So why, exactly, is Brown running against Hackett in the Dem primary?

[UrbScotty]

Is it because Hackett lacks experience?

(note: edited to clarify)

[win_in_06]

1. I think Jimmy Durante said it best:

"Everybody wants to get into the act"

[BeachBuckeye]

2. Simple!

Because Brown figures he can beat DeWine. I believe he can too. Problem is that I think Hackett can beat him too. Two good men trying for one spot. I'll support whichever one wins.

[KittyWampus]

3. Maybe because Brown's been a successful liberal Ohio candidate & wants

to help move Ohio forward?

:shrug:

[EST]

4. Sherrod wants to be senator.

He's served his time and argued long into many nights to an empty house.

[Deep13]

5. He isn't. Sherrod is running against DeWine.

They both are. One could easily turn the question around and ask why Hackett is still running against Brown. Who knows, maybe Tim Ryan will throw his hat in.

[UrbScotty]

7. What I meant was, why is he running against Hackett in the primary? (nt)

[longship]

9. The facts speak differently.

Brown said he wouldn't run. Hackett jumped into the void. Then Chuck "DLC PAC" Schumer poked his nose in and convinced Brown to run against Hackett in an undoubtedly back alley effort to drive Hackett out of the race. That may have worked because Hackett now may pull out of politics which would be a sad, sad loss to the Dems. For what reason did Schumer interfere here? I want to know. Hell! We deserve an explanation.

[Deep13]

12. And you know that how?

:shrug:

[FrenchieCat]

6. Here's a great thread on a DUer who actually spoke

to Paul Hackett via telephone about this very issue!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5043045&mesg_id=5043045

[Cha]

25. Thanks, I hadn't seen

that. For some reason schumer doesn't want a man like Hackett in the Senate..could it be cause he's against the war on Iraq?

But, isn't Sherrod Brown, too, against the lying war?

[wiley]

8. They both have fire in the belly

Maybe Hackett wouldn't mind being the statewide spokesperson for Brown so that all of Ohio could become better aquainted with him for the next Senate or Congress race? I really wish they both could run for Senate. Maybe Brown could keep his seat in the House and help Hackett until the next race came up? Two great candidates.

[longship]

11. And maybe Sherrod Brown should reconsider his back stab.

And move the party forward by agreeing to not cave into interstate DLC PAC interference.

[Deep13]

13. Goddammit! This about recapturing the Senate.

It has nothing to do with the personal dynamics between Hackett and Brown.

Sherros had no duty to sit this one out and neither Hackett nor anyone else has an absolute right to be the nominee.

[longship]

17. Do you mean other than the backstab, or in spite of it?

So what's Paul Hackett to do? Just pack up and go home because one Senator in another state doesn't like his politics?

And what does this say about the New York Senator who has his shorts all in a bunch about a race in another state to the point that a perfectly good candidate is going to be wasted now.

Brown stepped aside first. Then, Hackett jumped in. It was only after this happened that Schumer backroom backstabbed him.

This stinks to high heaven and if you cannot understand that then you need to put your priorities in order. Politics as usual? I don't want these kind of dirty deals as part of my party. There's already another party for that.

[Deep13]

18. It is irrelevant.

I'm hearing rumors about Shumer's involvement, but it sounds like Rovian spin. People around here (Ohio) are not typically fans of him. "Chuck Shumer made sure Brown ran so he could take your guns away!" That shit sells around here.

My priority is winning in November. The interaction among Democrats in lining up a winning ticket is not where your attention should be. This is a war, not a soap opera. I don't care if Sherrod screwed Hackett's wife, stole his car and burnt his house done. Winning in November is the only thing that matters. This is how the game is played and won. You should understand how the big kids play before getting into the sandbox.

The Freepers must be eating this up.

[longship]

22. See my post in GD-P

www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2155411&mesg_id=2155411

[MaineDem]

10. Whom would you rather decide the candidate?

"The party" or the voters?

That's what primaries are for. May the best candidate win and go on to beat DeWine!

[Deep13]

14. Neither one has been that good at it.

Anyway, who is the better man is not the issue. The issue is who can beat DeWine and that means organizational, fundraising and campaign management skills. If the party leadership is nervous about P.H., that is the reason.

[Awsi Dooger]

23. Sorry, the lame neutral approach is exactly what gets us in trouble

I want the party to decide. No question about it. I must have emphasized that in dozens of posts since 2002. The masses have a remarkable affinity for incorrect priorities and rationale. Like Kerry being the most electable. We desperately need an all powerful party chief who handicaps every state and race and mandates the nominee. It's incredibly understated how Rove's skill and bully tactics in that regard have contributed to the GOP numbers climb, especially in the senate.

The problem right now is our handicapping blows. Schumer is eager to force out the wrong guy. I absolutely guartantee Rove and the GOP, between problems of their own, are hitting the floor in a seizure of laughter while we try to nominate a near-certain loser in Sherrod Brown.

Newsflash: it's Ohio. Statewide race. Take a wild guess who's going to win if you put up a career long certified liberal against an incumbent Republican who is not wrecked by scandal. If it's Brown versus DeWine, I'll bet on DeWine and win. No sense limiting my correct handicap to a mere I-told-ya-so.

[bemildred]

15. Anti-war candidates must be stopped.

Especially if they might win in Republican districts,
thus letting the cat out the bag that anti-war positions
are a political winner.

[Dr Fate]

21. Is he anti- war, per se, or anti-Bush? n/t

n/t

[sendero]

16. Go Hackett...

.... this party need new blood and he's got it.

Politics is not a game of "if is survive long enough I get a promotion". That is exactly what is WRONG with politics.

SO, we have an upstart firebrand that almost pulled off the upset of the decade in southern Ohio against another entrenched, known quantity pol - who will do better against DeWine?

Doesn't even sound like much of a question to me.

[Deep13]

19. I think you have mischaracterized the 2nd dist. race.

Schmidt was not exactly entrenched. My recollection was that she was a city councilor for a suburban town. Anyway, she was not Rob Portman, the previous Congressman. That was the only Congressional race in 2005 and it had national attention and resources. Getting 48% in his own back yard against a so-so opponent is nothing to brag about. If that is all he got there, how well can he do statewide against a well known, reasonably liked, well funded incumbent with all that Ohio corruption has to offer on his side? Plus, the anti-abortion and anti-gay and paranoid about loosing our guns vote will be squarely in DeWine's pocket. Don't get me wrong. I like Hackett, but don't let zest for change blind you to the unpleasant facts. A Senate race is no place for training wheels.

You people who paint Sherrod as a business as usual political hack are just plain dead wrong. Those of us who know him know better. By the way, this state does not like firebrands. People want stability and predictability. Usually, they want incumbents.

[Kukesa]

24. Getting 48% in OH-2 is something to brag about.

This is the district that voted 30% to 70% for Rob Portman in past races. It also contains the zip code that contributes more to the Repubs than anywhere else in the country.

I don't like Mean Jean at all, but if you're correct about DeWine and his conservative camp, you also need to mention that Jean was the president of the area's Right to Life movement.

Oh, and Hackett is against gun control. That plays to the rural communities.

[Dr Fate]

20. May the best man win. I kind of like Paul Hackett. n/t

n/t