Why would Schumer and Reid be so stupid as to create

[acmavm]

another issue that guarantees more friction in the Dem Party? Why did they just assume Ohio dems need them to decide who they want for a candidate? And didn't they realize that the anger wouldn't be confined to just the state of Ohio, but that it would become a national issue? Don't they understand we are sick of the 'status quo'? We are tired of those that feel they are entitled to run for office? Don't they understand we're sick and tired of our representatives pandering to the republican party and the bush** administration?

This is just one controversy we didn't need and I have to say I sure as hell don't understand why they brought it on.

[OzarkDem]

1. Ohio Dems were already deciding the issue

Hackett was about 20 points behind in the polls.

[mikehiggins]

4. Link? n/t

[Lerkfish]

8. I'd also like to see a link. Since I live in the area, I've not seen any

reports on the poll. Perhaps I've just missed it.

[Aaaargh]

9. It's just more BS, the early polls have all been close

"Ohio Senate: Tight Race

DeWine Now Narrowly Leading over Hackett, Brown

Survey of 500 Likely Voters

January 3, 2005

Election 2006

Ohio Senator

Mike DeWine (R) 45%
Sherrod Brown (D) 40%
RasmussenReports.com


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Election 2006

Ohio Senator

Mike DeWine (R) 43%
Paul Hackett (D) 39%
RasmussenReports.com


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 7, 2006--Ohio Senator Mike DeWine has eked out a narrow lead over both potential Democratic opponents in his re-election effort, but the race remains hotly competitive.

The Republican incumbent enjoys an edge of 43% to 39% over Cincinnati-area lawyer Paul Hackett, and 45% to 40% over Congressman Sherrod Brown. Rasmussen Reports polling in mid-November and early December showed DeWine neck and neck with both contenders. Hackett then led DeWine by a single percentage point, while Brown trailed him by just two. The margin of sampling error in each of the polls is +/- 4.5 points.

Brown and Hackett appeal to many of the same constituencies, and especially those who think the President is doing a poor job in Iraq. In prospective contests with DeWine, Brown wins the support of 77% of those who believe President Bush is doing a poor job waging the war; Hackett wins 78%."
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/January%202006/Ohio%20Senator%20January%204.htm

Hackett had the longterm advantage of grassroots popularity and the prospect of national media coverage in connection to his House race with Schmidt. Brown is exactly the sort of insider candidate who's gone down to defeat repeatedly in statewide OH races over the last decade and a half. Brown now also has the albatross around his neck of Emanuel, Reid, and Schumer's openly corrupt string-pulling with big-money donors, to benefit his bid and prevent giving voters a chance to vote in a primary for a grassroots candidate. Sen. DeWine is smiling.

[Lerkfish]

10. I was trying to be polite, but that's my opinion as well. everything I'd

read thus far shows a lot smaller margin than 20 points.
I'd be interested in an ACTUAL link with that spread.

a lot of DUers seem intent on telling us its ok to backstab Hackett.

Now WHY would that be?

[mattclearing]

17. Who's saying it's alright to backstab him?

Hackett's a fine candidate. I think he's ahead of himself running for Senate after losing a House race. Too bad he already pledged not to run for the congressional seat. Brown is a good candidate as well. The national Dems shouldn't be involved in this.

[TomClash]

2. They voted for the War

and they want to stop any Dem who opposes it?

[Mass]

5. Brown voted against the war.

[RazzleDazzle]

11. No. They just want to keep their own club going and

they are afraid of maverick truth tellers like Hackett.

[mattclearing]

13. The fact that he was losing the primary and wasting resources

had nothing to do with it.

[RazzleDazzle]

15. but he wasn't -- he was very close to Brown

[mattclearing]

16. Link?

[CTyankee]

3. I don't know either, but as I've said on another post

if Hackett just up and quits politics over this, then maybe he's not cut out for the game. It doesn't make him bad, he just wants what he wants on his own terms. Nothing wrong with that, but politics don't work that way all the time. Don't get me wrong: I thought Hackett was a rising star and would have loved to see him be a senator from Ohio. This may not have been a bad thing for Hackett or for us progressives. He might have wound up very frustrated over the machinations that go on in the Senate. Maybe he just couldn't take it. I hope he does something in public service. We sure could use his voice and his talents.

[asjr]

6. I agree with you. What I would like to see

is Hackett give the witch Schmidt another run. He could win the next time.

[Donna Zen]

12. Maybe he doesn't like the stench.

....Hackett isn't saying anything I have not suspected. And Hackett has already served his country; in fact, when I think about it, I think he can more than "take it." But fighting with one arm tied behind your back and team that stabs you in the back, is a team to stay away from.

[Lerkfish]

7. It was a chickencrap WAY to do it. If they felt Hackett needed to go,

which I disagree with, I think the better solution was to have them both go after different offices, but regardless, even if they felt he had to go, going behind his back to donors is something Tom Delay would do.

completely underhanded and unnecessary tactic.

[CTyankee]

14. Chickencrap about sums it up

Politics is usually a brutal game. Just look at what happened to that poor lawyer who worked for Clinton and committed suicide.

[FlaNoKerry]

18. They are doing this in Florida too!

Against the candidate who did the best in the state of Florida! She is the hero who ran against Katherine Harris....she should have done the worst! She is the only one who came in within 10% in the US house races in Florida. She got 45% in a district that is 32% dem. She almaost turned it blue...and what do they do? They help the sorry opponent she beat last time by 25%!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, Emanual is very telling...
They are working very hard to keep things red there too....Ohio & Florida


:shrug:

[radio4progressives]

19. Good Question... Will some people please Call Schumer's office

and ask that question? and then report back the responses of course, ;)

:applause:

[neverevergivein]

20. Alito, Hacket, none of these matter

because we'll all bitch and complain...and then vote for who they (Reid and company) tell us to in November. I wish there was another way.

[rockymountaindem]

21. I don't think this was the plan.

I think they were trying to push him into the Congressional race, he couldn't do that because he had already given his word not to. Not wanting to go down hard in the primary, he pulled out and covered his tracks saying he had been pressured.

Now, maybe there was some pressure, but I don't think the party wanted him to quit entirely, just run for a different seat.