Good Move: Paul Hackett steps aside from Ohio Senate race
On the surface, I was disappointed to hear that Paul Hackett had been "asked" to step aside by Dem leaders in his bid for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate race in Ohio. He has a good message and showed that he can give a Republican in a Republican stronghold a run for her money.
But from a strategic point of view, I must say that this appears to be a good decision for the Democrats. Hackett's message is the war, but Ohio's fate is more likely to turn this year on ethics. Brown can sell that message. Brown also has much more financial support and legislative experience that he can leverage in the Senate. Hackett is a newbie who might be better served by trying to get into the House first.
I like Hackett, but it doesn't do the Dems much good to have Brown and Hackett beat each other up and have just one of them standing to fight in November. They need to spread themselves around to gain more numbers rather than concentrating in the same race.
The Republicans have eaten the Dems' lunch over the last 12 years when it comes to election strategy. It's high time that the Dems start to employ effective strategic planning of their own to counter the Repubs' strength. I believe this is an example of that. It may seem a bit cruel on the surface, but it really is the right thing to do. Hopefully, Hackett will realize this and take another run at a House seat.
posted by DrewL @ 6:10 PM
2 bucket fillers
2 Comments:
As I said in your response to my post, I see your point--I still believe, though, that the Dems shouldn't have begged this guy to run for the Senate chair, if the intent all along was to have Brown run. They sure as hell shouldn't be calling donors and trying to shut down somebody's campaign (allegedly). Those are the two issues I have a real problem with. If two guys are running, the Party shouldn't be all Mafioso about it Let the chips fall where they may--let them run, let the voters choose the candidate that fits them, and get behind the guy that wins.
And I don't disagree--Hackett probably has a better shot at beating Jean Schmidt in a House district where everyone knows where he stands, than to take whatever small momentum from a special election and try to translate that into a Senate victory statewide within less than a year.
It certainly wasn't a pretty way to ask the guy to leave the race. Obviously, politics isn't pretty; it's dirty business. And Hackett is finding that out the hard way.
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