Liberal Iraq Critic Wins Statewide Election In RI

by DemFromCT

Don't expect to see that headline any time soon. Nonetheless, the media does have to rewrite their narrative. They really wanted to write that "just like Joe Lieberman, another moderate bit the dust", ignoring the fact that Lieberman is no moderate. The fact that Lieberman got into trouble with local voters in ways Chafee didn't was a factor in the election but not in the coverage.

Chafee is going to have trouble winning this election, and cozying up to Bush to win the primary won't help him in November. As Fineman (the weathervane) says on Hardball, Bush is just toxic this fall in the northeast (he's reporting from Philly). Even in the National Journal's insider poll this week, only 11% of R insiders think Bush performance helps them. Here's an insider R comment from the poll:

Bush's performance

"Bush's performance earns him a P for 'pathetic.' "

It is all about Iraq. To paraphrase Chuck Todd, the Dem candidates have to understand that, believe it and say it. If they do, they win. Todd thinks some of them look uncomfortable doing that. That's the quickest way to oblivion, as Jim Craig proved in NH-1.

Al Gore/Barack Obama/Russ Feingold:

The win by Carol Shea-Porter in New Hampshire's 1st District Democratic primary bodes well for the three potential presidential candidates, each of whom has opposed the war in Iraq from the start. Shea-Porter called for a withdrawal of troops from Iraq, while her main opponent -- state Rep. Jim Craig -- had been less willing to take such a strong position. Craig also had far more money and the backing of the Democratic establishment in Washington. Given New Hampshire's primacy in the presidential nomination process, you can be sure every Democrat thinking about a run in 2008 was watching this race closely and now knows that support for the war has become increasingly politically perilous.

Oh, yeah. Don't forget that much of the media really couldn't care less about 2006. They want to write about 2008, because it's All About Hillary™, even when it's not.

The new NBC poll, looking at Bush's recent performance on national security, is out tonight. But the civil war in iraq and the failed war in Afghanistan is going to be the issue in November regardless of how the poll looks. Wrapping his arms around Bush won't help Chafee, but everyone else running against the war is going to do very well.

Comments

[Mimikatz]

No, 2008 is All About Hillary and McCain (or is it Rudy?), if you watch Chris Matthews. He even said that on the Sunday show. The midterms are a bore for him.

But you are mostly right. It's about Iraq and repelling the GOP attack. And as some of us have said over and over, it is how Dems present themelves in dealing with these two issues that show whether they are strong or timid. Gods save us from any more timid Dems.

[CLK]

Add KATRINA to IRAQ as to what it's all about. Democrats must aim their messages to more than one constituency and then it is repeat, repeat, repeat.

[DemFromCT]

CLK, if this was a presidential year, yes. But katrina doesn't resonate re congress.

[Mimikatz]

And see my piece below. The R's aren' going to forget taxes. it's terror, taxes and attack ads from here to Nov. 7.

[texas dem]

Offtopic (unless you're the NYT): How did Chris Dodd vote on the Iraq War Resolution? He's liberal enough to have maybe escaped that disaster with a no vote.

Decided to do 2 minutes of research instead of expect someone else to. Dodd voted yes. (Link to rollcall vote.) So did Daschle, which I hadn't realized. The only vaguely presidential type to oppose it was Corzine.

And Levin. Is there an obvious reason Levin has never run for president, besides being Jewish and, now, too old (72)? I personally think we ought to be running midwestern Democrats every chance we get, as opposed to Northeastern or Southern.

[Newsie8200]

As Fineman (the weathervane) says on Hardball, Bush is just toxic this fall in the northeast (he's reporting from Philly).

Fineman's probably visiting his daughter in Philly (amongst other things).

Fineman still occassionaly says stupid things, but I don't think he tries to be malicious or wankerific. I heard him speak earlier this spring on campus, and found him to be way more thoughtful than he is on TV... maybe it's because he's not always allowed to speak by the host.

[demtom]

texasdem, the problem with midwestern Democratic presidential candidates is, the last two we ran carried only one state apiece.