Harold Ford Jr. Opts Not To Run Against Kristen Gillibrand

Harold Ford Jr, a former Tennessee Congressman who contemplated running for the US Senate in New York has opted not to run against sitting US Senator Kristen Gillibrand because he fears that while he might win the primary race, it would cause damage for the Democratic party in the state.



Really? Primaries cause damage to the state? Gillibrand was picked by the imploding accidental governor David Paterson in a selection process that was a complete joke. Why should she run unopposed in the primary election when that's where the real action is in New York politics?

Unopposed primaries are a danger to the state and to its citizens because it means that political parties become entrenched and power accumulates in the hands of a few power brokers who get to determine who runs for office instead of letting the best candidates run for office.

I suspect that Ford got wind of the fact that the major domos in the Democratic party in the state wouldn't want to upset the apple cart and back his candidacy, particularly at a time when major Democrats are facing big problems on ethics and legal grounds (Rangel, Paterson, Meeks, and Smith).

What this does is pave the way for an easy primary season for Gillibrand who will likely triumph over any potential Republican challenger in the general election.

Bucking the Establishment

Since when does a newly minted US Senator have to run unopposed in their party's primary? That is apparently the belief of the Democratic party establishment in New York, where top Democrats from Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer on down thinks that Harold Ford Jr should not run a primary campaign against Kristen Gillibrand, who was installed by Governor David Paterson to replace Hillary Clinton when she was confirmed as US Secretary of State.

Democrats, including Chuck Schumer, are busy trying to avert a potentially bruising primary race for the US Senate in New York because of the ongoing concerns over the economy and the likelihood that the GOP will score big nationally - and that money that would be spent on a primary run in New York could be used elsewhere to prop up sagging campaigns in key districts.

Yet, that still doesn't explain why primary race between qualified candidates shouldn't be held. We only have the motivation to avoid a primary battle - and that's not a reason to prevent Ford from running.

Is this Gillibrand's seat? Would it not be in the state's best interest to have the best candidate running for office, and not just one who the establishment and party bosses want to see run?

That's all the more reason to see Ford run a campaign. Ford, who came to New York after losing a reelection battle for his House seat in Tennessee, thinks he can be an independent voice among Democrats. That remains to be seen, but going toe to toe with the party elites shows he has some moxie and spirit:

“If I am elected senator from New York, Harry Reid will not instruct me how to vote,” he said, referring to Mr. Reid’s efforts to keep him out of the campaign.

Mr. Ford agreed to the interview with The New York Times as he tests the response to his possible candidacy. His interest in the race, reported a week ago, has set off intense reaction and furious strategizing among Senate Democratic leaders and White House officials, as they try to discourage his campaign and avoid an ugly and expensive primary in September that could risk losing a crucial Senate seat.

A Ford campaign could become a delicate subject for the Obama administration, however, which is more reluctant to assert itself in New York politics after failing last year in its effort to elbow Gov. David A. Paterson out of his election bid.

Mr. Ford said he had been emboldened by the response he had received from the public in recent days. Everyone — from the cabdrivers who shuttle him around the city to the executives with whom he rubs elbows on Wall Street — has urged him to run, he said.

During a trip from New York to Palm Beach on Thursday, flight attendants and passengers stopped in the aisle to cheer him on, he said. “I didn’t hear anyone say, you better not run against that Kirsten Gillibrand,” he said.

Again and again, during the interview, he returned to the subject of the economy, saying Ms. Gillibrand, an upstate lawmaker who was appointed by Mr. Paterson to fill the seat vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton, has failed to aggressively focus on creating jobs. He called for a major reduction in the corporate tax rate and a payroll tax holiday to encourage hiring.

Zeroing in on a perception that Ms. Gillibrand too readily defers to Senate leaders, especially Senator Charles E. Schumer, he added: “We have a fundamental difference on independence. We have a difference on the level, the kind and the stature of advocacy New Yorkers deserve. And we have some honest differences on issues.”

He blasted her support for the proposed health care overhaul, which is expected to cost New York an extra $1 billion a year, and for opposing the taxpayer bailout of the financial industry.

“It was a mistake,” he said, noting that most Wall Street firms had already paid back the money. “How can you be against ensuring that the lifeblood of your city and of your state survives?”

The Changing Political Landscape

2010 is shaping up to be quite an interesting election year after all. While many experts would agree that Democrats would expect to lose seats in the House and Senate and perhaps some statehouses, the numbers weren't expected to be a deluge.

That's why yesterday's surprise announcements that Sen. Bryan Dorgan (D-ND) and Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT/Friend of Mozilo) would not seek reelection are so surprising. They were considered safe seats this year, and now their retirements open the door for challengers. Democrats had expected to lose some seats, but the prospects of holding together a filibuster proof majority in the US Senate now appear dim.

Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut's Democratic attorney general, said Wednesday he would run for Dodd's seat. The ripple effect means that elections down the line will be affected by the incumbent retirements and provide opportunities for fresh blood to come into the political process.

Further, another Democrat, Gov. Bill Ritter of Colorado, will not seek a second term.

Then there's word that Harold Ford, Jr. (D-TN) may attempt to unseat New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

Even David Paterson, the embattled Democratic governor of New York, isn't safe from attacks by the White House on down and that's even with potential Republican challenger Rudy Giuliani saying he wont run.

All this opens the possibility that Republicans can eliminate the filibuster proof majority in the Senate and cut into the Democrats overwhelming numbers in the House as well as improve their numbers at the state and local level.

Yet, all is not well for Republicans. Michael Steele, the RNC chairman, didn't exactly have kind words for the GOP yesterday, and pretty much called Republicans on the carpet for their poor performance over the past 20 years, a rebuke of both Bush Administrations and a squandering of their Congressional fortunes. Scandals, corruption, and a willful disregard for fiscal responsibility all play a role in the GOP fortunes, and that many Republicans are enthralled with creationism and anti-science agendas isn't going to attract new voters and support among those who have found that the Democrats tax and spend agenda is unsustainable.

Democrat overreach in trying to ram through the widely unpopular health care overhaul isn't going to help the Democrats, but knowing that the Democrats are bound to lose seats will only encourage Democrat leaders in Congress to push harder to get a deal done.

The same political calculus is pushing the gay marriage agenda in New Jersey; Gov. Corzine's term ends in just about two weeks, and his successor, Chris Christie has said that he would veto a gay marriage bill. Supporters don't know if they have the numbers to pass the bills in the Democrat controlled legislature, so if they can't get it done now, they'll have to wait at least four years before trying again. The State Senate has scheduled a vote for today.