2008 Dems seek fair share of spotlight

[babylonsister]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/D/DEMOCRATS_SECOND_TIER?SITE=FLPET&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

2008 Dems seek fair share of spotlight

By BETH FOUHY
Associated Press Writer


NEW YORK (AP) -- Call it the second-tier lament. At a recent house party in the early voting state of New Hampshire, Democratic presidential candidate Chris Dodd became exasperated as he talked about being overshadowed by front-runners Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.

"At one point, if I'd stood here with 25 years experience in the U.S. Senate, that would have been the end of it," Dodd said. The presidency, he added, was no place for "on-the-job training."

Another Democratic hopeful, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, was similarly frustrated campaigning in Iowa last week. Iowans, he said, "resent that the media has created a myth that two candidates are the only serious ones."

Dodd, Richardson and Delaware Sen. Joe Biden have stellar resumes, decades of experience and an inviting style on the campaign trail. So far, though, this presidential race has been dominated by the celebrity treatment of Clinton and Obama - and to a lesser extent John Edwards - leaving the second-tier hopefuls struggling to be more than blips on the national political radar.

"A guy like Chris Dodd has more experience than the three front-runners combined, as do Biden and Richardson," said Andrew E. Smith, director of the Survey Center at the University of New Hampshire. "It goes to show you that charisma and money beat experience in most elections. In my view, it's rather unfortunate."

more...

[caseycoon]

1. Maybe it also shows

that the public is sick & tired of experienced politicians.

[Clarkie1]

2. The media-celebrity hype is hurtful to our political process.

I hope Iowans resent the media enough to take a closer look at all the candidates, not just the annoited ones.

That said, I don't buy Chris Dodd's remarks that experience in the Senate prepares one for the Presidency. In my opinion, Dodd is as inexperienceed as Obama when it comes to executive leadership. Now, a governor like Richardson has more of a point about experience...that's my take.

[Clark2008]

3. Bravo

:applaud:

And I'm not even a huge fan of Richardson, but I agree with your premise.