WaPo: Eyeing a Role for Ben Affleck in the Senate (Virginia)

[Penndems]

Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts
The Washington Post
Tuesday, September 27, 2005; Page C03

If you liked him as Bennifer . . . you'll love him as Benator!

That's the hot new idea being tossed around by Virginia Democrats, who are desperately searching for a big name to challenge the reelection bid of rising GOP star Sen. George Allen next year, now that outgoing Gov. Mark Warner has ducked out.

Why, who should happen to be pondering a move to Thomas Jefferson country but a certain square-jawed media magnet with a taste for liberal politics and millions to spend on it . . . Ben Affleck! Star of "Gigli" and the J.Lo tab romance, now happily settled with "Alias" star Jennifer Garner.

The couple, expecting their first child, have been shopping for real estate around Charlottesville. British tabloids claim it's a done deal; we will only go so far as to report that they checked out at least one country estate a few weeks ago.
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Link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/27/AR2005092700006.html

[SteppingRazor]

1. Once again... damn you, Warner!

Just HAD to run for the presidency, eh? ;)
Now we've got Ben Affleck on a doomed, quixotic campaign, when we could have had a Dem. Senator from Virginia, and a pretty good chance at a Senate majority.
Instead, we've got yet another term for Sen. Allen, and Warner just another face in a crowded primary in 2008.

[Penndems]

4. I know, I know . . .

Mark would've made a wonderful Senator, and given Allen a real run for the money. Guess he's putting all of his eggs in a 2008 basket. ;)

[Lorien]

2. Hell, he's smarter than Ahnold (and a number of others in office)

I remember a post about him debating some RW whack job on Fox, CNN or some other news program last year. Everyone seemed to agree that he was great at debating; presented his case well, had the facts to counter the usual spin, etc. America is obsessed with celebrity; if he knows the issues and can present them in an appealing way, he may just win the office. Stranger things have happened.:shrug:

[don954]

3. oh good god no! a thousand times no!!!!!

NO!!!!!!!!!!

[usregimechange]

5. Not in Virginia Ben.

[Penndems]

6. He may be too liberal for Virginia

But, then again, he does have that star power. It certainly helped John Warner to a certain extent when he married Elizabeth Taylor.

[spooky3]

15. Hmmm, I think he would have a chance. It seems a lot of "red"

voters here are very much influenced by star power and the personal touch. Mark Warner is not particularly charming nor a star, but he campaigned tirelessly and shook a hell of a lot of hands in rural Virginia, and that got him elected. Once he was in office, they liked him even more--despite his raising taxes!

[Awsi Dooger]

12. You got it

This would be lousy handicapping. If Affleck is as smart as many suggest, he'll realize that and decline. Hillary knew what she was doing, isolating New York.

[GRLMGC]

7. Virginia?

That's so random. Does he even have ties to Virginia?

[jackbourassa]

8. What if Kaine loses for Governor?

Couldn't he run for the Senate?

[Awsi Dooger]

11. Kilgore is less formidable than Allen

A loss to Kilgore in an open race and we probably wouldn't want him to run for senate vs. an incumbent.

[tritsofme]

9. That's exactly what we need.

This would give Allen more face-time, and a landslide victory to catapult himself into the 2008 presidential race.

[GRLMGC]

10. I know

BAD idea. I'm from CA and actors as politicians never turn out well

[Bombtrack]

13. Ben is too smart for this. Right?

and please, no Gigli jokes. He's picked better scripts since then. The Adrien Brody movie he's looks like it's gonna be pretty good.

Anyway, Ben looking at a house in Virginia might just be to better situate himself to DC and to Jennifer Garners roots (she's from WV right), the former for when he runs for congress from MASSACHUSETTS, not Virginia, if he ever does. Either the house from whatever district he's from or senate when Kennedy or Kerry retire.

[genius]

14. Tell him to go for it. He's helped with Democratic campaigns

He's pretty liberal.

[Bombtrack]

16. He'd get beaten in Virginia

he should really wait for Kennedy, Kerry, and/or Mike Capuano to retire if he wants to run for federal office.