MyDD :: Ford on SS & theTennessee Senate

Ford on SS & theTennessee Senate

by Jerome Armstrong, Thu Dec 30, 2004 at 10:17:31 PM EST

Hey, the heat worked, here's what Josh Marshall has on Harold Ford's just released statement on Social Security:

"I do not support changing the Social Security system as has been proposed by President Bush, nor do I support Social Security proposals advanced by the CATO Institute. In fact, both of these proposals have the potential to harm current beneficiaries by paying for the transition costs by issuing debt. Piling on more red ink to the existing federal budget deficit and the national debt will do both long and short term harm to our economy. I do believe that the system needs to be reformed but I do not support changing the Social Security system as President Bush has proposed."

Good. That said, I don't think central Memphis is that great a place for a Democrat to come out of for a statewide race in Tennessee. It's gonna be tough for Ford to win statewide, what's the way he does it?

It looks like Mayor Corker, from Chattanooga, the guy that branded Frist as the "cat killer" (Frist got cats from the pound to use as med-school transplant guinea pigs), a Bush pioneer, but also a friend of the Democratic Governor Bredesen, has the quick start in fundraising. With Zach Wamp likely to break his term-limit pledge and stay in Congress, Ed Bryant is there, and Van Hilleary might run, but Corker looks like the GOP frontrunner.

Tags: Senate 2006 (all tags)

Permalink :: 4 Comments :: Post a Comment

primary (none / 0)

If Ford does run though, it looks like he gets a free pass for the primary, at least as of now. On the otherhand, what's the love lost between Frist and Corker, as that was one nasty primary, iirc. And it's also probably a good signal of the type of primary/nomination fight that Frist will yield in 2008 against McCain et al.

by Jerome Armstrong on Thu Dec 30, 2004 at 11:08:28 PM EST

Josh Marshall (none / 0)

Marshall deserves some serious props on this. He also deserves some props for his open-source vote check. Professor Rosen has a must-read post that discusses it and a whole lot more.

I think Josh should register for the Cato Social Security conference. I know a lot of bloggers will be in DC that week to see the DNC elect a Reform Democrat -- maybe people who can should make plans now to go a day or two early. This is the biggest issue we're going to face for a while and the blogosphere needs to pull some serious weight.

by Bob Brigham on Fri Dec 31, 2004 at 01:03:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

How much support will Ford (none / 0)

receive from the national party if he is sucessful. The track record with supporting black candidacies has not been so good. It could be the candidates in question, but I'm curious, if he has traction with the nationals in terms of their support. I know he is a media star in someways- always articulate- always strong, but how does it play out?

by bruh21 on Fri Dec 31, 2004 at 02:07:18 AM EST

Ford (none / 0)

will get support from the DNC, but he'll have a hard time pulling it off in TN. Partly the race issue, which he could overcome if he were to swing hard to the right on issues, but also because he's widely perceived as, well, lazy. He didn't do squat for Kerry in TN, despite being one of the national cochairs of the campaign.

He delivered votes in Memphis, but not past the 2000 numbers and the Memphis organization was widely considered to be disorganized.

by Eleanor A on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 12:01:30 PM EST

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