Early '08 speculation from Iowa

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: "The Fix," by Chris Cillizza
washingtonpost.com's Politics Blog
Posted at 08:30 AM ET, 01/23/2006
Insider Interview: Iowa Democratic Operative Jeff Link

....One of the top Democratic operatives in a state known nationally for its influence in the presidential process, (Jeff) Link, 39, carries the intimate knowledge of Iowa's political geography and the Hawkeye power players courted by every Democrat considering a 2008 bid....

***

As for 2008, Link and nearly every other top party operative know that how the caucus turns out depends on whether Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) seeks the nomination....Link believes that the other potential 2008 candidates can't wait for Vilsack to make up his mind. They need to make several pilgrimages to the state over the next year to begin the "introductory phase" of the courting process, he said....While Warner is riding high among the chattering class and the national media, he is still unknown among Hawkeye State Democratic voters who "don't know the Mark Warner story," said Link.

Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, on the other hand, has made a strong first impression in Iowa, a near-necessity for the Midwestern senator who needs to make a splash in the caucuses to have a real chance in 2008....Several potential 2008 candidates -- including the 2004 ticket of John Kerry and John Edwards -- are already known commodities among Iowa Democrats, but their political futures in the state seem decidedly different, said Link.

Kerry, who came from behind to win the caucuses in 2004, will likely run into a "fair amount of reluctance to go down that road again," he said. As for Edwards, who placed second in Iowa in 2004, his future appears considerably brighter. "People have good feelings about John Edwards in Iowa," said Link. "A lot of people think if the caucuses had been a week later he might have won."

The unspoken titan in Iowa -- as she is everywhere else in the country - is Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.). Link said that he and several friends often joke that the best job in politics would be the lead advance person for Clinton's first visit to Iowa after she wins reelection to the Senate in November. "She'll have a substantial following if she decides to get in," he said.

http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/thefix/

[Clark2008]

1. Yawn

And is she becomes the nominee - we lose again.

What is it that people can't understand.

She won't flip Iowa in a general election. She won't flip Arkansas or Virginia.

Geesch.

[Itchinjim]

2. This Iowan would like to say...

that Hillary doesn't have following in Iowa that the pundits might think. Edwards, Kerry, Clark and after last week, Gore would be the front runners. I don't know anyone who is very enthusiastic about Vilsack

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Thanks for an Iowa view, Itchinjim! nt

[FrenchieCat]

4. If we are NOT supposed to see exactly how the GOP will run

and possibly win....than we will get what we deserve!

Can you say "War on Terra!"....again, and again, and again?

Sad, that they, the media, will never, ever promote Wes Clark...the one Democrat that can Shut up the GOP War on Terra Trap. :shrug:

[wisteria]

5. Oh, another promote and pump the DLC candidates piece.

And gee, surprise surprise, it's written to try and discourage John Kerry from running. Could it be one of the other candidates is eying his e-mail list and campaign money?
Frankly, they can keep their list of potentials, none of them appear to be worth much, and many are attempting to run with a very thin resume.

[IA_Seth]

6. Another Iowan's View....

Hillary isn't going to be the one here...at least it doesn't appear that way right here right now. Things can change fast in Iowa.

She has buzz, sure...but the majority of Iowans I know (activist and average joe alike) do not identify with her.

As the other poster said, Clark, Edwards, Feingold. These are the candidates that seem to have "substantial following" for the time being.

Oh, and of course there are a lot of folks who still love Dr Dean. Yarrrgh.

[DeepModem Mom]

7. Thanks for another Iowa view, Seth! nt

[Odin2005]

8. The Corporate Media WANT us to nominate Hillary...

because they know that she is a perfect target for smearing. Don't buy the hype.