So this is weird.
A few months ago, Rep. Sherrod Brown was being begged to run for Senate in Ohio. Brown demurred. Rep. Tim Ryan passed, so the baton was passed on to Paul Hackett, which had electrified progressives nationwide with his near-successful special election in a blood red congressional district.
Hackett was taking his time making an official decision, but all indications were that it was a "go". Then, this morning, the National Journal's Hotline reported:
Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-13) spokesperson Joanna Kuebler, on Brown's previous statement he would not run: "His statement has not changed at this time. However, Congressman Brown continues to be asked by state and national supporters to run for the United States Senate in Ohio. Personal and professional obligations have changed since his initial decision. He is consulting with supporters and his family about a possible run" (Hotline reporting, 10/3).
Apparently spooked by the rumors of his potential run, Hackett's people leaked all over the place that he was, indeed, running.
Paul Hackett, the Iraq War veteran from Cincinnati who was hailed by national Democrats for his narrow loss this summer in a heavily Republican House district, has quickly moved up in rank to challenge Mike DeWine for U.S. Senate in 2006.
"Paul Hackett is running for U.S. Senate," said spokesman David Woodruff, who served as Hackett's campaign manager in his special election campaign for the 2nd District House seat against Rep. Jean Schmidt.
Hackett is planning to officially announce his decision on Oct. 24 in Cincinnati and then begin a statewide bus tour, Woodruff said Monday.
Hackett wasn't immediately available for comment. He was flying back from Washington Monday evening after meeting with Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada, Woodruff said.
Reid's spokeswoman, Tessa Hefen, would not confirm the meeting took place, but Woodruff later said Reid gave Hackett the confidence to run.
So the Ohio Senate picture has gone from no Democrats to challenge the increasingly vulnerable Sen. DeWine, to a potential primary battle between Hackett and Brown.
And with all apologies to Brown, who is one of the greats in the House, but this isn't cool. He bows out, waits for Hackett to gear up, and then floats a trial balloon about getting back in? Brown must've known about Hackett's decision to run, hence this trial balloon is sabotage.
I'm not even sure who is the best candidate, the bullshit "who's most electable" question. That Zogby poll earlier today had Hackett kicking DeWine's ass. I assume Brown would do roughly as well. But in a primary, Brown has the instiutional state party apparatus (no matter how pathetic Ohio Dems might be). Hackett is an outsider.
Me, give me an Iraq vet over a career politician, even one with Brown's excellent pedigree. But ultimately, if Brown runs, this will be a choice for the people of Ohio. Not that you can't take the poll and weigh in. Brown or Hackett.
And really, Democrats win either way.