Another Dem Vet Candidate
Count Army major Tammy Duckworth as one of the most interesting potential DCCC recruits, in IL 06 -- Henry Hyde's old district. (See today's House Race Hotline) Duckworth, a triple amputee, sustained critical injuries as a Black Hawk pilot in the war in Iraq. She has been coy about her intentions, and her policy views are not publicly known. Dems shouldn't make the mistake of assuming the messenger trumps the message, but if she runs on a centrist/pro-business economic platform without being reflexively anti-war -- this has the potential to be an interesting candidacy. [JOSH KRAUSHAAR]
If she isn't "reflexively anti-war" -- then she must not have very good reflexes. When the Hotline pushes the Administration line on being anti-war, despite all of the polls, it hurts your credibility.
I'm not sure of the feeling in IL-6 on the war, but in the vast majority of the country its now deeply unpopular, a sentiment that is likely only to grow. Unless you guys know polling numbers specific to IL-6 that show they're out-of-touch with mainstream America on this issue, I don't understand why being anti-war would be a drawback.
Speaking of vets in House races and triple amputees: Max Cleland was in MN on Veterans' Day for a fundraiser for Command Sgt Major (Ret) Tim Walz. www.timwalz.org
This post pushes the administration line? Where, in the fact she's a triple amputee?
the fact that duckworth lives outside the district, remains (currently) on active duty, and can't self-finance suggests that she is unlikely to create much interest from the democrats who will vote in this primary. the first person the dccc 'cultivated' to run in this race recently dropped out because he wasn't able to raise money. it doesn't seem likely that duckworth will do any better. it's hard to believe that she'll improve over, say, wesley clarke, among democratic primary voters.
remember: it's the war, stupid! even republicans are unhappy about that conundrum.
but it's not just that emmanuel will undoubtedly abandon her when she's failed to meet his fund-raising expectations, rahm just doesn't have a good record in tbe recruitment of democratic candidates who actually appeal to democratic voters. he certainly seems to go out of his way to alienate democratic activists! good ole chicago machine politics -- people just don't matter! it's all about the power...
What's wrong with the candidate who pulled 42% against Henry Hyde in 2004 on a budget of only $100,000? Christine Cegelis is in the race again, you know. Emanuel told her she must raise $150,000 to get DCCC support. She raised $160,000. And instead of supporting her, Emanuel is "urgently seeking an alternative candidate". What's the real story here? Could it be ideology? If so, why is that the business of Rahm and not that of the voters of Cegalis's district?
shes not a triple amputee, she is a double