Paul Hackett For US Senate

by Chris Bowers, Fri Aug 26, 2005 at 10:40:28 AM EDT

I like Tim Ryan, and if he ends up being the Democratic candidate for Senate in Ohio, I will work to support him. I also think he would have an excellent chance of beating Mike DeWine if he did run, as DeWine is arguably the most vulnerable Republican up for re-election in the Senate, and things only continue to get worse for him.

However, there is another candidate from Ohio, one who would start with huge support from the netroots, who has already proven he can win votes in areas where most Democrats fear to tread, who will be exactly the sort of truth teller Democrats need in the Senate, and whose position as an Iraq war vet could aid a national Democratic tidal wave in 2006. We all know who I am talking about: Marine Corps Major Paul Hackett.

This map of Hackett's donors shows that he already has a national movement behind him:

With Claire McCaskill gearing up for a run, Paul Hackett would be the crowning jewel in Democratic Senate candidate recruitment. Suddenly, with a weakened NRSC and Bush sinking like a stone, with seven strong challenges to Republican held seats on the ground, a Senate takeover would become a real possibility. Arizona, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Tennessee would all be doable. Without question, a net gain of three to forty-eight would be a strong possibility, making Democratic control in 2008 and/or 2010 very likely, as Republicans are forced to defend 40 of the 67 seats up for re-election during those two years.

Swing State Project reports that a decision is coming soon. Already, Sherrod Brown is out and Tim Ryan is leaning against it. Please Major Hackett, for the good of your state, your party and your country, run for US Senate.

Tags: Senate 2006 (all tags)

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Thats the best part of Hackett

The netroots woudl get behind him so fast, he could catch up to DeWine in the money race in a few months. With a number of Iraq war vets running for Congress in '06, Hackett could lead the charge, generating national attenetion, and helping dispell the myth that democrats are weak on national security.

by jkfp2004 2005-08-26 11:01AM | 0 recs

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Others

I would love to see hackett jump in, however since we have pretty good word on MO I think we can look elsewhere as well now.

Is there ANYONE we can recruit for Virginia and can we get a candidate for Nevada even if Reid will not campaign for them?

Virginia NEEDS a big challenger to help drive out Allen's money. That Bush clone is gonna run for pres and he needs an opponent. Kerry just had a libertarian opponent in 2002 and he had some money to help him through the beginning of the primaries. Kerry would have dropped out much sooner if he had a little less money and we would have nominated Edwards most likely.

rant over

by Trowaman 2005-08-26 11:03AM | 0 recs

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Hackett's Donor Map

I could not help but notice the similarities between the map you published regarding Hackett's donors and US fatalities in Iraq. I think these two maps speak volumes! See below:

http://icasualties.org/oif/images/US_City.jpg

Heide

by heiderose1 2005-08-26 11:07AM | 0 recs

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Run Paul Run

Your Country needs you once again!

by blogswarm 2005-08-26 11:17AM | 0 recs

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40 of 67?

Oh my God! If we can win a good number of seats and actually act like we have a spine, we could do incredibly well by 2010.

Wow, writing 2010 makes me feel old.

by Robert P 2005-08-26 11:17AM | 0 recs

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Hardball last night

Did anyone else see Hackett on Hardball last night? He was really good. He did the typical denial on the Senate run. Who knows, he could make a good running mate in 2008, get the military thing and Ohio.

by Max Friedman 2005-08-26 11:57AM | 0 recs

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Re: Hardball last night

My comments.

by ignatzmouse 2005-08-26 12:26PM | 0 recs

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Problem

Isn't Hackett's unit slated to return to Iraq in fall of '06? I thought I heard that during his last campaign ('cause people were saying he wouldn't have to go if he was elected to Congress). Assuming that he is scheduled to leave before November of '06, doesn't that hurt his ability to campaign?

Can he get out of going if he is running for federal office? I would hope so. That alone would be reason for me to support his run. We need to keep this guy safe!

by lalawguy 2005-08-26 01:00PM | 0 recs

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Re: Problem

He has stated that the choice is his if his unit returns to Iraq.

by ignatzmouse 2005-08-26 01:04PM | 0 recs

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Re: Problem

"Assuming that he is scheduled to leave before November of '06, doesn't that hurt his ability to campaign?"

Hell no. It means that the Republicans can't attack him. Republicans can never say, "Paul Hackett hates America and doesn't support our troops," because he will BE one of our troops.

by craverguy 2005-08-26 01:07PM | 0 recs

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The Map Is A Little Misguiding

I'm not arguing that Hackett wouldn't have a great chance to take out Dewine, but to say that he has a national following and national donor base? That's stretching it a little. His was the only race on the docket at a time when Dems and progressives are waking up. There was also an excellent netroots campaign to build up name ID and solicit donations during the void of other races. It's the nature of a special election. Give those same donors the choice between a local election in 2006 and giving to an Ohio candidate, and you'll see a markedly different fundraising plan and outcome.

by CAat14K 2005-08-26 01:06PM | 0 recs

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Re: The Map Is A Little Misguiding

That is why if he is smart, he'll announce NOW! And get all that limited netroot money before it dries up.

Paul, if you're gonna do it, and you want our money, announce ASAP.

by jgarcia 2005-08-26 01:27PM | 0 recs

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Re: The Map Is A Little Misguiding

Even if he announced today, any netsroots money would trickle in at a fraction of the pace it did right before the election. He'd get an immediate bump, sure, but people are much more willing to give with a deadline. People did such an amazing job, Swing State and MyDD in particular, of making everyone feel a part of the action on the ground they were excited to give money as the election loomed. If you look at when those donations came in, I'd wager the majority came in the last week or two before the votes were cast.

My issue is not with Paul running - I'd love to see him get in - it's with the false idea that there is a national donor base that could support him the same way. However, what he can and should do is leverage that success to go back to the major local and state donors who passed just a few months ago. Now that he has proven them wrong with a demonstrated appeal and success, they'll open their wallets this time around and make him a strong challenger (from the money side of things) from the get go.

by CAat14K 2005-08-26 02:25PM | 0 recs

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Well, I ponied up with money last time

and I'm willing to donate again right away. But funds are limited and by the time he announces, McCaskill, Casey, or someone else may have gotten my money instead. Timing is important, that is all I'm saying. Strike those eight-thousand donors while the iron is still hot.

by jgarcia 2005-08-26 02:43PM | 0 recs

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Careful about this one

While DeWine's numbers are certainly awful, the worst in the country, there doesn't appear to be a specific reason for it. That always has the potential to be deceptive. It could be that Ohio voters are feeling gnarly and are down on all incumbents at the moment. But once a highly partisan free-for-all kicks in, they all go home and vote the way they usually vote. I don't know DeWine well, but if memory serves he was the king of all Ohio politics not more than a couple years ago. I mean, he was considered untouchable. Can someone from Ohio tell me what happened? Because if there isn't anything specific related to him, and he indeed gets a relative neophyte like Paul Hackett as an opponent, I don't think this is anything like a slam dunk. It would be a possibility, and an exciting one at that, but still favors DeWine.

by ColoDem 2005-08-26 03:20PM | 0 recs

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Re: Careful about this one

"While DeWine's numbers are certainly awful, the worst in the country, there doesn't appear to be a specific reason for it."

Actually, he's got the second-worst numbers in the Senate. Santorum's numbers are slightly worse.

by craverguy 2005-08-26 03:33PM | 0 recs

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is it me?

or is that map-graphic really shitty?

by NCDem 2005-08-26 03:52PM | 0 recs

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Re: is it me?

It does look like every man, woman, and child in New England donated to Hackett, doesn't it?

by craverguy 2005-08-26 03:55PM | 0 recs

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Re: is it me?

Grow Ohio has the original graphic.

http://www.growohio.org/story/2005/8/26/85313/3174
http://www.growohio.org/images/user/6/HackettContributor.jpg

by ignatzmouse 2005-08-26 06:36PM | 0 recs

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Aim high

President Hacket

He's a straight shooter which is pretty much all Bush had going for him and that was all false. He's a war veteran with a head on his shoulders. He's a regular joe and to my knowledge has no policy record with which to bash him. He's attractive and has a good name. He has charisma and can hold his own in a conversation on a talk show. Saw him on Real Time with Bill Maher (not that he was in enemy territory). He's not from New York or Texas. And on top of that it would be refreshing to have someone that wasn't a dirty politician stand up and take a shot at the highest office in the land. Wouldn't that shake things up a bit. Is it realistic? I hope all those things are realistic. I would hope anyone can be President and not just those that play in the political sandbox all their lives. Okay fine, Clark/Hacket, Obama/Hacket, Clinton/Hacket... Im just having fun. Its fun to think about how close he came in Ohio.

by jrflorida 2005-08-26 06:00PM | 0 recs

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Re: Aim high

Obama/Hackett 2012. I like the sound of that.

by jkfp2004 2005-08-26 07:41PM | 0 recs

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Re: Make that for 2017

I prefer to think of eight years of a Democratic administration beginning in January 2009 first.

by InigoMontoya 2005-08-26 10:42PM | 0 recs

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Re: Make that for 2017

No reason in the world that fresh faces can't win. They just have to be 35 right? Why is it old farts are the only ones with a chance? Is it experience and wisdom? Not likely, I think someone younger people have just as much wisdom. And its not like the experience of slime and politics is really all that great of a benefit. The youth vote comes out, the black vote comes out, the veteran vote comes out, the voters that don't vote because they hate people that are from the system come out, and on top of that the anti-Bush vote will be out. No mud to sling that can stick and their young enough and hungry enough to give a good fight. Once they are in the system they will wither and as has already been shown, as Senators, Obama and Hacket reduce their chances from a historical perspective. Of course Im suggesting something that goes against the norm and it certainly would never happen. No one has those kind of balls among liberals. They are at least more exciting than any other Democratic candidate I can think of outside of Clark. As good as Hillary is and as much as I would like to see a Clinton in if only to snub the nose of every righteous conservative ass out there and as much as I would like to see a woman President...she can't win.

by jrflorida 2005-08-27 06:20AM | 0 recs

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Re: Make that for 2017

At this point it's nuts to either a) concede a Democratic defeat in 2008, regardless of candidate (three years is an eternity) or b) entertain the notion of challenging a Democratic incumbent who won in 2008.

Nota bene: I have had considerable reservations about HRC as a candidate and was despondent through much of Nov/Dec 2004 over the prospect.

But looking at the poll numbers over the past few months, I think there are some underlying political tectonic plate shifts and they haven't stopped shifting yet...the 2006 elections may give us a good read.

There were people for John Kerry solely because they thought he was electable. Being against HRC solely because you think she's unelectable is just as shakey.

My own anecdotal experience has had me run into several people who would now vote for HRC, including some who, if I were smoking a cigar, would have made me swallow it.

HRC as a candiate has her flaws and all candidates come with baggage. But she possesses one quality that JK did not have and that no other Democratic contender has in the same quantity: ability to inspire passion. Russ Feingold can get a sliver of the Democratic voting population wildly enthusiastic but then so did Dennis Kucinich. Wes Clark has broader appeal but I think it's more cereberal. If I had to bet $100 right now, I'd say it's an HRC/Clark ticket. But 2-1/2 years is also an eternity.

by InigoMontoya 2005-08-27 10:26AM | 0 recs

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Re: Make that for 2017

Ahh, well now Clark would help put her over. She has charsma and I would LOVE for her to be President (as long as it doesnt lead to banning guns) I just think there are too many people that hate Hillary and too much of a past for the Repugs to play with. And that last part is important because history shows it works. There are too many simple minded people in this country that love to feed off of their crap. I don't know that these recent poll numbers mean that they've woken up to their games.

by jrflorida 2005-08-28 07:01AM | 0 recs

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What does DeWine's map look like?

Just out of curiosity, could someone create a comparable map of DeWine's donors? The difference would be interesting.

by JBLIII 2005-08-26 08:25PM | 0 recs

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Hm i can see a

Hackett president but that is in 2020's area for now i am focusing on getting him in the Senate race and than helping him win if the Dems. screw up 08 he may be considered. The 2012 primary would probibly be a Schweitzer/Hackett/ 5 losers from 2008 but thats getting ahead of myself with everything going agenst the GOP the Dems. might just win in 08. as for 2006 +4 gain is looking more and more possible we will at least get 4 if we run a good campiain Nationwide. and i would say a +6 gain is possible in the House.

by Liberal 2005-08-27 05:38PM | 0 recs

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YES!

GO HACKETT!!

I'm so glad that he's considering a run for the Senate. He would certainly make a strong candidate and a great representative for Ohio. I donated to him before and I'll do so again if he decides to run.

by roller 2005-09-13 10:47PM | 0 recs