Thursday, March 28, 2024
Miles from the Mainstream
D. R. ZUKERMAN, proprietor
The 2008 Presidential Race

MAY 29, 2006 --

U.S. Senator Christopher J. Dodd said last week that he was thinking about running for president -- if he can raise enough money for the campaign.

Sen. Dodd made the statement on the Don Imus radio (and MSNBC) program, last week. Dodd, a politician regular on the Imus program, indicated that he wanted to cool today's heated atmosphere
in Washington, and get the country back on track.

For LPR, though, a presidential quest determined by dollars is politics as usual, and not likely to change the atmosphere in D.C.

In the movie "Field of Dreams," the advice was -- "build it and they will come." Perhaps if a candidacy was based more on popular support than personal ambition, it could be said: If there is a groundswell, the campaign dollars will come.

Last week, LPR mentioned a Dennis Haysbert presidential candidacy, not aware that Mr. Haysbert (President Palmer on "24") told the Sydney Morning Herald, September 2004 that if he were president he'd bring U.S. troops back from Iraq as soon as possible.

 

Senator Chris Dodd outside of Yankee Stadium on October 20, 2004.


Mr. Haysbert, in Australia at the time, promoting "24", was also reported to have said he hoped President Bush would lose the 2004 election.

Seems to LPR that Mr. Haysbert would be amenable to a Democratic draft.
LPR would not be surprised if Mayor Bloomberg decided, after all, to run for president on a third party line.

One possible Bloomberg campaign slogan -- A billionaire who can't be bought.

Clearly, unlike Sen. Dodd, Mr. Bloomberg does not have to see if he can raise the
money for a presidential bid.