In 2008, Nevada is the new Iowa.
A couple of days ago, Tom Vilsack threw his hat into the ring for the 2008 presidential contest:
"Americans sent a clear message on Tuesday. They want leaders who will take this country in a new direction," Vilsack, Iowa's two-term governor, said in a statement. "They want leaders who share their values, understand their needs, and respect their intelligence. That's what I've done as governor of Iowa, and that's what I intend to do as president."
Well Tom, you also clearly intend to invalidate your home state caucuses. Like Tom Harkin ran in 1992, when an Iowan runs for president, your caucuses matter little to everyone else. Iowans aren't going to punish a favorite son and no other big name Democratic candidate is truly going to ask them to.
Which means the next caucus up is Nevada. Tom Vilsack, by running for president has made Nevada the Iowa of 2008 - great news for Western Democrats. Not just because the issues being discussed in a western state matter to us out here, it means our chances of nominating a westerner in 2008 are much improved. Nevada will be a natural spot for someone like Richardson to campaign (given his sky high re-election rate and majority support among all sub-groups - important in a diverse western state like Nevada).
Can you really see Hillary winning Nevada? Or Tom Vilsack for that matter?
Western Democrats have just indirectly made incredible progress because of the aspirtation of one Iowan. Thanks Tom, much appreciated.
Landon Mascareñaz | November 11, 2006 | Comment on This Post (3 so far) |
Your Name: Your Personal Note: | Your Email: Friends' Emails*: |
Comments
Landon,
You are right. Iowa was shaping up as Hillary vs. Edwards vs. Midwesterners (e.g. Bayh, Fiengold). Now Feingold has taken himself out of the running, and Obama is hot. Vilsack's status as favorite son changes all the calculations for Iowa. Lightning could strike, and he could win the nomination. He could become the VP candidate to carry an important swing state. He could drop out before the caucuses.
But for now Iowa is no longer what it was.
Posted by: Leo Brown | Nov 13, 2006 6:50:39 AM
Landon: damn, you're right, I think! Damn cogent piece of politial thinking! Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon...
The west is turning blue, and leaves the dirty South rendered less the insurmountable kingmaker that it used to be and the rusty Northeast less likely to give us yet one more unwinnable liberal presidential candidate from Massachusetts (much as I grew to like Kerry in '04).
Now about those damns...how about getting rid of that Glen Canyon dam? Those four annoying Snake River dams endangering all those endangered salmon?
About Vilsack: a highly placed, legendary political consultant (think Clinton war room and it's not anyone you think) told me in the wake of Gore '00 to keep an eye out for Vilsack making his move. The DLC, sigh...fellow progressives and greendogdemocrats, we have to think of the big tent of the DP and find ways to work with them, but, please, DLC, Rahm, Shrum, and co., when was the last time any of you won anything from inside the Beltway? Get swept up in our progressive coattails for a change and stop believing the Rovian spin that conservatives won this election wearing donkeyskins, ok?
Don St.Clair, the GreenDogDemocrat
Posted by: Don St. Clair, GreenDogDemocrat | Nov 22, 2006 2:08:18 PM
Support a fair election, vote for a Nevada Senator that is actually from Vegas and FOR the state of Nevada!
Posted by: Vegas Local | Feb 19, 2010 4:24:09 AM
Ads by Google
(and yes, we know that sometimes they're very, very wrong. Other times, they're right on.)
