Is it true that Ben Afflack may run for Senate in VA?

[Dying Eagle]

I heard it on CBS news the other mourning. Anyone else hear this rumor? Could it happen?

[sniffa]

1. as a dem?

[Dying Eagle]

2. Yes

The story said state Dem's are try to convince Afflack to run for US Senate. Reports also said that Afflack was looking to buy a house in VA

[Dying Eagle]

3. link

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/26/AR2005092601991.html

[Poppyseedman]

4. Why would the party want Ben Afflack to run for the Senate???

How about a House seat to prove he actually knows a thing or two besides acting.

Not ripping the guy, but does he even have a brain ??? Does he own a spine to stand up and be counted???

Huge difference between pretending to be a politician and actually working as one

[Dying Eagle]

5. I know

but take your pick Afflack or Allen? I'll take Afflack any time!

[Poppyseedman]

6. There is no possible way for Afflack to beat Allen

I can already see the commercials

[Dying Eagle]

7. Yeah

Tell that to California, noway Arnold would become Governor

[Poppyseedman]

9. Please, lets get real

Afflack isn't Arnold and Allen isn't straddled with Gray Davis problems

Davis was recalled is the only reason the Governator is there in the first place

Not even in the same ball park

[Dying Eagle]

10. but remember

when we all heard that Arnold was running for Gov, we LOFAO. If was a huge joke. No way Davis will be recalled! No way Arnold would replace him! Then as the campaign started and we got to see him in action we started to realize Arnold had a shot. So don't count out Afflack just yet.

[TheVirginian]

12. Virginia isn't California. Absolutely no way anyone from Hollywood wins

Especially against Allen.

[delete_bush]

8. Aflac!

[abluelady]

11. I heard John Grisham

has been approached. That makes lots more sense to me that Affleck. I believe that Grisham could beat Allen.

[lynne]

13. Hello!! This is VIRGINIA - the Old Dominion - one of

the original 13 colonies, the "Home Of Presidents", for God's sake!

Why would anyone consider sticking VA - or any state, for that matter - with a candidate that has never held an elected office?? I really don't think its too much to ask for a candidate that has some minimal public office experience to run as Senator.

Personally, to consider running someone based on their popularity and name recognition value alone without regard to their inexperience in serving the public is - IMO - a slap in the face of each Virginian. Certainly we can do better than that!

[Duppers]

14. name recognition matters most

If they can elect actors, so can we. What is of most importance is that the candidate be progressive, liberal, have some brains, and a heart in the right place.

Idiots can hold office in Virginia--that's well-proved. I'd match this actor's brain against Allen's any day.

I have little faith in the electorate these days; they settle for mediocrity and a name. We could do worse than Ben Affleck, who could be a place-holder til we got a better dem.

[Duppers]

16. I take every word back. Affleck is an idiot. How 'bout John Grisham?

After seeing Affleck being so inarticulate on Bill Maher tonight, I'm for looking around for another possible candidate.

I wish we could talk John Grisham into running. He's a brilliant man, novelist, and an attorney.

[lynne]

19. A name recognized as "Hollywood Elite" -

- has a snowball's chance in hell in Virginia. If you don't know that then you don't know the first thing about the people of this state.

Name recognition may be important but where that name is recognized from is even MORE important. They can run Affleck up the pole if they want but it will be a waste of time and money and will just give us another lost election.

[Penndems]

21. Here, here Lynne - so true

There's Arlington and Fairfax Counties, and then there's the rest of the state. And the rest of the state most certainly doesn't think like Northern Virginia.

Mention Ben Affleck's name to folks outside the Beltway and they think:

1. Hollywood actor (Liberal)

2. From Massachusetts (Yankee Liberal)

3. Moving into a Southern state (Damn Yankee Liberal)

Moderate or conservative Dems they're more accepting of. Liberals just absolutely *DO NOT* get elected to the Governor's Mansion or to Congress.

[safi0]

15. There's widespread belief

Among VA Republicans that John Warner will not seek re-election in 08, if that occurs the man who's being talked up as a possible replacement for him is former RNC Chariman Ed Gillespie

[Penndems]

20. They may be uttering Gillespie's name in public, but in private

their candidate will be Tom Davis. It's no secret that Davis has been impatiently waiting for John Warner to retire, so that he can run for the Senate.

[safi0]

23. Who do the Dems

Have in the wings. If Mark Warner doesn't end up on the ticket, and he runs he'd be the obvious favorite right? Other than him though who else is there? Would Bobby Scott be a fomidable candidate?

[Zynx]

18. Warner never held elected office before and he has been a good Gov.

[Duppers]

17. I like him. Sorry BlueLady, I didn't see your post.

Grisham is brilliant!

[FyurFly]

22. Affleck is a dem..

And that's good, but this guy has lots and lots of skeletons in his closet. Strippers, drinking, gambling. This doesn't make him a bad man, but I can't see him getting elected in Virginia, California maybe, Virginia no way.