The recent gubernatorial election in Virginia got me thinking again about the best potential candidates for 2008, and I'm seeing the same names as before.
Following up on Mark Warner's very successful tenure as governor of Virginia, Kaine's victory indicates that Virginia is in play for the Democratic candidate in 2008. Basically, I believe that Kaine's victory showed that Warner wasn't a fluke in what appears to be a fairly conservative state. That said, we need to examine how Kaine won the state,
First (and I know you've all heard this), Kaine spoke openly about his religious faith in an appeal to Virginia's vocal, pious voters. Second, Kaine did not allow his Republican opponent to pidgeon hole him as the uber-liberal-out-of-touch-Democrat who wants to wreak havoc on your little traditional lifestyle. Kaine dismissed such criticisms out of hand and forced the discussion to move toward more substantive issues.
That said, I believe that we must nominate a candidate with potential appeal to voters in the more traditional, old fashion states such as Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Arizona, even Florida etc. These are the states which could potentially vote Democratic in 2008. We can do this, not by abandoning all that makes the Democratic party right and good, but by focusing on our core values such as the notions that
- domestically: all people have a right to minimum lifestyle standards including a decent wage, a safe place to live, access to healthcare, access to a fair justice system, the ability to maintain a private medical and personal life without government interference, and a government which can be relied upon in times of crisis,
- abroad: the United States of America must use its premiere global status to lead world-wide efforts to reduce the proliferation of dangerous nuclear weaponry (including reducing our own arsenals), to protect the environment for future generations of earthlings, to establish peace (or at least a respite from the murder) in such lawless regions as the Sudan, and to increase access to pharmacueticals and other necessities in the poorest parts of the world.
I think great choices for 2008 include:
Al Gore--he actually defeated Bush in 2000, so we know he has national support
Mark Warner--his appeal to Virginia voters (80% freakin' approval rating) would greatly aid his campaign in traditionally red states.
Hillary Clinton--her efforts for universal healthcare (though reviled in the past) may appear more precient now
