Daily Kos

Why Bayh Needs Dean

by demburns

Tue Feb 15, 2005 at 03:26:52 PM PDT

Moderate Democrats were choking on their fish sticks when Howard Dean was selected as the grandmaster of the DNC. "A liberal Democrat running the party?" They asked. "What's going to become of the middle?" I've received a dozen e-mails wondering if the end of Senator Evan Bayh's presidential chances was spelled D-E-A-N.

But Howard Dean may be just what Evan Bayh needs.

Anyone who has watched Sen. Bayh speak knows that he has a knack for putting people to sleep en masse. This is his greatest fault, and one he's helpless to correct: a fatal absence of what Bill Clinton had in excess - Presidential charisma. Left to his own, Bayh may not be able to charm his way out of Iowa's primary, but with Howard Dean jumping into the fray, suddenly things get a lot more interesting to look at.

If there's one thing Howard Dean (the "liberal" to his political rivals) brings to the DNC, it's fire; fire that Senator Bayh noticeably lacks. Now we see a sort of odd couple raising itself up here - Dean, the fiery Populist preacher, banging his bible and whipping the crowd into a frenzy, and Evan Bayh, the soft-spoken policy man with Presidential qualifications and a wide-ranged intelligence. One sets the crowd up, the other knocks them down.

Dean's following is undeniable, and it will only increase now that Democracy For America, Dean's fan club and PAC, has a place to call home: the DNC Chair. Essentially, Dean would play the mastermind, the leader of men in the cause of Evan Bayh. While Dean provides the sheer manpower and glitzy spectacle of a grand event, Bayh provides the policy ammunition and level-headedness that Howard Dean lacked, and that ultimately cost Dean his own Presidential bid.

Dean and Bayh have one major thing in common - both need the support of moderate Democrats and the Bayh-ite crowds to unify, clarify, and strengthen the Democratic Party as we head into 2006, 2008, and some of the most important years our party has ever faced. If Bayh wins the primaries, Dean will, by duty, throw all of his support, clout and manpower behind him in order to pluck Republicans out of the White House. Even though Howard Dean was a poor Presidential candidate, no one can doubt his charismatic, working-man appeal.

That, for Bayh, will make all the difference when the time comes to fight for '08.

Blogged by The New Democrat

Tags: (all tags) :: Previous Tag Versions

Permalink | 27 comments

  •  Dean hopefully != "Dead" (none / 0)

    Just a Freudian slip, I assume :-)  For better or for worse, people won't be voting based on Dean.  Dean's role will most likely consist of batting down talking heads and firing up the base; the Republicans might try to make the election about Dean, but at the end of the day, people vote for the top of the ticket.  Not even the VP nominee, but the top of the ticket.  And I admire Bayh for voting the right way on the cabinet, but if he can't do the heavy lifting of inspiring Americans himself and feeding us those great little soundbites that form our misnamed "discourse", he should stay in the Senate and fight the good fight.

    by berns19 on Tue Feb 15, 2005 at 03:30:51 PM PDT

  •  My slogan for Bayh in 2008 (3.62 / 8)

    .
    .
    .
    .

    Evan Bayh - The Better Looking Joe Lieberman

    That's a winner!

    by Bob Johnson on Tue Feb 15, 2005 at 03:32:04 PM PDT

  •  Being a moderate myself (none / 0)

    I have no problem with moderates running for Prez. And unlike Bob, I don't think Bayh has ever reached the Liebermanian depths.

    But I do have a problem with boring, uncharismatic moderates running, or boring, uncharismatic liberals for that matter. This is going to be a bit of a mantra with me until 2008, but how well a candidate communicates and how voters emphasize with him/her are the keys to winning elections.

    by Desroko on Tue Feb 15, 2005 at 03:36:50 PM PDT

    •  Well... (none / 0)

      Bayh is the current congressional head of the DLC.  He has tiptoed left of late, beginning his repositioning for a race in 2008, but his legislative history aligns closely with his fellow DLC mouthpiece, Joe Lieberman.

      I agree on the boring component.  I think Bayh would have a difficult time in the primaries due to his political positions, but his ability to induce somnabulence in his audiences may be the trait that ultimately sinks his ship.

      by Bob Johnson on Tue Feb 15, 2005 at 03:50:25 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Not trying to start anything here... (none / 0)

    but I would just point out that, as we all know, politicians from Congress have an extremely difficult time moving into the presidency, because they typically have risen through the legislative ranks, and have no managerial record as governor or mayor, but conversely are saddled with numerous procedural votes that can easily be misconstrued.

    Dean is exactly the opposite, because he has a well-established, remarkable record of achievement as governor, but will come into '08 without the disadvantages of being snarled by legislative votes.

    Moreover, he will have four years to introduce himself to swing and red states, and if he is successful in changing the political game as it is currently defined, it won't matter what DC thinks of him, because the changes he will have wrought will the mentality in DC before he (if, when) ever gets there.

    by Zach in Phoenix on Tue Feb 15, 2005 at 03:37:52 PM PDT

  •  Media Stereotypes (none / 0)

    It is sad when we continue to wallow in the stereotypes of these politicians that the RWCM peddles.

    Dean has motivated some degree of passion and unity in the Democratic grassroots, and for this he's called a liberal.  The Democratic wing of the Democratic Party is just that and nothing more; the democratic wing of the Democratic Party.

    Evan Bayh has denied the Republicans victory in red-state Indiana.  Now, how has he done that if his speeches are so boring?

    As for Clinton, remember the Convention keynoter he gave in which he spoke and spoke and spoke and spoke and finally (applause) spoke.  The next election cycle he ran and won.

    Since we are all speculating about the 2008 race, how about a Byrd-Boxer ticket?

    -6.00/-7.18

    by TarheelDem on Tue Feb 15, 2005 at 03:43:44 PM PDT

  •  Electoral Math (none / 1)

    If Bayh takes Indiana in a general election it makes it awfully hard for the GOP to win. They have to basically run the table of swing states. I'm not talking about Bayh's politics or charisma but if 2005 Democratic primary voters have electibility as a criteria then Bayh will get serious consideration.

    John McCain

    by joejoejoe on Tue Feb 15, 2005 at 03:49:02 PM PDT

  •  well (none / 0)

    you mention Clinton, wasnt he boring as hell at some point to? In '88, he gave that awful speech at the DNC, and four years later....Not jumping on Bayh's bandwagon, but I'm just saying. Four years can change a lot. I have to admit, if Bayh continues his left ward movement, and gets a little more personality, he might win it. Lots of 'ifs' there, but a two term governor, 10 years at Senate  perceived as a moderate, could do some damage, especially if he wins Indiana.

    by jj32 on Tue Feb 15, 2005 at 04:02:00 PM PDT

  •  I grew up on the IN/IL border (none / 0)

    and I'd feel very comfortable voting for Bayh in a pres race.  But in a primary?
    I dunno.  He is kinda dull.

    Just focus on Rule #1:

    People will follow Charismatic and Enthusiastic leaders.

    And that's all we need.
    Attractive Dem candidates with atrractive faces & personalities.

    by Sam Loomis on Tue Feb 15, 2005 at 04:51:56 PM PDT

Permalink | 27 comments