(Harold) Ford Decides Not to Run

[deminks]

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/01/ford-decides-not-to-run/

Under intense pressure from Democratic Party officials, Harold E. Ford Jr., the former Tennessee congressman, has decided not to challenge Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand in the primary this fall, according to two people told of his plans.

He has told friends that, while he is convinced he could prevail against Ms. Gillibrand, he feared the winner of the primary would have little money and remain highly vulnerable to a well-financed Republican challenger at a time when the Democratic party controls the Senate by a slim majority.

“I’ve examined this race in every possible way, and I keep returning to the same fundamental conclusion: If I run, the likely result would be a brutal and highly negative Democratic primary — a primary where the winner emerges weak-ened and the Republican strengthened,” Mr. Ford wrote in an opinion article to be published in Tuesday’s edition of The New York Times

I refuse to do anything that would help
Republicans win a Senate seat in New
York, and give the Senate majority to the
Republicans.”

(end snip)

Good.

[RZM]

1. Translation:

'My extensive polling and focus-grouping over the last few weeks has driven home the point that New Yorkers either haven't heard of me or aren't feeling me.'

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. naw . . . .

they knew him too well, and that made it impossible for him.

[RZM]

3. I don't know

You kind of have to follow politics to know who Harold Ford is, especially if you don't live in Tennessee. While just about everybody on DU follows politics, it's easy to forget that vast swaths of the population do not.

[winstars]

4. Sorry but if you watch MSNBC

Then we lose because now he is free again to appear on our screens and spew forth his very weak bullshit. Joey Scar will welcome him back and as I pointed out on another thread, Uncle Pat will of course let you 'ride' his lap again during the commercials!!!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. all too true. pardon me while I discharge excretory matter orally.

[Swamp Rat]

5. YAAY!! He can go back to the DLC circle-jerk where he belongs.

:D

[David Zephyr]

7. Oh! I see. He's quitting because of his "loyalty" to the Democratic Party.

Harold Ford, Jr. Go the fuck away.

No one gives a shit about you and no one believes anything you say.

Please return to your full length mirror and fondle yourself in private. The rest of us are sick of you doing it in public.

[muffin1]

9. He doesn't have to fondle himself.

Joe and Mika are all to happy to oblige him.:puke:

[soleiri]

8. Just curious

I'm not in New York, but it seems that Gillibrand was thought of as a moderate,
but recently she's supported progressive ideas like the public option and repealing DADT.
Do people think that Ford's possible running has moved her to the left?
Hopefully she'll continue to support progressive ideas.

[UTUSN]

10. OMZ !1 - K&R big #5!!!!!!!!!!! 1 for HOORAY!!!!!!!!!1 n/t

[girl gone mad]

11. Good news. Now if only other DLCers would follow suit...

maybe we could actually start getting somewhere.