WITHOUT googling tell me what you think of this Presidential candidate.

[nickshepDEM]

I filled in names and states so that his identity is not revealed. Just tell me what you think.

******* was first elected Governor of ***** in 1988, defeating ***** in the primary, and defeating ***** in the general election. He was re-elected governor in 1992 with the highest percentage of the vote in a statewide election in modern ******* history. His administration was considered cautious but successful (even by Republicans in the state), creating a large state surplus and permitting him to cut taxes. "Mr. *****'s record," reported the Wall Street Journal in 1992, "is one of a genuinely fiscally conservative Democrat." Stressing fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, job creation and lean government, Governor ***** has a lot of remarkable achievements, including eight years without raising taxes; the greatest single tax cut and largest budget surplus in state history; national leadership in moving people from welfare to work; more money for schools every year; high academic standards and new college opportunities; over 350,000 new jobs; tougher laws on crime; and improved environmental quality. He passed the 21st Century Scholars in 1992, which says that to every child growing up in ***** that is eligible for the free lunch program in a public school, if they graduate from high school with passing grades, and sign a pledge not to experiment with illegal drugs, everyone of them is entitled a full college scholarship to a public university of their choice. By the end of his second term ***** had an approval rating of nearly 80 percent.

***** was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1998 to the seat that was once held by *******. He defeated ****** with 64% of the vote, the largest victory margin ever by a Democrat in a U.S. Senate race in ******. He easily won reelection in 2004. He serves on six Senate committees: Banking Housing and Urban Affairs, on which he is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on International Trade and Finance; Armed Services; the Select Committee on Intelligence; Energy and Natural Resources; the Special Committee on Aging; and the Small Business Committee.

[JI7]

1. i would probably ask what their position on abortion rights was

in addition to other things.

[nickshepDEM]

2. Pro-choice, but does not support late term abortions.

[leftstreet]

3. What's his plan for singlepayer health care? n/t

[nickshepDEM]

4. Honestly, not sure.

Im bascially just asking you to evaluate his record as a springboard to running for president.

[leftstreet]

5. I don't think we'll know til after 06

A strong Dem shift would change the political atmosphere for 08.

[ruggerson]

6. Bayh? n/t

[nickshepDEM]

8. Hey! No names!

Im trying to test people here.

;)

[LiberalFighter]

7. Had thought it was Bayh but he was never Lt Gov

And don't believe Bayh is a ranking member of any committee

[nickshepDEM]

9. Yeah, I messed that part up.

It should read **** defeated ^^^^^^^^^ and ^^^^^^^^ went on to be ***** LT. Gov.

[Awsi Dooger]

10. I certainly know who he is

Took about 30 seconds. I reject his presidential chances because that's essentially a transplanted Southern state and he'd lose by high single digits in his home state, IMO.

[nickshepDEM]

13. You really think so?

The Indy Star conducted a poll several months ago that showed something like 47% of the state would support him in a presidential run while 35% or so would not. The rest were undecided. Those numbers look very promising.

If I have time Ill dig up the poll.

[Awsi Dooger]

18. Here's the presidential partisanship chart for Indiana

In relation to the national average:

Indiana:
'88: Bush (59.84 - 39.69) = + 12.43% Republican
'92: Bush (42.91 - 36.79) = + 11.68% Republican
'96: Dole (47.13 - 41.55) = + 14.11% Republican
'00: Bush (56.65 - 41.01) = + 16.15% Republican
'04: Bush (59.94 - 39.26) = + 18.22% Republican

I don't like our chances to overcome a tilt that's considerable and apparently growing. Admittedly, we haven't campaigned there in recent cycles so you can take a few points off the top. A favorite son would be worth at least 6 points and probably more like 9-10. So high single digits is probably exaggeration but at least I'm going in the right direction. I used to insist he'd lose by low double digits.

I'm sure he would lose. The polls right now overstate Democrats by a few points due to the prolonged implosion by the GOP. A current poll would probably place his chances even better than one from a few months ago but I'm not buying it projected to 2008.

[Ediacara]

11. This sounds exactly like Bayh

I don't need to google.

[On the Road]

12. Seems Electable on the Basis of His Record

however, from the way the article is written, his priorities might not excite the Democratic base, nor should they. I am glad so many Democrats have become discipline spenders; but I'm not particularly enamored of those who site that as their main achievement.

[welshTerrier2]

14. No position on Iraq?

not enough info ...

[nickshepDEM]

15. Staunch supporter of the initial invasion.

Pretty sure he's a stay the course guy though.

[Pithy Cherub]

16. A big ole AYE on IWR and proud of it too.

:puke: It is none other than Evan "Buh" Bayh.

[welshTerrier2]

23. on your rec ...

or at least i think it was your rec, i just started reading "All the Kings Men" ... remarkable so far ...

as for Mr. Bayh, all i can say is that i will not be voting for any misguided war supporter ... it's been appalling to see so much campaign literature published so early that contains nothing about foreign policy or more specifically Iraq ...

it appears the political calculations have been made and this issue is a BIG LOSER among those who are regular contributors ... maybe instead of pretending we haven't noticed they're avoiding the issue, they should change their positions ... or they could even, god forbid, consider representing us ...

[Pithy Cherub]

25. Glad you are enjoying that true classic!

The misguided population of Iraq policy ditherers, will not speak openly until the winds of fortune state their name, rank and serial number with a moneyback guarantee. An expedited exit plan with the least amount of spilled blood, both Iraqi and American, is keenly important to me. One can not speak about exiting Iraq credibly, unless one has overtly demonstrated the courage to call out the odious behavior of the Bush administration and how this mess came to be. If IWR voters or Iraq war supporters are saying withdraw and speak of no accountability for those who got America into this nightmare, well they deserve escalated compounded interest on derision and contempt.

Money is playing a key role right now for 2008 not visible to the average voter. The PAC's are fundraising, but the usual big money is not flowing into certain people's hands. It is amusing. Case in point, Biden (ugh) made certain to speak to not his ideas for being president on MTP, but said IF he could raise the money in the next six months he would run. Third way advocate centrist, Warner came with his hand out to California a while back and it was not pretty, not pretty at all. Hillary, of course, is still collecting cash and if she is doing senatorial stuff, she has a husband, that well, just blows the bank vault doors open really easily.

Money talks first. Then the representation. Fact of political life -that many follow to their peril.

[Mass]

17. I think he is a serious candidate.

I am not saying I would support him. I disagree with him on many points, but he has the experience that is necessary to make a president.

But at least, if the ones I favor were not candidates when the time comes for me to vote, I would know where he stands and that he has the experiences necessary to do the job (more than I can say for some).

[MADem]

26. I do too--if he decides to run, he could easily break out

He has VERY good TV presence, and nowadays, campaigns are all about TV. If he can keep his press posse jazzed up, and get good footage on the nightlies, ya never know.

Who thought Clinton would go all the way at the outset? That guy was written off like a bad debt by dozens of pundits and DC insiders...

[pennylane100]

19. He or she sounds great but without a name I could not be sure who it is.

While I think this is a trick question and this person is one of the top people in the senate, I still think it is important the know the name and track record of anyone I endorse.

[nickshepDEM]

20. Evan Bayh.

[pennylane100]

22. Unfortunately I could not vote for him

based on what I know so far. I believe he is anti-choice and that is my number one dis-qualifier. I am more flexible on other positions but if a candidate cannot concede that a woman must control her own body, they have no business representing me in the democratic party (In my opinion).

[tritsofme]

21. Bayh v Allen would be an interesting matchup

Two guys who got where they are today from their daddy's name...

[karynnj]

24. Bayh