Chairmanships
With the RPI Chairman's race in full swing- as we posted on below- we wanted to take this opportunity to comment on an interesting development on the Democrat side.
This week Des Moines Lawyer Scott Brennan was elected by IDP. A former employee of Tom Harkin and friend of Chet Culver, Brennan seems a logical choice. Except for one thing- he supports John Edwards nascent Presidential campaign. Something that Governor Vilsack's people bristled at. The lesson we learn from this is that in politics as in life, memories are short. Vilsack won't have some of the small benefits that come with having a state party behind you in a Presidential campaign- something he'd expect in his home state. But until he gets serious VP juice, his usefulness is past and Iowa Democrats are moving on.
Interestingly enough the Presidential implications have as of yet not played a part in the race for RPI Chair- as none of the major four candidates Bonnie Hall, Bill Dix, Danny Carroll, and current chair Ray Hoffman have overt Presidential leanings. We'll see if that changes as the election apporoaches.
There's one name we left off that list- intentionally this time- Bob Vanderplaats. Word is that the Lt. Gov nominee is feeling out donors and activists alike about the possibility of a BVP run for Senate versus Teflon Tom Harkin.
Also as our Iowa Hawkeyes have accepted a bid to take on defending national champion Texas in the Alamo Bowl- we at the Cooler wanted to take this opportunity to point you to Chuck Todd's article on how the 2008 Presidential Race is like the BCS.
Go Hawks!
Hat Tip to the Civic Skinny for some of the background on the IDP Chairmanship Race.
This week Des Moines Lawyer Scott Brennan was elected by IDP. A former employee of Tom Harkin and friend of Chet Culver, Brennan seems a logical choice. Except for one thing- he supports John Edwards nascent Presidential campaign. Something that Governor Vilsack's people bristled at. The lesson we learn from this is that in politics as in life, memories are short. Vilsack won't have some of the small benefits that come with having a state party behind you in a Presidential campaign- something he'd expect in his home state. But until he gets serious VP juice, his usefulness is past and Iowa Democrats are moving on.
Interestingly enough the Presidential implications have as of yet not played a part in the race for RPI Chair- as none of the major four candidates Bonnie Hall, Bill Dix, Danny Carroll, and current chair Ray Hoffman have overt Presidential leanings. We'll see if that changes as the election apporoaches.
There's one name we left off that list- intentionally this time- Bob Vanderplaats. Word is that the Lt. Gov nominee is feeling out donors and activists alike about the possibility of a BVP run for Senate versus Teflon Tom Harkin.
Also as our Iowa Hawkeyes have accepted a bid to take on defending national champion Texas in the Alamo Bowl- we at the Cooler wanted to take this opportunity to point you to Chuck Todd's article on how the 2008 Presidential Race is like the BCS.
Go Hawks!
Hat Tip to the Civic Skinny for some of the background on the IDP Chairmanship Race.
posted by Caucus Cooler at 12/08/2006
12 Comments:
Sorry Cooler. I used to work for BVP and I'm on the phone with him everyday (probably not too hard to guess who I am); and HE IS NOT RUNNING AGAINST HARKIN.
That's a guarantee.
BVP wants to be considered for the Chairmanship but believes we should all let the State Central Committee meet first, have them analyze the 2006 election, and then make a decision based on all of the feedback from the district meetings on where the party needs to go.
He has a lot of things coming up in the next months (in his private life) and there would be no way he could even CONSIDER running against Harkin.
Bob has been about this party and the grassroots from day one. That's why he put down his bid for Governor and joined up with Nussle. He said "cause above the self" and he still believes it.
Thanks!
Thanks for the post anon.
That is NOT what we've been hearing at all, and we've heard it from multiple sources. That being said we've been known to have bad info before...
No problem Cooler.
I know you get lots of tips each day, and it's tough to figure out which is true and which is false.
Joe Namath guarantee on that BVP v. Harkin, it is not going to happen.
Personally, I just hope the State Central Committee has an honest and open discussion about the future of our Party. After that, we can figure out the Chairmanship and who is Right or Wrong for it.
Bob should put the cause of beating Tom Harkin above himself.
I think the BVP running for another office is credible. I think he's addicted to winning SOME office somewhere sometime. He just lost his third race. How many more can he run??????
Correction Anon 10:51
BVP lost two elections. 2002 Primary (a couple thousand short of going to convention) and 2006 Gubernatorial. You can't really count the 2006 Primary since he wasn't on a ballot. And I don't think we can blame BVP for losing the 2006 elections, there is enough blame to go around.
I do think BVP wants to win "SOME" office somewhere, but I think Chair of the GOP is more his speed.
BVP for Senate!
Dix for State Chair!
how about BVP just trying to do something for others before he asks people to vote for him. Maybe serving on a county central committee would give him an idea of how to serve someone besides himself (he might learn what the process is really about and gain some experience).
BVP lost three campaigns. '02 primary, '06 primary, '06 general. Three strikes, he's out.
BVP didn't lose the 06 primary, genius. He didn't even really lose the general. That was the work of the upper level of the campaign staff, of which he had no part in picking. He served the GOP better than anyone on the State CC by joining the ticket. It's not his problem that they wouldn't let him do anything.
forfeits are a loss. what a maroon.
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