Tenenbaum stresses ‘independence’ in S.C.

[Freddie Stubbs]

By Peter Savodnik


One day after Rep. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) won his party’s Senate nomination, Democrat Inez Tenenbaum’s campaign mapped out a general-election strategy distancing the candidate from her party and stressing South Carolina job losses and U.S. trade policy.

Tenenbaum’s campaign manager, Carol Butler, and media consultant, Bill Carrick, in a conference call with reporters, argued that DeMint’s strong finish — in which he captured 60 percent of the GOP runoff vote — was a referendum on his opponent, former Gov. David Beasley, and not an endorsement of DeMint.

Carrick also said voters were more concerned with bread-and-butter issues, such as jobs and education, and less worried about “politically calculated judgments” such as which party controls the Senate, who chairs the Judiciary Committee and whether President Bush’s agenda is stymied on Capitol Hill.

Butler compared Tenenbaum, the state education superintendent, to another Democratic lawmaker whom she helped propel into the Senate despite unfavorable odds. “This is a shorter version of Debbie Stabenow with a different accent,” Butler said, referring to Michigan’s junior senator, elected in 2000 over then-Sen. Spencer Abraham (R).

more: http://www.thehill.com/campaign/062404_tenenbaum.aspx

[Corgigal]

1. strategy distancing the candidate from her party

question to self: Why in the hell am I living here?
I ask that of myself often and I SOOOO can't wait until the kiddies get older and I am free to move. I just have to live that long.

[styersc]

2. Inez is running as a Republican-lite.

She could have run in the GOP primary and done quite well with her positions. She has thrown away liberal votes hoping for cross-over voting. Good luck.

[LastDemocratInSC]

3. Which liberal votes has Tennenbaum thrown away?

I understand the point you're making but for whom would a liberal vote except for Tennenbaum? Would it be Jim Demint?

Every Democrat in this state should understand that Tennenbaum must run toward the center. I've followed SC politics since the 1960s and can tell you that her effort to keep our Senate seat in Democratic hands requires that she distance herself from the national ticket. Tennenbaum has great name recognition and has run strongly in all of her past statewide races.

Inez Tennenbaum's job is to articulate the issues that are important to our citizens while exhibiting a high degree of independence from any party's control. This is not new in politics, by the way.

Given the uphill fight you face in your district, you may want to consider a similar tactic. The height of the cliff you plan to jump off is entirely up to you.

[styersc]

5. Inez has made it clear that she wants to win GOP voters.

She is taking for granted that Dems will pull the party lever and she will cater to fence sitting GOP voters. She is anti-gay marriage, pro war, pro patriot act, anti-Kerry.

The difference between Inez and Demint is a dress and a (D) in front of her name. The fact will remain that progressives are as screwed with Inez as they are with DeMint. Atleast DeMint won't screw me while pretending to represent the party I have supported with votes and money.

[LastDemocratInSC]

4. Tennenbaum is using a tried and true tactic

Inez Tennenbaum must run toward the center, emphasize locally important issues, show her independence. That is the only way she will win the critical votes she needs.

She'll get the liberal votes, no need to worry about that. It's the mushy middle that matters, and the natives have, in the past, responded to candidates who share their values and show some independence.

If you can think of a better strategy for her, speak up.

[styersc]

6. You are wrong about Inez getting the liberal vote.

There are 6 candidates on the ballot for this seat in November and since Inez is courting pro-war, pro-patriot act, anti-gay, anti-affirmative action voters, why would a liberal waste a vote for a candidate who has been very public in declaring her disdain for our issues.