Can we say "Sen. Mfume"?

[Padraig18]

Former NAACP Leader to Run for Senate

25 minutes ago


By GRETCHEN PARKER, Associated Press Writer

BALTIMORE - Former NAACP President Kweisi Mfume announced Monday that he will run for the U.S. Senate in 2006.

Photo
AP Photo



"It is with great pride and deep humility that I announce to you today my candidacy for the Senate of the United States," Mfume said at a news conference in Baltimore.

"I can't be bought. I won't be intimidated. I don't know how to quit," Mfume said as his supporters applauded.

Mfume, who was a five-term U.S. congressman before becoming president of the Baltimore-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (news - web sites), issued the statement after incumbent Paul Sarbanes announced Friday that he will not run for re-election.

"This is step one in what will be an embarrassment of wealth for the Democratic Party in 2006," said Derek Walker, spokesman for the Maryland Democratic Party.

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More: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050314/ap_on_el_se/mfume_senate

:bounce::D:bounce::D:bounce::D:bounce::D:bounce::D:bounce::D:bounce::D:bounce::D:bounce::D:bounce::D:bounce::D:bounce::D:bounce::D

[kentuck]

1. Great choice!

I always liked Kweisi...

[Padraig18]

2. So do I.

I think he'll be an awesome senator!

:)

[TlalocW]

3. Actually, no, I can't...

I've never known how to say his name properly. :)

TlalocW

[rockymountaindem]

4. "Embarasment of wealth"?

What does that mean? Is that a compliment or a put-down?

[The_Counsel]

6. Compliment or Put-Down?

Considering the source, I would imagine it was meant as a compliment...

...considering the kind of people Republicans are (heartless, thoughtles, brainless, dickless, etc.), I wouldn't be surprised if it were somehow twisted into a put-down. :shrug:

[demwing]

19. Definitely a compliment

An "embarasment of wealth" implies that the party will have such a wealth of talent and experience that--due to our great humility--we'll certainly have to blush.

[knight_of_the_star]

29. That's hard to interpret for me

Too easy to be spun in a negative fashion.

[WI_DEM]

5. perfect!!

I think he is the best candidate we could field at this time.

[DaveinMD]

7. there will be lots of good candidates

Maryland has a great congressional delegation and most of its members are looking at the race. Should be very fun.

[flpoljunkie]

8. Yes, by all means, there ought to be more black Democratic Senators.

Mfume is impressive--intelligent, articulate, and knows how to fight. He would make a great Democratic Senator from the state of Maryland.

[bullimiami]

9. maybe he will be what I hoped Obama was.

[CubsFan1982]

10. Get real.

Obama is AWESOME!

[Padraig18]

16. Obama rocks.

:)

[John_H]

22. A one-percenter? I doubt it. n/t

[me b zola]

11. Perfect

"I can't be bought. I won't be intimidated. I don't know how to quit,"


We certainly need Senators to step up to the plate to represent the people. It will be refreshing to see him debating on the Senate floor, speaking truth to power.:kick:

[Dinger]

12. Great News!

P.S. What is the corrrect pronounciation of his name?

[Comicstripper]

17. I THINK it's:

(koo-EYE-zee oom-FOO-may)

[Radical Activist]

13. Awesome!!!!!

That is such great news. He would be an incredible addition to the US Senate. We need more people who can bring his kind of message to the forefront. I'm tired of corporate Democrats.

Anyone want to take bets on how soon Alan Keyes moves back to run against him?

[LocalDem]

14. Terry Lierman, Call Chris Gates!

Mfume would make a great senator, no doubt. But he is just the first of several distinguished and talented MD pols that may run. I hope that MD can take a page from Colorado's book when they cleared the decks for Salazar in 2004. After Campbell stepped aside, Udall and others jumped in, only to withdraw and unite behind Salazar.

MD shouldn't go through a divisive and expensive primary battle; we should unite behind our most promising young talent. It is my personal hope that Terry Lierman can and will pull the party together behind our strongest standard-bearer, whether that is Mfume, Van Hollen, Wynn, or another.

[Radical Activist]

15. Think about how much money he can raise too!

Mfume has been a national figure for years through his role in the NAACP. That will give him a national fund raising base in the primary and general election. That's a huge advantage for an African-American candidate. Raising money is a prohibiting obstacle for most African-American candidates because they usually have an agenda that corporate donors don't like and wealthy white liberal donors typically support other white liberals. Mfume is in a unique position to overcome that obstacle. I hope he makes it. We need more diversity in the Senate and we need more people with Mfume's views and character.

[demokatgurrl]

18. I think it's GREAT news- wish I could vote for him. n/t

[PROGRESSIVE1]

20. Senator Kwesi Mfume!

:kick:

[rndmprsn]

21. i'll be one proud MD democrat to vote for him.

koo-wee-zee em-fo-may

he's already a well known and respected person in baltimore and the mid-atlantic in general from his time as rep and NAACP chairman, if he gets the dem primary, which i'm pretty sure he will...expect a Sen. Mfume in 2006.

[Stinky The Clown]

39. "Kwy EE say"

[FrenchieCat]

23. Yeah for MFume!

:toast:

Just wish Julian Bond would run for senate too! Now that's another real fighter.

[politicasista]

24. Yes!

I will vote for him in a heartbeat. :bounce:

[Vinca]

25. Sounds noble, but what about the voting machines?

As long as the Republicans produce them, program them and have Internet access to them, there's little hope of Democrats winning. This might have been "tin foil hat" stuff last time around, but wait for the repeat.

[safi0]

26. Question for Maryland Dems

Has Mfume announcing his canidacy pretty much eliminated anyone else's opportunities to get the nomination. Mfume has big time name recognition, the ability to raise money and plenty of experience, I really don't think anyone in a Democratic primary could overcome all those things. I see the same hing happening in Tennessee where I really can't see anyone beating Harold Ford for the nomination.

[Comicstripper]

27. I live in Maryland.....

...and the reason he seems to have dwarfed the competition is that you don't live here. So, some of the congressmen touted as potential candidates, while unfamiliar to you, have at least as much, if not more, name recognition as Mfume here in MD. I think he will probably get the nomination, but attention should be paid to Chris Van Hollen, Elijah Cummings, Donald Duncan, and Steny Hoyer.

[safi0]

28. Well I actually

do know wo Elijah Cummings is, but the rest of those guys yeah your right I have no idea who they are. But while like you say they may have the same name recognition as Mfume I don't think they'd be able to raise the money Mfume could.

Here in Wisconsin we have kind of the reverse situation with our upcoming US Senate Race. Their are are a number of Republican candidates who have been rumored to be running and all would undoubtedly get there asses kicked. But then we have our former Gov. and former HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson whose also being rumored to run, and its widely known that if Thompson throws his hat in the ring the rest of the Repubs. in Wisconsin will basically let him have a free ride to the nomination.

[roguevalley]

30. wonderful. I am so very glad. I wish ALaska had gone ones. All we have is

dumb asses.

[nickshepDEM]

31. No, he hasnt received the nomination yet.

Let alone locked up the General election. I think he is the weakest candiate for the General election out of all the possible Democratic candidates that have been mentioned.

Im supporting Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger or Rep. Chris Van Hollen in the primary. (Maybe Cardin or Hoyer if they run.)

[angee_is_mad]

32. Why is he the weakest?

I'm just wondering.

[nickshepDEM]

34. Thats just my opinion.

In Maryland Politics we have something called the BIG 3. The big 3 is made up of Baltimore City, Montgomery County, and Prince Georges County. All of which are Democratic strongholds and hold a ton of votes. Normally, if you do well in the BIG 3, as most Democrats do, you can afford to do average to below average in the rest of the state and still win. Here is where I think Mfume would start to fall. Outside of the "Big 3" there are 2 large swing Counties, Baltimore County and Howard County. I think Mfume would do worse than most Democrats in these two counties and the rest of the state. I cant see soccer moms and dads who would normally vote for Mikulski or Sarbanes voting for Mfume. I dont want to say their racist, but some maybe reluctnat to vote for the former President of the NAACP because they will assume he is going to cater more to blacks than whites etc... Its sad, but I really think some voters maybe reluctant to vote for Mfume for reasons like this.

This is just my opinion and you can take it for what it is. Some may say Im wrong and others may agree with me.

[angee_is_mad]

35. Big 3 is locked down 4 him

and the other counties shouldn't be to relevant if you go by past history.

He probably will not win by a landslide like Obama, but if one goes by your theory he could when.

[nickshepDEM]

36. Yes he could win and I will support him if he wins the primary.

Personally, I like Van Hollen for a lot of reasons, but one thing that sticks out is his age. He is young and if he were to win this time around he would lock this seat up for life just like Mikulski and Sarbanes.

[angee_is_mad]

37. Why him?

never heard of him before. What makes him special to you? I'm in NC, so I'm unfamiliar with MD politics.

[nickshepDEM]

38. He's young, charsimatic, and a fighter.

He's a solid Democrat. Although, there is one thing that really bothers me on his record, his strong support FOR free trade. This could be the one thing that makes me look at other candidates in this race. Its still early, but right now he and a couple others are at the top of my list if they decide to run.

http://www.house.gov/vanhollen

[elshiva]

33. SENATOR KWEISI MFUME!!!

Yippee! He rocks.

[Stinky The Clown]

40. I am thrilled by this

He is one kick-ass candidate. National name recognition, nation reputation, smart as can be, a **real** Dem, good, successful history in Congress already.

He's not a lock in the primaries, but I sure hope he gets it. I'll be backing him.

[Huckebein the Raven]

41. Mfume would make a great senator