Vilsack's out.

[whometense]

I assume everyone's already seen this, but ALREADY?

This campaign season is on steroids.

Vilsack bails out of 2008 race

The press release says "Democratic nominee for president Tom Vilsack" is making a major announcement this morning, but Vilsack isn't the nominee and won't be: At his campaign headquarters in Iowa, he's announcing the end of his 2008 run.

-- Tim Grieve

I thought he was supposed to be Hillary's Iowa stalking horse.

[Island Blue]

1. Wow. That's kind of like a pitcher

walking the bases loaded, and then throwing a grand slam pitch in the first inning. Time to hit the showers early. Oh well, I guess that means won't be Hillary's Iowa stalking horse after all.

[MBS]

2. what you said n/t

[Democrafty]

3. Ugh.

Just saw in the WaPo:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/23/AR2007022300775.html

This sucks. I wasn't passionate about Vilsack, but I liked him. I was looking forward to debates with some non-celebrity candidates.

[MBS]

4. ugh is right

I share your feelings about Vilsack, and ESPECIALLY your hope of debates including non-celebrities. The celebrity and money factors in this race are just beyond belief. The worst ever. I had hoped so much that this election would finally finally be about issues and experience, but so far it's personality, media hype and money (to quote Vilsack out of context) "on steroids"

[karynnj]

5. I agree with you

I think that 2004 scared the powers that be - because Kerry could come in and win without their support.

It seems like the Clintons want it to be her, Edwards and Obama - so they split the anti- Hillary vote and are both seen as too inexperienced by many people who default to her.

I can see why they went after Kerry - he had money and the ability to raise more, the best position (for a Democrat) on every issue, all consistent with his history and he was wonderful speaking from the heart. But as the attacks go on, I can see why people who really know and love him had mixed feelings.

[whometense]

7. Yes, and

when you see how much of his time and energy would have had to have been taken up with petty elbow-throwing and parrying attacks coming from his supposed "friends", his decision makes even more sense.

I really don't know Harry Reid at all, but I've been wondering the past few days whether his kind words for JK after his announcement that he wouldn't run were a kind of sad acknowledgment of what running against the Clinton machine was going to entail.

I don't for a second think Kerry was afraid of it, but I also don't imagine he would have considered it a worthy use of his time in a steep uphill effort.

I wonder whether anyone but us will be aware of how impaired a field his withdrawal has left us to choose from.

[wisteria]

9. Good points. n/t

[karynnj]

13. Right now, I think very few people see the impairment

Where it might come in is if people begin to see that the majority of the nastiness is coming from one camp and they decide against Hillary. In 2004, it was apparent from any 5 minute segment of the last or second to last primary debate, that Edwards just did not come close to Kerry - on any issue. If Obama wears as poorly as Edwards, many people might long for the solid mature Gore or Kerry, especially if Kerry has any success in the Senate.

[wisteria]

8. I agree, ugh. This is a very sad commentary of our election process.

Money is buy a person's way into the lead and into the White House. It is limiting our choices and is fundamentally undermining the integrity of our election process and this country.So very sad. I just want to go back to burying my head in the sand when things like this happen.

[Blaukraut]

6. that's too bad

Another Clinton casualty. I'm really beginning to worry that she IS inevitable. All other contenders are dropiing like flies, and if Obama and Edwards end up splitting the anti-Clinton vote, as Karynnj said, we'll end up with her. Ugh

[sandrakae]

10. Damn I was really counting on him. Its bad enough i have to settle for 2nd best.

Now I have settle for 3rd best. God I wish John Kerry would drop back in.

[whometense]

11. Kerry's statement:

Senator John Kerry on Tom Vilsack’s Announcement



Below is a statement by Senator John Kerry on today’s announcement by Tom Vilsack:



“Tom and Christie should be very proud of the contribution they’ve made and will continue to make to the national debate and to the Democratic Party. From day one Tom ran a campaign that helped put Iraq and energy independence front and center. It’s no surprise that Tom emerged early as a powerful ‘ideas candidate’, which is exactly what he did as a governor leading on big ideas and pushing the curve of innovation. They’re great leaders, great activists, and great friends. Teresa and I congratulate Tom and his family, and know he will continue to fight for big ideas that work for all Americans, in 2008 and in the years to come.”



###

[wisteria]

12. Nice. I suppose they now have one thing more in common. n/t

[JI7]

30. haha, maybe he should have hired Kerry to promote him

that has to be one of the best pro Vilsack pieces i have seen since the time he entered the race. JK is just so sweet.

Vilsack pretty much came into the race the same way he left. most probably didn't even know he was running.

[Inuca]

32. Kind of sad actually... n/t

[MBS]

35. Sad but classy as usual n/t

[sandnsea]

14. Wow

I wonder what that's all about. Campaign getting uglier than he thought it would??

[blm]

15. My guess is that he expected more grace from TeamClinton and probably didn't

feel comfortable being pushed around or used just for a possible spot on her shortlist.

[sandnsea]

16. Nation article

Says his job was to keep the Iowa heavyhitters tied up until she was ready to go and that his bowing out means she's ready to move in. I don't know. I'm wondering what it means that Warner also went in, then out, but Keane turned around and did an early endorsement of Obama. Do you think some of these folks are seeing the machine up close and personal and realizing they've been on the wrong side of the Democratic Party?? I thought it was interesting that Vilsack would cite the money machine as his reason for quitting, since Hillary pretty much is that money machine for Democrats.

[blm]

17. That's what I thought about Kaine endorsement, too. Plus Webb doesn't like Clinton

at all, and his opinion may be in this mix.


We'll probably see in the next couple weeks and see where the numbers move. If he's out to help Hillary so early, then that shows that she's floundering more than expected there. That would be a clear sign or weakness and worry on their part.

[sandnsea]

19. Well I wonder

If the better thing to do isn't to help Edwards in Iowa and Obama possibly in NH, or just generally. Look to whoever is strongest against her with each demographic or early state, and force her to spend more money than she ever imagined.

[sandnsea]

20. DH thinks Edwards is done

He thinks Vilsack getting out means he's served his purpose. If that's the case, that would mean internals are showing Edwards is sinking and no longer a threat. If true, it's all about Obama at this point.

:shrug:

[karynnj]

21. I think this may be true

Edwards lost support in fall while Kerry was gaining - this was when the Edwards were constantly out campaigning and on tv with their books. Edwards gained a little in November/December when they started to ramp up the campaign (and Kerry dropped a pronoun).

But, in the numbers posted by Mass shortly before Kerry dropped out, he was slightly recovering with Edwards slipping back to mid fall numbers (11%). This was for the period where he had his big announcement.

Since then, I think he was lost the fresh face contest to Obama and he can't be the voice of experience. He was strident attacking Hillary and Obama on Iraq. I also think that he was hurt in the heartland by the blogger nonsense. (I suspect this was because, as a Southerner, he was given a pass until this - but I do think that some religious people may have been offended. I know people who were. The way it was handled also made him look inept.)

It does seem to me though that Hillary benefits by both Obama and Edwards being strong. In 2004, there were 4 viable candidates in Iowa - Dean and Gephart were considered the leaders 2 weeks before the primary. Kerry won convincingly with 38% of the vote. Hillary might NEED for there to be more than one real opponent.

[emulatorloo]

33. Polls had him at #4 in Iowa -- pretty embarassing if you are that far down in yr own state

Local press suggests that he would have events and very few would show up.

[wisteria]

18. I use to think he was just Hilbills patsy, but I don't anymore.

I also have a very ominous feeling about all of this-ugly, ugly politics.

[MarjorieG]

22. Second thoughts by Dems holding back for the Clintons?

A few helped Kerry a lot, some did somewhat, but Kerry was mostly on his own. Wonder if there are regrets, with nastiness so soon, and the realization it's selling Hillary not Bill.

[wisteria]

23. We will just have to wait and see what happens in Iowa.

There are two ideas on Vilsack dropping out. I just recall that in December of 04, there was talk by Gov. Rendell of PA urging Villsack to run when Villsack was in town. I alway got the impression Villsack wanted to run for his own reasons- not necessarily just for the Clinton's. I suspected he was trying for VP if he wasn't successful in the primaries. I don't doubt that some of his decision was due to money. How much of it was due to money will remain to be seen. I suppose, like others have said, we should watch the Iowa numbers.
To answer your other question, I think people are regretting that Clinton is running and what this will mean for the primaries and the election process.

[JI7]

36. so Rendell wasted 2004 campaign and after criticizing John Kerry

because he felt Kerry wasn't the type of candidate that can appeal to people. he said something about how Vilsack had the personality that would appeal to people. yet Vilsack couldn't even do well in his own home state. i wonder if Rendell had commented on this.

[karynnj]

24. That is an interesting thought

If there was a semi co-ordinated "weak" effort on the part of some party officials, it will be most interesting to see how things play out. What already seems obvious is that Hillary does not have Bill's skill at stabbing people in the back and looking not really guilty at the same time. She has repeatedly sounded shrill and cold.

I am shocked that she personally shrilly condemned John Kerry. I suspect that in addition to that loyal almost 10% of Democrats who wanted Kerry to win, even when that was not the cool choice, I bet there is another large group who see him as the good decent person he is and know that especially smearing him on committment to troops is unfair and obscene. You don't have to know much about Senator Kerry to see this as ice cold unfeeling behavior on her part.

If her campaign begins to fade - and especially if they, heaven forbid, destroy all her competitors first and we get another Republican, I assume many may wish they had chosen country over political and self gain in 2004.

[whometense]

25. You know how twisted this campaign already is?

I just saw Bill Maher interview Biden, and found myself thinking that it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if he won. :scared: What's happening to me??? I can't stand Biden, but I know who he is. I don't know who any of the big three frontrunners are. I don't believe their fairy tale personas and I have no freaking idea what they would do if they got elected. And I don't trust any of them.

[wisteria]

26. OMG, I was thinking the same thing. I think I need a good rest- Biden?

is this how bad it really is now? I and giving Biden a second look?

[whometense]

29. Well,

he's a blowhard and a windbag, but on the other hand he's a genuine blowhard and windbag. :D

[blm]

31. I side with whome on this one. His faults aren't the WORST ones out there.

.

[Inuca]

34. Me too (or three?)

:-) or maybe :-( I don't even know... And Biden can be a damn good speaker, when he does not put his foot in his mouth , that is, and when he keeps the length at least partially under control. There was an article a few days ago, Politico I think, did you see it? About a speech he gave, forgot where, where what was supposed to be 10 minutes turned into half hour or more but the audience was riveted, or at least that's what the author wrote. And he is smart and experienced. I am not a fan, but I do not dislike him too much, and I MAY feel more comfortable with him than with Obama, I don't know. Idle speculation at this point. I keep hoping for Dodd or for a miracle.

[MBS]

27. Thanks for making me laugh (twice!) about this awfulness

These days I 'm extra grateful for any laughs I can get :toast:

I don't have access to therapists or chemicals, but I do know a good masseuse if things get really bad:)

[whometense]

28. I may be contacting you for her name.

I'm in the market for a good masseuse. My neck knots have their own knots.