A few weeks ago, we noted that Republican Ray LaHood was considering putting his name in the running for the Presidency of Bradley University. Unfortunately for Democrats, LaHood has made his decision to stay put in the House:
Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) abruptly ended a public flirtation with the presidency of Bradley University on Tuesday, declaring himself out of the running for the top job at his alma mater and recommitted to his re-election campaign.[…]
This was the second time that LaHood has considered leaving Congress; he also mulled a run for governor in 2006. In this case, he said, “I think I would have had a shot” at the Bradley job, but also conceded that the university was likely to pick someone with a doctoral degree, which he does not hold.
Republican insiders predicted this week that the lack of a doctorate would keep LaHood, an outspoken and often aisle-crossing congressional veteran, from landing the presidency.
The decision likely kills Democrats’ dreams of stealing LaHood’s GOP-leaning seat. LaHood said he would reschedule fundraisers he had canceled and expected the lost time wouldn’t hurt his chances next year.
Indeed: it would be a tough climb for a Democrat in the 18th. With a PVI of R+5.5, Bush won this district by 16 points in 2004. But given LaHood’s frequent flirtation with a career change, perhaps it will open up in the not too distant future.
As an aside, while I don’t often take swipes at Rahm Emanuel, I couldn’t help but cringe at this:
At least one Democrat welcomed his move. Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, the Democratic caucus chairman and a longtime fan of LaHood’s cooperative style, said, “It’s Congress’s win, Bradley’s loss.”LaHood didn’t let the decision-making process distract from his day job. He noted in the interview that he fielded a call from President Bush last week. They discussed immigration and the Iraq war, which faces a series of critical House votes.
“He asked me to hang in there with him,” LaHood said. “I am going to hang in there with him… I’m not bailing on him.”
Bleh. Keeping around Bushbots like LaHood in the House is precisely my definition of “Congress’s loss”.
LaHood continuing to express an interest in the job, after being left off the list of finalists.
Evidently they didn’t really want him after all, but the excuse about the doctorate is lame. Milton S. Eisenhower didn’t have a doctorate, and he was president of Kansas State, Penn State, and Johns Hopkins, in that order. His brother Dwight’s lack of a doctorate didn’t prevent his being (briefly) president of Columbia.
To have him on record saying that he’s staying in Congress to help George Bush?