Bonior endorses Gephardt for president

Former Congressman David Bonior, who served as House Minority Whip when Dick Gephardt was Minority Leader, endorsed Gephardt's bid for the Democratic presidential nomination today.

Former Congressman David Bonior, who served as House Minority Whip when Dick Gephardt was Minority Leader, endorsed Gephardt's bid for the Democratic presidential nomination today.

While not too surprising for the average observer, I was not expecting this. After he spoke at Oakland University this March, I asked him what his intentions were in terms of presidential nomination support, particularly in terms of Gephardt. He strongly chided Gephardt's support of the Iraq war and the role that he played in the resolution's passage. He is strongly anti-war and seemed to suggest that he wanted a similar stance from his presidential candidate of choice.

A Democrat from Mount Clemens, Bonior represented the Macomb County area for more than two decades in Congress. Middle class suburbs of Detroit, the county was recognized as a battleground "Reagan Democrat" county that national political pundits often analyzed to capture the pulse of such voters.

In 2002, after redistricting gave him the options of running in a very unfavorable Republican-friendly district, running in a very favorable Democrat-friendly district against Rep. Sander Levin, or retiring from Congress. Bonior ended his long run in the House, where he had served in the Democratic Leadership for a number of years.

He instead pursued the Democratic nomination for governor against former Governor Jim Blanchard and then-Attorney General (and current Governor) Jennifer Granholm. With strong support from the United Auto Workers and the AFL-CIO, Bonior surged as the primary progressed and did better than expected.

Year after year in the 1990s, Republicans would target Bonior for defeat. Every time they would come up short, however. Former Secretary of State, and potential candidate for higher office in the future, Candace Miller (R-Harrison Township) now holds the new seat that was once somewhat held by Bonior. In fact, Miller went up against Miller many years ago in the 1980s.  

Nationally, besides his role as Minority Whip, Bonior gained a good deal of notoreity for calling out former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's alleged ethical lapses. He repeatedly harped on Gingrich and was given partial credit for the censures inflicted on Gingrich's record.

Locally, Bonior was associated with environmental protection and union support. Prior to serving in Congress, he was a state legislator. He was a social worker, prior to entering politics. Lately he has been teaching at Wayne State University, I believe.

This from the Associated Press wire:

Dick Gephardt's former deputy in the House is joining his presidential campaign as national co-chair.

Former Rep. David Bonior signed on with the Gephardt campaign Thursday. The onetime Michigan lawmaker gave up his post as House Democratic whip in early 2002 and decided against reelection to concentrate on an unsuccessful run for governor. Gephardt, the Missouri congressman, ceded his position as minority leader after last year's elections.

•  Re: Bonior endorses Gephardt for president

  I can't construct a scenario for Gephardt winning even if he does manage to win Iowa, but I guess it's  still technically possible.  Does this endorsement help him at all in Iowa?

  by nevsky42 on Fri Dec 19, 2003 at 12:26:20 AM PDT

  •  Re: Bonior endorses Gephardt for president

    Only if your average Iowan mistakes him for Bonnie Raitt.

    "Nothing is inevitable provided we are prepared to pay attention."

    by section29 on Fri Dec 19, 2003 at 12:42:03 AM PDT

•  Re: Bonior endorses Gephardt for president

  "He instead pursued the Democratic nomination for governor against former Governor Jim Blanchard and then-Attorney General (and current Governor) Jennifer Granholm. With strong support from the United Auto Workers and the AFL-CIO, Bonior surged as the primary progressed and did better than expected."

  Ha, that could only be true if he had been expected to spontaneously combust live on television.  He was never a factor in that primary.

  by Left Leaner on Fri Dec 19, 2003 at 12:32:16 AM PDT

  •  Re: Bonior endorses Gephardt for president

    Although I always liked the guy...

    by Left Leaner on Fri Dec 19, 2003 at 12:32:50 AM PDT

•  Re: Bonior endorses Gephardt for president

  Even as a Gepahrdt supporter, I can't see a way that he gets the nomination.  

  by jg on Fri Dec 19, 2003 at 01:22:02 AM PDT

•  Re: Bonior endorses Gephardt for president

  I liked Bonior as well.  Actually, when I was in high school, I worked for his 1992 campaign on election day (get-out-the-vote flyers).

  No longer in Michigan, I noticed his hat in the Governor's race and checked his progress from afar. Left Leaner is right (I mean... correct):  Bonior did not do well in the gubernatorial primary. Much worse than I expected, anyway. I didn't follow the race close enough to really know, but my guess is that, even though he was Minority Whip for years, he was still not very well known to Michiganders coming in.

  Bonior's endorsement of Gephardt will only affect Michigan voters; it won't help Dick in Iowa.

  I find it difficult to see a way in which Gephardt can win the nomination, but I'm sure he has zero chance to win if he does not win Iowa.  Due to expectations and the way he's run his campaign (pinning all hopes on the one state), if Iowa could ever truly be a must-win for a candidate, it is a must-win for Gephardt.

  by scott free on Fri Dec 19, 2003 at 01:34:29 AM PDT

•  Re: Bonior endorses Gephardt for president

  It's only logical that Bonior endorsed Gephard. Both are Union politicians. In fact ir would have surprised me if he decided NOT to endorse Gephard.

  by Frederik on Fri Dec 19, 2003 at 03:23:17 PM PDT