I just received an email summary of the
Hotline (DC's political guide to insider developments) and it clearly implies that former Congressman Martin Frost (D-TX) may be, by default, gaining momemtum to become the new Chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
I do not have subscription to the Hotline and if some of you do, feel free to post the details.
According to the
Hotline
A DNC Frost Forecast?
With the decision by DNC bigwig Harold Ickes to forgo a bid for DNC chair, the race seems as muddled as ever. It's hard to call Howard Dean the frontrunner when it's still not clear he'll run, though he may be reinvigorated by the Ickes news.
- So if Dean decides '08 is more intriguing than the bureaucracy of 400 S. Cap, the eventual victor could end up being the candidate who offends the fewest people/interest groups.
- The candidates with the most passionate supporters in campaigns like this never win, it's always the compromise guys. Remember, neither Haley Barbour nor Jim Nicholson were classified as frontrunners for their respective RNC bids until they actually won. This could be good news for Martin Frost. While not inspiring the greatest passion, he seems to offend the least.
- Many of the other candidates have major ?s hanging over their heads: Webb and labor; Fowler/Rosenberg and gray hair; Kirk and passion for the nuts and bolts (word is circulating Kirk may be out); Roemer and choice (as well as Israel); Blanchard and recent relevancy; Malcolm and local successes to trumpet.
ABC's The Note weighs in too
Elsewhere in the Democratic circle . . .
- Messieurs Ickes, Dean and Roemer have yet to officially decide whether to run. Someone who spoke recently with Mr. Ickes reports that the famously, often profanely, indecisive strategist was more pro-go than not.
- Hopes abound in some circles (causing worries in others) that Rep. Martin Frost and former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk will join forces.
- On Thursday, as the Hotline reported first, Simon Rosenberg throws his beanie into the ring. The professor [referring to Ron Brownstein] kindly offered the whole thing up in a tiny shorthand graf: "Democrats have now moved back to the barricades, at least in their intellectual circles. The lines of battle evident in these disputes also could resurface in the race for the DNC chairmanship, which will pit liberals Dean and party operative Harold M. Ickes against centrists such as former Indiana Rep. Tim Roemer and Simon Rosenberg, president of the centrist New Democrat Network."
As a former Richard Gephardt (someone who was not exactly bosom buddies with Howard Dean during the Democratic primaries) supporter, I've advocated Dean's candidacy before, as you can read here. And I feel strongly as ever that the Democrats must take bold steps to redefine/rebuild the party and its principles. Simply choosing someone who is the "least offensive" to most party activists implies a defeatist attitude. A "three yards and a cloud of dust" strategy might work if we were in power. It isn't as if we control the White House, US Senate, US House of Representatives, and the US Supreme Court!
Playing it safe and more of the same will and should not suffice for the Democratic Party.
I urge Governor Howard Dean to clarify his intentions and declare his candidacy for DNC Chair now -- before it is derailed by Washington insiders.
