Is Bob Graham going to Drop Out? Spokesman Quit

[dave29]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=703&e=7&u=/ap/20031002/ap_on_el_pr/democrats_graham


Jamal Simmons told Graham and his wife, Adele, he was leaving as other key staff met at Graham headquarters in Miami Lakes, Fla., to discuss how — or whether — to proceed with the campaign.


Graham, a senator who is one of the most popular leaders in his home state of Florida, has struggled near the bottom of the 10-way Democratic presidential primary. He trails most of his rivals in fund raising and polls, and some advisers want him to quit the race.

[NashVegas]

1. Damn

It'll be sad if he bows out so early. The more voices, the better.

[Renew Deal]

2. I understand your point but...

It is tough to concentrate on what is being said through all the noise. There are too many people up there. I would like to cut the field down to about 6. Graham has something to say, but he isn't making any waves in this race. I hope about three more candidates drop. Not because I don't agree with them (except Lieberman), just because I feel that 6 people is just as effective as 10. The 6 would just have more time.

[GBD4]

3. "Critical meetings"

I read on the www.sun-sentinel.com politics wire that Graham is having "critical meetings" this week with his advisors. That's not a good sign. He recently began renting an apartment in Iowa. One article said he might have to move to Iowa to actually see a rise in poll numbers. It is a tough time.

BUT I AM LOYAL TO THE END! :)

[dolstein]

4. He seems the most likely to drop out before Iowa

Kucinich, Braun and Sharpton have nothing to lose by running. But Graham's standing in Florida has already taken a major hit, and an embarassing showing in Iowa and New Hampshire isn't going to help him, especially if he decides to run for the Senate again.

Graham has raised far less than Gephardt and Lieberman, who themselves have pretty disappointing fundraising totals.

At this point, it's beginning to look like if he stays in, he's pretty much going to put everything he has into the Iowa caucus, in hopes that a surprising showing there can jumpstart his campaign.

Right now, I'd say Graham drops out first. Gephardt and Lieberman are likely to stay in at least through South Carolina, Delaware, Arizona, etc. But if they don't win any primaries by that round, they're out. Kerry and Edwards will probably have enough money to hang on a little longer, but both of them are going to need early victories too. Dean's obviously going to have enough money to stick around for a while. Clark's still a question mark. He seems to be the most likely alternative for the anti-Dean crowd, but his campaign could easily fizzle in the next few months. I just hope it doesn't come down to Kerry and Dean. That would be pretty depressing.

[Renew Deal]

7. Kucinich money.

The way that kucinich pleaded for money this week makes me think that he is in danger. It is more percepion than anything. He can run a campaign on austerity, but he doesn;t have a chance of winning. You need to have big money to run a campaign like Dean, Kerry, Clark, Gep, Lieberman. He doesn't have that, but that's also because his idea's don't resonate much outside of DU. I am not Kucinich bashing, and it is just my perception. If someone closer to the Kucinich campaign knows something more, feel free to share.

[dusty64]

5. Thats a shame, he

has a LOT of important things to say if only anyone would listen. The things he learned about our regime brought him into the race, I for one would like to know what that info is. Unfortunately his age makes it strategically unlikely he will be a VP choice, I hope he decides to keep his seat in the Senate.

[dusty64]

6. Thats a shame, he

has a LOT of important things to say if only anyone would listen. The things he learned about our regime brought him into the race, I for one would like to know what that info is. Unfortunately his age makes it strategically unlikely he will be a VP choice, I hope he decides to keep his seat in the Senate.