It's hard to find better writing - or reasoning - on the left than in The American Prospect. One of the questions Democrats have been openly discussing is, "What if Lieberman wins?" It might be far more than a need for "healing" within the party, argues Terence Samuel:
With a career prolonged by re-election, his self-righteousness vindicated and his credibility burnished, Lieberman emerges as the living expert on Democratic pathology: He becomes the go-to guy on what's wrong with Democrats -- their ambivalence on national security or problems with people of faith, their consuming partisanship, and their unfitness to govern the country. He'll be the darling of the conservative commentariat, and who can deny the dazzle of a new romance?
That is why the Lieberman race is so critical to Democratic fortunes this November. Polls show him either leading or in a dead-heat with Ned Lamont. With the Republican candidate in the race barely registering any life in the polls, Lieberman becomes the choice of Republicans looking for something to vote against, and the usual scramble to the middle to attract independents after a tough primary battle is, for Lieberman, not even a two-step shuffle.This fall, for the Democrats to achieve anything resembling success, they will have to beat Joe Lieberman.
Read the whole column at the link above.
He has a strong point. An energized and liberated-by-reelection Lieberman could actually be both parties' worst nightmare, as he could seek "bipartisanship" at the side of John McCain, if McCain is rebuffed in the Republican primaries. McCain-Lieberman would form the most formidable independent ticket in American history.
Remember, Ross Perot actually led in the early polls in May 1992, before suddenly withdrawing and reminding voters of his tenuous grasp on reality - and he still pulled 19% in the general election after an embarrassing return to the race. A three-way contest in 2008 could be the most competitive and unpredictable Presidential race since 1824.
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2006 Senate Race, Connecticut
Comments (3)
I've said it before and I w... (Below threshold)1. Posted by yetanotherjohn | August 28, 2006 11:49 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I've said it before and I will say it again, a third party candidacy is the surest way to overturn the apple cart. Gore, Hillary, McCain, Rudy. Pick any three names as running in the '08 general election and imagine the chaos.
The problem is that the third party candidate can only really hurt "their" party. Gore running as a global warming party candidate would devistate the democrats. Rudy or McCain running as a third party would kill the republicans.
1. Posted by yetanotherjohn | August 28, 2006 11:49 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 28, 2006 11:49
2. Posted by Steve_in_Corona | August 28, 2006 12:10 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I made this comment before the switch so it is now gone - but I feel that if McCain is the 3rd party guy, it will be an EASY victory for the GOP as long as we do not screw up the formula. In other words, nominate a solid social conservative that is also pro military, pro tax cut etc. We sweep the southern states easily and I think McCain and Hillary would split enough votes that we would grab enough extra victories to win the electoral college.
However, if the GOP nominates Romney, or Rudy - then all bets are off and I would predict a House decision.
2. Posted by Steve_in_Corona | August 28, 2006 12:10 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 28, 2006 12:10
3. Posted by Jim Addison | August 29, 2006 3:38 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
It certainly depends upon who the candidates are.
In 1912, Wilson won with less than 42% of the popular vote, but an Electoral College landslide. The only states he carried with a majority were the old "Solid South," dependably Democratic in those days. He won many states with less than 40% of the vote, and a few with only 35% or so.
Even though a "McCain-Lieberman" ticket would be ostensibly a "bipartisan" one, they wouldn't pull many Democrats. Their appeal would be mainly to independents and disaffected Republicans (which could be a number of different groups, depending on who the GOP nominee was).
This is perhaps the only scenario which could end up seeing Hilarity! elected President.
3. Posted by Jim Addison | August 29, 2006 3:38 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 29, 2006 15:38