Focus on 2008.

[searchingforlight]

I want to preface this with the statement that I will vote for the Democratic candidate no matter who it is.

I like many of the top possible candidates but I wonder if there is someone out there that would be a new face and possibly come with less baggage than our top runners? I believe that the present unpopularity of Bush/Cheney et al. will not necessarily translate into votes for a Democrat in 2008. Shouldn't we look at other alternatives? Should we just stick with those we are familiar with? Is there any one candidate that you really think can win in 2008?

[Tiggeroshii]

1. two syllables

Do I have to repeat them?

[babylonsister]

3. No. We know you adore Ker-ry! nt

[Tiggeroshii]

4. no.

his first and last name is two syllables. combined. Starts with an "A"
and ends with "l Gore"

[babylonsister]

2. I still love Kerry. Lots of people are hoping for Gore. Then Feingold

gets into the mix. A newbie a la Clinton? I can't even imagine, but am open to ideas.

[Tiggeroshii]

6. I do like Kerry a lot.

But I've been wanting Gore lately. I just think he'll have a better chance then Kerry. I'd like Kerry too.

[onehandle]

5. Focus on 2006. nt

[Tiggeroshii]

7. yep

[searchingforlight]

8. I am focusing on 2006

and actively working for my candidate, however, I think my question is worth a thought. 2008 is not that far and the "anti" vote will not be there. We need a defined message and a candidate who is not a dream of the past.

[nickshepDEM]

9. Just as important... We SHOULD take back the Senate in 2008.

The following will be competitive regardless of what happends between now and 2008...

CO
MN
NH

Competitive -- Assuming the following incumbents retire....

NM (Richardson for Senate?)
KY (Theres gotta' be a good ol' populist dem waiting to jump imto this race)
MS (Mike Moore will win this seat if he runs)
AK (Knowles will be competitive if he runs)
VA (Kaine, Warner, Deeds, all competitive if they run)
PA (Hafer, Hoefel, Rendell, all competitive in this race)
IA (Vilsack or another statewide dem)
ME (Pledged 2 terms. We should be compeititve in Maine)

[racaulk]

10. What are your thoughts about Dole in NC in 2008?

Liddy is up for reelection that year. I haven't heard too many good things about her, and she's a huge rubberstamp for *. And it is possible for Dems to get elected to the Senate there--Edwards beat out a Repub incumbent in 1998. I'm hoping the anti-Repuke sentiment will carry forward to 2008 to throw all the bastards out!

Do you think her seat will be competitive?

[searchingforlight]

11. I think she is a ripe target and I would LOVE to see her gone!

[nickshepDEM]

12. Tough to say. 2008 is a Presidential election year, so it will be tough

to carry NC in a Senate race and even tougher in the Presidential race.

If we nominate a ticket like Warner/Easley we could carry NC's electoral votes and nab the senate seat. We'll just have to wait and see.

Dole might retire, which opens up a whole new can of worms.

[MaineDem]

13. I disagree. Focus on 2006.

Congressional races, Governors races, and just as importantly, state races. It's the state legislatures that decide voting laws. It's imperative we have Deomcratic majorities in these bodies to pass laws that protect voting rights. Also, remember there will be redistricting again in 2010. If we start building these Democratic majorities we'll have a good chance to fight off the gerrymandering that the GOP-controlled legislatures passed in 2000.

[saltpoint]

14. Lincoln emerged as a kind of dark horse candidate. He was not the

first choice of any number of people. And he did ok.

Sure, it's possible that a dark horse longshot candidate could emerge in both major parties in 08.

The outcome of the 06 election will "refresh the screen" and there isn't going to be a working, detailed picture of the field until after we see if the U.S. House turns blue.

On the Republicans' side, the 06 election means just as much. What if Webb wins nomination and then whips, or weakens, George Allen? That darkens Allen's 08 chances considerably.

I think Santorum's seat is vulnerable and that he will lose it in November, but that's still half a year away. If he holds that seat, he changes overnight from blemished pariah to Far Right savior, and his scenario from then forward would likely include a presidential run. (Yes, I'm puking as I type that.)

Volunteering in 06 for our regional and district candidates strengthens the party apparatus for 08, no matter who our ticket turns out to be, and a lot of GOP flunkies need to be sent home in November.

It's my guess that very few DUers would reject a dark horse candidate if Fate plays that hand. I think we'd likely go with the blue ticket over the red ticket.