appreciated His Being In The Debates

He was the first to speak out about Halliburton in Iraq during the debates... a subject I was keen on having addressed.

He hasn't really gone negative on other candidates either.

He is a good man, IMO.

[poskonig]

3. Graham's problems are issue and image related.

In primaries, candidates are supposed to run to the base, and then run to the center later. Graham ran to the center right away, and hence is stuck in the mud.

On the issues, Graham has nothing that energizes Democrats. He voted against the war resolution because it didn't authorize Bush to go into Syria and Iran. (I'm not making this up.) Secondly, when he vociferously defends free trade, people cringe and worry about their jobs. Lastly, speaking out against civil unions in debates makes him come off as a cultural conservative.

To make up for these deficiencies, Graham has been very acerbic against president Bush to the point where he does not sound calm and reasonable, but a wild man. Hence, people either think Graham is a conservative and/or they think he is nuts. This is not a winning recipe for a liberal primary.

[Bucky]

4. He'd be top do in a brokered convention

But brokered conventions went the way of the Studebaker. We'll never have another brokered convention. Sex appeal has replaced statecraft as the requisite skill for leading the country.