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PA-Sen: Matthews Won't Run

by: James L.

Wed Jan 07, 2009 at 11:07 PM EST

So sayeth the Politico:

Before "Hardball" today, Chris Matthews informed the show's staff in a production meeting that he's not running for Senate, according to a network source.

The NY Times confirms it. All I can say is: good. Maybe now we can get to the task of finding a real candidate to run against Specter.

James L. :: PA-Sen: Matthews Won't Run

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PA-Sen: Matthews Won't Run | 14 comments

So much good "I'm not running" news.

Between this and Jeb, I'd say the last couple days have been satisfying. But yeah, now we need a real candidate. I personally think Ed Rendell should take a shot at Specter. What else is he going to do after 2010?

by: nrimmer @ Wed Jan 07, 2009 at 22:20:38 PM CST

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now I just need to wait for T-Mac

to announce that he's not running either.

Bill Posey is not half-alligator...and is outclassed by Davy Crockett anyway: http://www.washingtonmonthly.c...

by: Glenn Magus Harvey @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 00:22:22 AM CST

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I concur

However, I wonder if I have been too hard on McAuliffe. His tenure didn't produce the results that I wanted, but a friend of mine who loves T-Mac said that he laid the groundwork for Dean's and the Dems success in 2006. I don't know if he deserves any credit for 2006.

If he wins the primary, I don't see him winning in Virginia, no matter how much money he's able to raise. I think the GOP would have a field day with him as the Democratic nominee.

by: Tarheeman1993 @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 09:31:23 AM CST

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Another candidate I hope won't run in 2010

is Arlen Specter. We shouldn't kid ourselves, he would be tough to beat. He still has a (undeserved) reputation as a moderate and he can attract a lot of otherwise Democratic voters.
One trend I have noticed in recent elections is that younger Iraq veterans running for Congress don't do well. Ashwin Madia, Tammy Duckworth, Jon Powers all ran high-profile races and had disappointing losses. Patrick Murphy is the rare exception, he just barely won in 2006. Given the trend, it's not likely that Patrick Murphy to be able to win against Arlen Specter statewide. Nonetheless I still want Patrick Murphy to run for the Senate seat.

by: duffman @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 02:35:31 AM CST

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Specter

is all over the board in his political positions. He can come off as fairly moderate on some issues, and then negate it by being mostly pro-gun.

I hope he doesn't run either. If he survives the GOP primary, he will have a decent shot of being reelected. The one positive is that he will be 80 years old in 2010, which is fairly old for even the Senate. Plus, he's had some serious medical issues the last 4 years, which has to play in the electorate's mind.

by: Tarheeman1993 @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 09:36:21 AM CST

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Older Senators have won reelection easily

Lautenberg and Byrd come to mind. I think most voters really don't care if their Senator is older than dirt.

by: duffman @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 10:48:24 AM CST

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Off topic

Say Byrd dies (sadly he seems to be ailing very quickly), are we presuming the most likely scenario is Manchin selects a placehoder then runs for the seat himself?

by: conspiracy @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 11:12:22 AM CST

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I think so

He's young and already in his second term as Governor. I have little doubt he wants to be Senator eventually. A placeholder is the best bet. Manchin may be a bit to the right of Byrd but I think he'd be a good Senator. He'd destroy Capito in a Senate race.

by: ChadInFL @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 11:15:35 AM CST

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Thought so

I imagine being a little to the right probably helps in the WV of today anyway.

by: conspiracy @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 11:29:19 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Yes

Byrd and Rockefeller may get some flak from the Kos and the other liberal blogs, but we're lucky to have them for so long. Both are a good deal left of West Virginia ideologically. They skate by unchallenged more on incumbency than anythign else. In an open seat race we'd probably have to run someone more moderate like Manchin.

by: ChadInFL @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 11:55:36 AM CST

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Somewhat...

Byrd is definitely more liberal than West Virginia, and we're lucky to have him. But I don't think that West Virginians are right wing in the sense that they shouted for telecom immunity. Cough, Jay Rockefeller, cough.

John McCain lets lobbyists shape his economic policy

by: cilerder86 @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 17:53:41 PM CST

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