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Wednesday, October 05, 2005

OH-Sen: Sherrod Brown Runs Against Major Paul Hackett in Ohio Senate Primary

Posted by Bob Brigham

Unfortunately, Congressman Sherrod Brown has decided to challenge Paul Hackett for the Democratic nomination in 2006. If Sherrod Brown wanted to run for Senate, the nomination was his. We urged him to run. But he chickened out. So Paul Hackett did what he has done time and time again: stepped up when duty called. Ted Strickland wouldn't run against Senate Mike DeWine, Sherrod Brown wouldn't run against DeWine, Tim Ryan wouldn't run against DeWine -- so Major Hackett offered to serve his country once more, this time in the U.S. Senate.

And now, on the eve of Hackett's kickoff, Sherrod Brown goes back on his word and says he is going to run against Hackett? A flip-flop? WTF?

Congressman Brown is going to waste a great deal of Democratic resources, but I can't comprehend the math necessary for Brown to win the primary. It looks like the Democratic Party is going to lose one of our best leaders in congress for no reason.

But it doesn't matter, Paul Hackett will be the Democratic Party nominee. After all of the scandals in Ohio, the last thing the voters want is another politician who can't be trusted.

The Top 10 Reasons Why Paul Hackett Will Be the Democratic Party Nominee

Posted at 08:15 PM in 2006 Elections, 2006 Elections - Senate, Activism, Democrats, Netroots, Ohio | Technorati

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Tracked on October 6, 2005 10:41 AM

Comments

The Top 10 Reasons Why This Post Is Full Of Crap.

10. Calling Sherrod Brown a waffle and being self referencial is tacky and crass. Bill O'Reily would be proud. (We can get you a loofah sponge if you need one.)

9. Perhaps Mr. Hackett's straight talk is loved by the press because it sells papers. It certainly doesn't win elections (see proof in 2005 special election results.)

8. Congressman Ryan endorsed Paul Hackett because he was afraid Bob Brigham would jump into the race and attempt to run the entire campaign from him basement wearing nothing but a tin foil hat and Spiderman underoos.

7. For answer to this one, see above.

6. Apparently someone forgot that a $25 donor from Alaska can't vote in an Ohio Senate election.

5. Talking about the Political Play of the Week again? I think the ego masturbation has finally gone out of control. You had better watch it or you will go blind and end up as the next Dick Morris.

4. Its too bad that the netroots doesn't have a congressional district of their own. Besides, not many of them are old enough to vote anyway.

3. Timing isn't everything. Winning is.

2. Hackett won? Does that mean he's in Congress now?

1. Haven't read your Constitution lately? The military is a wholly owned subsidiary of the American people. Hell, even Bob outranks a marine major.

Sherrod Brown may be a waffle and Mike DeWine might be toast and Major Hackett may be hungry, but Bob Brigham is definately syrupy.

SHERROD BROWN FOR SENATE 2006

(I'd like to thank contributor Bob "David Letterman" Brigham for helping with this post. Keep it up Bob, but don't go blind!) :-)

Posted by: Columbus Donkey at October 5, 2005 11:39 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

This insult-laden back and forth is exactly why we need to avoid a primary fight. I like both candidates and I think either would make an excellent Senator... I do hope one pulls out, but if not, why not just have a clean primary focused on the records and proposals of each candidate? There will be plenty of space for vitriol aimed at Ohio Republicans.

So guys.. talk about strategy and generally who would be a better candidate or Senator... but both guys are great... be happy with the trove of riches the Democrats surprisingly have in Ohio.

Posted by: Ian in DC at October 6, 2005 10:50 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

No one will argue the fact that Hackett was a media darling. I would caution, however, using this as the solitary premise to support a year-long statewide campaign. With Hackett's loose lips, he is bound to give our great media the fodder they need to tear him back down. Hackett…the next Dean? Seems like all the elements are in place.

Earned media is only one component of a good campaign. Paul Hackett has to raise money. When you are behind $4 million, I don’t buy the logic that candidates should postpone filing with the FEC. Even so, it has been nearly a week since the filing deadline; still no account. Every story written about this race for the next eight months will peg Hackett’s credibility to his fundraising numbers. Even if the rules of politics have changed because of the netroots—and I think it has—Ohio media is too slow to recognize this. Bob, do you really think that the netroots can raise the money necessary to fund a campaign that will inevitably top $10 million?

Lastly, lets not over estimate Hackett’s traction in rural Ohio. Can someone show me empirically that Hackett’s success was because of Republican support? With only 25% turnout, I think the hundreds of Hackett volunteers did a great job of getting the 30% of democrats in the district to the polls. That’s field not persuasion. In reality it’s probably a combination of the two. I just want to point out that every last one of the 55,000 people who voted for Hackett could have been Democrats and we should not over estimate Hackett’s ability to pull Republican support.

Posted by: fightingdemocrat at October 6, 2005 10:53 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

For the past year, this blog has been crying about the PA Democratic party clearing the way for Casey, and how important it is for Pennachio to be part of the fight, and how competitive primaries are needed. But now you're complaining that we have two really strong candidates in OH? I don't get it.

Posted by: LVDem at October 6, 2005 12:54 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Stop being so modest, LVDem. You get it just fine.

Posted by: Kagro X at October 6, 2005 01:01 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Hackett gets my money. That's my vote. And I plan to vote early and often.

You want Regime change? You have to change the Regime.

Posted by: Bill Section 147 at October 6, 2005 02:43 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Six months ago we couldn't find a Senate candidate in Ohio. Now we have two great ones. This isn't a problem; it's a victory. My hope is that Brown and Hackett work this out amongst themselves. If not, there will be primary and the voters of Ohio get to choose between two great candidates. Our work here is done for a while. Now, let's forget about the shiny U.S. Senate race and make sure we have good candidates for other equally important offices in Ohio -- like Secretary of State.

Posted by: Lisa Seitz Gruwell at October 6, 2005 02:48 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

An interesting issue it seems to me, is (1) the extent to which Hackett is a viable candidate without netroots support and (2) the extent to which the netroots wants to get involved in a Dem primary, both generally, and in this specific instance.

Posted by: Jedmunds at October 6, 2005 03:13 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

What everyone fails to recognize is the relative silence from the DSCC during the supposed "courting" of Hackett. I defy anyone to supply a direct quote from either Schumer or Reid endorsing and/or praising a Hackett run. Paul Hackett ran in the OH-02 special during a snapshot in time, the likes of which will not even remotely be seen in the 06 general. Congrats to the netroots, Hackett, and all of the good people of Southern Ohio, you all truly did an outstanding job, and almost pulled off an amazing feat, really. What that feat entitles Paul Hackett to is a forum, an ear if you will from Dems. across Ohio. That is for certain. He proved himself as a worthy and competent candidate, although one who was at times brash and abrasive in an environment he was allowed to be so in. However, the Senate race is a completely different animal. I am not an active Sherrod Brown supporter, but at his best, when he is focus and committed to something, he is outstanding, as evidenced by his lead role in opposing CAFTA. The guy was also a darling of the netroots far before it was "hip" to be so, and certainly far before Paul Hackett became the poster boy for blog-driven candidates nationwide.

The fact of the matter is, yes, of course Hackett has earned a place in the pathetic edifice known as the Ohio Democratic Party, and yes, he may even have the political capital to run for Senate. However, Sherrod wins 60-40 in a primary, because he will dominate Cleveland, but he will also be forced to spend a descent amount of money in the primary for no apparent reason. Do not get me wrong, I want Paul Hackett on the statewide ballot in '06. I think Dems. need him on the statewide ballot in '06. The Senate is not where he needs to be. The Republicans have little to offer in the way of opposition down the ticket, and Hackett could have his pick of spots.

Paul Hackett is a young guy and has a future in politics if he wants it. Sherrod Brown is a relatively young guy who has a past in politics, with a legitimate issue(s) to run on (jobs, education, etc.), not to mention most financially adept to take on DeWine. I look forward to the thrashing of this post, for it certainly was a stream of consciousness, which I apologize for, but I have so much going through my head since the news yesterday, I needed to vent. Thanks.

Posted by: andre2006 at October 6, 2005 04:06 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

What is going on here? Elections are not decided in the blogosphere, helped, but not decided.

As far as Sherrod running in the rural areas, he represented a rural conservative area, North central Ohio, in the Ohio house for eight years, 74-82. He ran for Secretary of State, 82,86 and 90 (when he lost to Bob daft), and always carried the rural areas of south east Ohio, broke even in the Northwest, clobbered them in the Northeast and lost the GOP southwest. Also now he can come out of the Franklin county area with some numbers now that it is a D county.

So he has state wide recognition, a solid progressive record in the house, a solid record of service, working people love him and a million bucks in the bank, nice way to start out on the race.

Posted by: Truebeliever at October 6, 2005 05:44 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

What many fail to realize is Sherrod Brown does not have the national recognition Paul Hackett has. Paul Hackett gainted campaign contributions from all over the country. It will take a lot of money to beat Mike DeWine and I believe with the aid of the blogosphere Hackett can do this. He won't be able to get more money then DeWine but with Dewine's low popularity ratings and lack of support from his party it won't take that much money to beat him. Hackett can also GAIN votes from the south rural counties. He may not win these counties but these extra votes may be enough to push him ahead of DeWine. With the support of the DSCC Hackett might be able to defeat one of the most powerful Republicans in the Senate. I believe we should support someone who came so close to winning in one of the most Republican Congressional Districts in Ohio. 52-48 is pretty good compared to Sanders against Rob Portman. Hackett can pull votes in the south, north, and middle of Ohio. With Cleveland, Columbus and even Cincinnati by his side Hackett may be able to pull ahead of DeWine, something I feel Sherrod cannot do. Sherrod should pull out of the race because if Hackett and Sherrod face off both will lose. Information and mud slinging will hurt both candidates and when they face DeWine they won't be strong enough to beat him. Sherrod should drop out of the race and wait to fight another battle that he can actually win. I'm all for Hackett in 2006, hopefully the Democrats of Ohio will back him and gain a seat in Senate that should've gone Democrat a long time ago.

Posted by: Craig at October 6, 2005 09:08 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Geographically, the case for Hackett is a slam-dunk. He'll still win the vast majority of territory that Brown would win in the northeast PLUS he should be able to win over rural southern voters that Brown wouldn't be able to get. But that's assuming Hackett can stay on his current pedestal for the duration of a lengthy race. As someone else mentioned, Hackett stands a very good chance of being "Deaned" if he says some more of the things he has already that swing voters will view as over-the-top. Hackett may have the gravitas to say those things that Dean may not, but that's a gamble. Brown is the safe bet, but safe bets lose 51-49 more often than that. If I was able to choose, I'd hold my breath and support Hackett since he has a better chance of being on the other side of the 51-49 split.

Posted by: Mark at October 6, 2005 09:59 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment