This is going to be a pure politics story, although looking at the front page and diaries lately one would think this is a crime and punishment blog.
Ever since the Ohio 2nd congressional race we have been waiting on a candidate to challenge the vulnerable Mike DeWine for one of the Ohio Senate seats.
Rumors swirled, was it going to be the the fiery Tim Ryan, the Democratic darling Sherrod Brown, or the rising star Major Paul Hackett.
What began as a potential great position for the Ohio Democrats could now get nasty - and we must avoid that.
First Ryan said he wasn't running, then
Brown said he was out
For the past several months, my number one priority as a member of Congress was leading the bipartisan opposition to the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). As I predicted in a USA Today editorial, the vote took place in the middle of the night, continuing a trend embraced by Republican leadership. Once again, the roll call was extended, pork was promised, and arms were twisted. Even then, CAFTA passed by only two votes.
Since that early morning injustice, I began to deliberate seriously about whether to take a run at the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Mike DeWine. After discussions with my family, closest friends, and colleagues in Congress, I have decided to seek re-election to the United States House of Representatives. The race for U.S. Senate is very winnable, and there are a number of impressive Democrats considering a run who I am confident will defeat the incumbent in 2006.
So with that Hackett was in.
Then in the last couple of days the bombshell dropped.
The Hotline reports Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has told key Democrats that he will challenge Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH) in next year's election.
So now, absent a rethink by either Hackett or Brown we are going to have a contested primary. Just how contested is the question.
If you followed the OH-2 primary from the beginning and knowing Sherrod's reputation we should have high hopes that the candidates themselves conduct a campaign that spotlights Democrats and our positions and values in the best possible light for all Ohioan Voters.
However, there is obviously going to be a split amongst the supporters, especially the netroots.
Jerome at MyDD fired of the first opening shot and followed up today after having a heated debate in the first thread.
The blogfather is a tough act to follow, or counter. But let me make the case for Major Paul Hackett.
Hacket has proven recently that he can compete in the reddest parts of this state, parts of this state that Brown failed to compete in when he ran unsuccessfully in 1990 against Mr Popular, Bob taft for the SoS office.
Brown is a progressive, which is why he will rightfully garner a lot of support, especially on the blogs. However, Ohio isn't a liberal or progressive state - the Democratic party is built on the blue collar workers, the traditional Democratic party. When the Republicans in Ohio turned our great state from BLue collar to no collar with their failed economic policy, the Democratic party began its long decline here.
Paul Hackett can recapture that essence. His message of being a Libetarian Democrat resonated with so many people. It finally put a label on who I am.
You can't win Ohio as a Democrat without winning either the rural counties or a majority in the suburbs - the big 3 cities dont quite have enough. Hackett won all the OH-2 rural counties - every one of them. His gun message resonated.
At a time when the NRA won't endorse DeWine and sure as heck won't endorse Brown - this is a huge advantage.
Jerome talks of organization. He places a lot of credit at Browns feet. For sure Brown has begun the work of helping Ohioans rebuild our political infrastructure, but Jerome goes too far - way too far.
DFA, Moveon, the netroots from OH02.com and on propelled Hackett. Brown chipped in. Browns statewide organization can be seen from his 1990 race. Not good enough.
Hackett went national.
Jerome also talks of the financial advantage. Brown has one - about $3 million worth. That aint enough. This race, to win it might take $15 million or more. Does anyone think that Hackett can't raise 15 as easily as Brown can raise 12 ?
Further, Hackett has a huge advantage - he is an appealing political star. During the OH-2 campaign I got calls for interviews from the AP, WaPo and local press about him. The media storm around Hackett was huge - all that earned media cost nothing and propelled him. Brown for all his positives simply cannot generate that level of excitement.
In a state where this Senate race is going to be a nationally top tiered race the media would be all over Hackett in a way they wouldnt with Brown.
Jerome goes on to say something interesting
Dewine has $7M and a script of Hackett calling Bush a "son of a bitch." Heck, even a nimrod could turn that into a serious definitional problem for Hackett right off the bat
What Jerome is hinting at here is that Brown would play it safe, and not want to attack DeWine and tie him to Bush, who is becoming radioactive. We see further evidence of this play it safe with Browns flip flop "I was against running for Senate before I was for it".
We have seen this before in Ohio and it ended badly. You know the ad i am thinking about. Don't make me say it.
Finally, as has been posted here a million times before, the issue in 2006 is Iraq. Hackett has proven he has a strong and powerful message on Iraq, one he and only he can deliver with bulletproof credibility. Brown is simply excellent on trade issues, but that comes no where near the issue of Iraq.
you can't open an Ohio newspaper without reading about another one of our states boys being killed, or coming home from Walter Reed with a leg missing.
A voice like Hackett's in the Senate and during the campaign could set the whole tone of the debate and bring some sanity to the whole thing. Trade can wait (Though Hackett is also great on this issue), our guys and gals dying in the desert cannot.
I hope as things develop that we don't eat our own - both candidates are great, but passions are going to run high.
Let's see if we can have a primary where we showcase the positive and leave the shit kicking for the winner to dump on Mike Rubber Stamp DeWine.
I proudly support Paul Hackett for the US Senate - He Fights.