The Delaware Democratic Party held their annual Sussex County Jamboree at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes, Delaware yesterday. It was hot. Damn hot. 100 degrees with 100% humidity. And there were no ocean breezes to cool us off. Yet that did not deter any of the attendees nor the candidates seeking their votes in next year's primary.
State Treasurer Jack Markell and Lt. Governor John Carney were there, both running for Governor. Wilimington City Council President Ted Blunt and Insurance Commissioner Matt Denn were there, both running for Lt. Governor. Prospective congressional candidate and Reverend Christopher Bullock and ...well, a representative of Dennis Spivack was there, both of whom are running (or considering running) for Mike Castle's job in Congress. (I'll have more on Spivack in a second.)
And a host of other politicians were there too, not the least of which were Attorney General Beau Biden, Senator Tom Carper and Senator Joe Biden. (I'll have more on Joe Biden in a second too.)
It was those upcoming primaries that were the topic of the evening. No, not only amongst the attendees, but as the subject of the candidates' speeches to the group.
Senator Carper spoke first, and ruminated on how the Delaware Democratic Party used to have too few candidates to run for office (indeed, that is how his career got started all those years ago, when he was tapped to run for State Treasurer and later Congress). Now, the problem the party faces is that we have too many talented and qualified people running for the same offices. In a surprise move, Carper then ordered both Carney and Markell to join him on stage.
Carper had tried to head off a primary by brokering a deal between Carney and Markell, but he was unsuccessful. So, with both Carney and Markell no doubt wondering what Carper was about to do; like the school principal he sometimes looks like, Tom Carper admonished both candidates, and their respective supporters that we as a party have two choices. We could come out of the primaries divided, embittered and spent (as the Republicans hope), or we could come out of it more unified, tested and ready to lead than ever.
Senator Carper:
They are perhaps two of the best political talents we have seen in this state in a generation or more. .... I love these guys, and I love the state. We've got too much going for us here to not come through this the way that's best for them, best for the party, best for the state.
That set the tone for the remainder of the evening, as each candidate, in their own way, preached that the primaries will be good for the party, and that we would be unified when we face the Republicans, rather than being divided. Indeed, as more than one speaker mentioned, it is the Delaware GOP that hopes for a bitter and divisive primary, for even they think that is the only way they can win.
Jack Markell:
I know some of you are nervous about the primary for governor next year, but I'm not. I'm excited. The Democratic Party has a choice between two good candidates, and that's a good thing.
...
Because Lord knows, whichever Democrat wins, we'll have some tough issues to deal with, and I'm not just talking about prison health care and the Delaware Psychiatric Center.
...
"This is what democracy is all about. This is what our country is all about. We as a people benefit from dialogue and debate.
Such preemptive calls for unity speaks to the worry that the primaries will be bitter and divisive. Well, whether there is a bitter and divisive primary depends entirely on the campaigns and their supporters. It is incumbent upon them all to have a primary that focuses on the issues and the qualities of each candidate rather than attacks and the negatives of each candidate. Politicals primaries are democracy in action. They are not to be feared. It is a requirement for our democracy, not an obstacle to it.
Thus, if politicians and candidates are fearful of a primary, it is because they are fearful of their and their supporters' own behavior during said primary. So while calls for unity after the primary are nice, it would be even better if the primary campaigns behaved like they were the friends they profess themselves to be during the campaign. It will make the post primary reconciliation all the more easier.
Thoughts on Dennis Spivack
Dennis Spivack could not attend the event, for whatever reason. Which is fine, as schedules do conflict once and a while. But, for the love of God, Dennis, do not send someone to speak for you, and if you do, then the only thing your representative should say is the following:
"Dennis really wanted to be here tonight and is so very sorry he is not, as he knows he would be having a great time meeting and talking with all of you. But Dennis just wants you to know that he is committed to kicking Mike Castle out of Congress and he hopes you will all join him in his campaign."
Your representative should not go on a 20 minute personal diatribe against the evils of the Bush Administration, for, with all due respect to the representative and even though we may agree with everything he says, we don't want to hear it from a representative, we want to hear it from Dennis himself. And if Dennis Spivack cannot be there, then we want to hear from the other candidates.
Thoughts on Joe Biden.
Papa Joe Biden was also there at the Jamboree. He sat off to the side during most of the event signing his autobiography.
Books, book signings, and book tours have almost become a prerequisite to presidential campaigns. Colin Powell almost ran for President in 1996 due to the outpouring of support and excitement seen on his book tour in 1995. Barack Obama did decide to run for president in 2008 because of the same reason. But in each case, the book tours and signings took place before the presidential campaign was in full swing.
But here is Senator Biden, sitting off quietly to the side during most of the political event of the summer in his home state during his campaign for President, signing books. Indeed, Senator Biden missed Yearly Kos at the beginning of the month because he had a book signing engagement. Whosever idea it was to have Joe Biden have a book tour and book signings during his presidential campaign, well, I hope they are not making too many political decisions.
To his credit, Biden also found time to speak to his constituents at the close of the evening. Biden's longshot presidential campaign was the subject of an earlier speech by his son, Attorney General Beau Biden, during which hats were literally passed around like in church pews for donations to the Biden campaign.
Joe Biden:
I don't believe [my campaign for President] is a fool's errand. I'm not doing this for the exercise.
...
Ladies and gentlemen, look at the polling data. Only eight percent of the registered Democrats in America have made up their mind. Nobody has decided yet. If we do our job, I promise you, you will not be embarrassed. I promise you, I've got as much of a chance of winning this nomination as anyone, including Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama.
...
I've never seen so much talent in the Democratic Party, ready to lead the state. If I get the nomination, who knows, it may settle the [primary between Markell and Carney.] Tommy [Carper] and I often kid, riding on the train late at night, when it's really late, after midnight, and we get a chance to talk. Tom and I are sort of a bottleneck for you all. Maybe we'll try to change that.
Now that is interesting. To me, this is the question for 2008 in Delaware. Does Joe Biden run for reelection to the Senate, no matter if we wins the Democratic nomination for President.
Stay tuned.