Nelson in '08?
Poll put Hagel near bottom of GOP's list for 2008
Then there's Sen. Ben Nelson, who didn't make the list of preferred Democratic contenders among 465 Democrats in the Gallup Poll. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, the former first lady, took top honors.That didn't stop Nelson from issuing a neutral comment about a 2008 presidential bid Tuesday on his regular conference call with Nebraska reporters.
Nelson was discussing the advantages that former governors - and he is one - have in running for president compared with lawmakers. A reporter asked: Should we expect a Nelson bid in 2008?
"I wouldn't take it off the table, but I'm certainly not making that announcement today," Nelson said. "And I'll tell you what, if I make that announcement, I'll do it in Nebraska."
Tough picking between Bayh, Warner and Nelson for my taste, but I'd be pretty inclined to bump Nelson up a notch depending on what he can show in terms of campaign skills and selling his brand of politics among Dems outside of Nebraska. If he's serious, I'd have to put him a slight notch above Bayh in my own internal rankings. Granted, there's a few days left before I have to really get analytical about all of this .....
Comments
As I recall, Nelson barely his election in 2000 after getting destroyed by Hagel in his prior run. I suspect he should be more worried about his re-election in 2006 than any long-shot Presidential bid in 2008.
Posted by: Peter Bryant | November 17, 2004 12:13 PM
I've read everything from Nelson would bow out of a Senate re-election campaign if the Nebraska Gov steps in to the Presidential aspirations mentioned above.
Posted by: Greg Wythe | November 17, 2004 12:17 PM
I think Bayh having experience as governor gives him far more credibility as a presidential candidate than Nelson.
Posted by: Susan | November 17, 2004 02:18 PM
Nelson is a former Governor as well. The only thing lacking for him is that his name hasn't been in American political discourse for the last 40 years.
Posted by: Greg Wythe | November 17, 2004 02:25 PM
CNN reported this afternoon that Nelson was offered the position of Secretary of Agriculture. I would guess that he turned it down since there seemed to be no response from the whitehouse. Rove was said to have talked to him but would not comment about it.
Posted by: Jack | November 17, 2004 05:59 PM