Matthews inches closer to Senate run; picks out Philly house, discusses quitting MSNBC

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: Politico

Chris Matthews is dead serious about running for the Senate in Pennsylvania — and is shopping for a house in the state and privately discussing quitting MSNBC as proof of his intense interest, according to NBC colleagues, political operatives and friends.

Even so, some NBC insiders think it’s all simply a negotiating ploy to jack up his contract.

The garrulous host of the show "Hardball with Chris Matthews" has already picked out a home in Philadelphia to establish residency in the state, according to a Democratic operative in discussions with him about a potential candidacy. Over Thanksgiving weekend, at his vacation house in Nantucket, Matthews’ family members gave him their full backing.

As speculation surrounding his potential candidacy heats up, Matthews has also been asking advisers whether to step down from his MSNBC post well before his contract expires in June. At one recent meeting, he was advised that if he truly intends to run, he should resign from the network as soon as possible.

“We talked about the value of doing this now and six months from now. I advocated that he do this as soon as possible,” the operative said. “It’s the MSNBC stuff that’s going to jam him up. I said, 'If you want to be a U.S. senator, step up and get into the race.'”...

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16190.html

[tekisui]

1. Depending on which Matthews show up, he could be one helluva

a Senator grilling a corporate crook in a hearing.

[Gman]

2. I assume as a Democrat

but would he run against Arlon Spector? Is Spector stepping down?

[DeepModem Mom]

4. He would run as a Democrat; Specter is not stepping down. nt

[Gman]

8. Not good... he won't win

Democrats crossed over to vote in the GOP primary for Spector in 04. The AFL-CIO endorsed Spector in the GE in 04. Spector is a friend to many groups on this side. He should have run against Santorrum when he had the chance.

[AllentownJake]

10. Depends if Specter survives the primary

Toomey is eyeing another challenge and this Matthews running is doing nothing but encouraging him.

Toomey lost the primary in 2004 by 2 points.

Moderate republicans in 2004 are now democrats thanks to the PA primary in 2008. There is going to be a competitive dem race for govenor at the least so people are not going to be switching back.

[femmocrat]

6. Specter is running for re-election although he will be 80 in 2010.

Heard it on local radio this week.

[AllentownJake]

9. Toomey

In 2004 Toomey lost the GOP nomination by 2 points. Thanks to the PA primary Specter could lose by 4-8 points because the moderates are now democrats.

[goforit]

3. He loves Washington. Let him try.

[femmocrat]

5. I think Hoeffel got it right.

It would take more than a "listening tour" to convince Pennsylvanians that he isn't a carpetbagger. How long has it been since he actually lived here?

[AllentownJake]

7. He's going to have a primary challenger

The question is what does Ed Rendell do. If he stays out of it, it will be an intersting race if not and he endorses Matthews...Matthews will be the democratic nominee.

Specter is going to be running against Toomey again and is probably going to lose. The GOP in PA has nothing to offer him to stay out of the race.

[guruoo]

12. The 140 yr old "carpetbagger" label no longer seems to carry much weight with voters

e.g., Senator Clinton with New Yorkers, Governor Bush with Texans

Origin: 1868

Before the grip (1879), the suitcase (1902), the tote bag (1900), and the Backpack (1914) had their days as travel accessories of choice, Americans traveling light packed their belongings in carpetbags, invented in the 1830s. Long before Samsonite, the carpetbag was valued for its durability, for it was made of two sturdy pieces of carpet sewn together to which handles were attached.

It was this carpetbag that Northern adventurers brought with them to the South after the Civil War, having little in the way of luggage to slow them down as they sought political office and profit in the land of their defeated enemy. North and South, carpetbaggers were denounced. "A great deal of bitterness has been shown in all the conventions in regard to the presence, and great prominence as members, of what the Louisiana people call 'carpet-baggers'--men, that is, who are new-comers in the country," wrote a Northern reporter in 1868. "I would sooner trust the Negro than the white scalawag or carpet-bagger," declared one unreconstructed white southerner in that same year.

http://www.answers.com/carpetbagger

[AlinPA]

11. His chameleon stances makes him look like another Lieberman. We don't need the slob.

[Veracious]

19. B I N G O

But what the heck, give him a shot.

[PSPS]

13. These media personalities never get very far in politics

These guys are "life in a bubble" personified. All day they're in the company of sycophants and call-in "fans." So they think they're the shit when, in the real world, most people know nothing about them. They always fail badly when put in front of the public without the benefit of "screeners."

[scytherius]

14. Well, the more Dems in the Senate the better, but I am no fan of Matthews

ya never know which one you are gonna get.

But moving toward 70 Senate seats . . . well, I'll tolerate him. =)

[JDwho]

15. I think seeing him run would be great fun...

and if he wins, that's just one more Dem. in the senate. That wouldn't hurt my feelings at all.

You never can really know, but sometimes it seems that Matthews thrives in the political environment

and could possibly be a nice addition to the senate.

[tom_paine]

16. Matthews has no principles at all, he is a vile empty shell and his whole empty life is a "campaign"

according to his grotesque and very revealing latest book (so I hear, I wouldn't waste my time reading it), so said Jon Stewart.

It is common said, Neither side trusts a traitor, and I can think of few whom that applies to more truly than Tweety.

He is weak-minded, cowardly, self-absorbed fool, and if he was "on your side" during a fight, if things looked bad, he may switch sides in mid-stream and choose to strike at the easoest target...the backs of his former "allies".

I very much hope we PA Democrats are not so stupid to nominate this disgrace of a human being, and the worst kind of Nancy Pelosi Democrat...or perhaps even a little worse, just a little, a Lieberman Democrat.

[geckosfeet]

17. Not quitting MSNBC - becoming the politcal arm of MSNBC.

[UTUSN]

18. “At least the liberal base of the party liked Franken. The liberal base really dislikes Matthews.”

HAH!1

[catbyte]

20. SmirkingChimp

.com has a good article about what a disaster Matthews would be. It's a pretty good read.

Diane

"Tales of the hunt will glorify the hunter until lions have their own historians."--African proverb