Kurita drops out of Senate race|Democrat can't compete with Ford for funds

[Freddie Stubbs]

By Richard Locker
Contact
April 13, 2006

NASHVILLE -- Citing the challenge of raising "an enormous amount" of money for a statewide campaign, state Sen. Rosalind Kurita ended her candidacy for the U.S. Senate Wednesday, leaving Rep. Harold Ford Jr. the lone major Democrat in the race.

Kurita, D-Clarksville, wouldn't say whether she'll endorse Ford. "I haven't really thought about that yet. Right now, my commitment and my focus is on today."

She announced her decision surrounded by 11 somber campaign workers at her Nashville headquarters, where leaflets saying "Flip 'The Bandwagon' Over" were still taped to doors and walls -- an apparent reference to her uphill battle against Ford. She campaigned hard but was unable to close in on his big fund-raising advantage, much of it from out of state.

By Dec. 31, Ford had raised more than $3 million to Kurita's $500,000. He had about $1.8 million in his campaign fund to her $250,000, although she did raise $120,000 in the first quarter of 2006.

more: http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/politics/article/0,1426,MCA_1496_4617086,00.html

[tnlefty]

1. I long for the day when money isn't the determining factor in

campaigns. IMNSHO it's ridiculous the amounts of money needed for people to run for local races, i.e., school board, county commissioners, city council and on and on, let alone the larger races.

In the primary, I can't crossover vote to try to get the more moderate Corker in as the repug nominee because there are primaries for local candidates who will be on the Aug. ballot.

[Clark2008]

2. Why would you want to?

I think Ford will have a harder time beating Corker than Bryant or that idiot Van Hilleary.

I'm hoping the fundies flock to Hilleary, myself, so that Ford can whoop his butt.

[tnlefty]

3. True. More of an effort to avoid the possibility of having either Bryant

or Hilleary just in case.