I love it when someone besides me says we are living in the twilight of a new progressive era.
This time it's Joe Trippi, in today's Washington Post.
Trippi offers an "assessment" of the leading would-be Democratic presidents for the 2008 race. I've pasted the top three below. Three, because once you get to Al Gore, there is no place else you need to go. (And Feingold is not going to run anyway.)
If we're talking about a president who has the imagination, the vision, the ability, and the heart to lead the nation into a roaring progressive era, we're talking about President Al Gore.
Did I mention that no potential candidate can come near Al Gore when it comes to exciting the base? When David Gregory mentions in passing that Al Gore wants to run in 2008, posters at dkos talk endlessly on the subject. And they talk about throwing bodies in front of speeding trains, or giving their heart and soul to the campaign, if only Al Gore will run!
"Because a planet is a terrible thing to waste" -- "RUN, DAMMIT, RUN!!!"
So, here's some of what Trippi has to say about the looming birth of a new progressive era and about the candidates for the job of ushering in the progressive era. Like I said, three is the magic number.
The voters want change, and they will make it happen. I'm going to make one bold prediction about 2008: Thanks to changes in communications and technology, one of the candidates on my list will raise $500 million, almost all of it from ordinary citizens contributing less than $100 each. Don't believe it? Wait and see. It'll happen, and we'll witness the birth of a new progressive era that could last a generation or more.
So the party's presidential hopefuls won't be fighting just for the nomination, but for the historic chance to help launch that era. As they stand on the threshold of the presidential cycle, here's my assessment of the individual prospects of the many would-be presidents from a resurgent Democratic Party.
Front-runner: Hillary Rodham Clinton
She has it all -- the ability to raise the money; a political team that's among the best, if not the best, in the party; a strong base of support; and an uncanny ability to avoid political mistakes. And I don't care what anyone says -- her husband is one of two rock stars in the Democratic Party and a huge asset.
Ironically, the problem with Clinton's candidacy arises from her strength. Front-runners have something to lose, so they almost always run cautious, safe campaigns. This almost cost John Kerry the nomination in 2004, and could cost the senator from New York the nomination in 2008. Her strength also creates the certainty that a campaign of bold new ideas will emerge to oppose her. She is so strong within the party that, with so many contemplating a run against her, the only viable option for a serious challenger is to put forth innovative ideas in hopes of breaking out of the pack. And there are plenty in the Democratic Party who are capable of doing that.
The "Other" Rock Star: Barack Obama
He's the one candidate who can wrestle Bill Clinton for support in the black community and win. All the others are both thrilled about and terrified of this guy. They're thrilled that he might take black votes from Hillary. They're terrified because he might take a lot more votes from them and become a co-front-runner the day he enters the race, if he does. Obama's obvious downside is inexperience. Three years ago, he was an Illinois state senator; in 2008, he will not have completed his first U.S. Senate term. So he had better have some ideas -- or wait till next time.
The Oxygen Taker: Al Gore
Talk about setting a progressive agenda with bold new ideas. The man is doing it and he doesn't even have a job. In a party that tends to treat its past nominees like lepers, Gore has done an amazing job of reemerging as an important thought leader on issues such as the Iraq war and global warming. If he throws his hat into the ring, he will immediately suck all the oxygen out of the room for most of the other candidates. The media won't be able to stop doing the Hillary vs. Al 800-pound-gorillas-go-at-it stories. Everyone but Obama will be reduced to begging for attention. But entering the race means he suddenly would have something to lose. Could candidate Gore stop himself from playing it safe?
Re-elect Al Gore!
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