Do you think that bogus weekend poll showing Ford 12-pts down hurt him?

[WI_DEM]

The Ford campaign always insisted it was not consistent with their own polls which showed a much tighter race. I'm just wondering if that Mason-Dixon poll may have had an effect on turn out? What do you think? or was it simply that awful racist ad?

[SoFlaJet]

1. I kept thinking about that last night

it wasa Mason Dixon poll HMMMM...they had Corker up by what,12 points?I kept thinking "why aren't they calling this race yet?"

[Burma Jones]

2. No, I just think it is nigh on impossible to get anyone other than whitey elected down there

At least state-wide......

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

3. If Ford had run as a Democrat, he might have won

As it was, he ran as republican light. Republican light doesn't win. Period.

[Frances]

6. I was born and raised in Alabama

Ford ran one of the best campaigns in the country. No other black man could have done as well as he did in Tennessee, no matter what issues he embraced. I am very sad that Ford didn't win, but I think he paved the way for future African Americans.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

10. Unfortunately, I understand completely. Born and raised in NC

When Harvey Gant ran against Jesse Helms, there was an ad about affirmative action with black hands holding a check. The ad was about a black person taking your job.

In Tennessee, it was about a black man dating your daughter. It's almost twenty years later, but SSDD.

I still think that Ford ran to the right more than he had to, but that's my opinion.

Thanks for shouting out to me!

[Frances]

12. My daughters were in college in North Carolina when

Jesse Helms ran that ad. I think it won the election for Helms. I am so sad that white people buy into the idea that racial equality means that they lose. I believe that the same people who exploit black people also exploit other white people.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

14. People who exploit poor people generally don't care about race

It's just that they are poor, poorly educated/informed and easy to prey on.

Using race can be part of the game.

[lcordero2]

4. nope

What it means is that a BLACK MAN can win AND WILL EVENTUALLY WIN in Tennessee.

Keep in mind that Harold Ford almost overcame DIEBOLD and the like,which is a 5 point spread for Republicans, and voter suppression.

[EFerrari]

7. I agree. He ran a great campaign and was an outstanding

candidate. Not that I agree with his positions, but his political calculus seemed right for the race he was running. He'll be back I hope.

[lcordero2]

8. to me

This confirmed that a BLACK MAN can win in 2008 to become POTUS.

[Kerrytravelers]

15. Exactly.

[stepnw1f]

5. No, but I Wonder if the Reaction to Kerry

lost some votes. Average folks hate "wishy-Washy".

[HCE SuiGeneris]

9. I think votes were stolen

and that many of the races were in reality not as close as they appear. Do not forget that '08 is just around the corner. We still have a Supreme Court that is very partisan (bordering on corrupt), and the problems with black box voting have NOT been resolved!!

[Dob Bole]

11. He's probably the front-runner to run against Lamar Alexander in two years...

Lamar Alexander, like Corker, entered office with just 51% of the vote. Alexander has lots of baggage...Ford can beat him.

[Kerrytravelers]

16. In fact, if he runs against Alexander, I'd be likely to go to TN to help.

Diversity is important to democracy.

[theboss]

13. I think being black hurt him more

His campaign was simply amazing considering the mountain he had to climb. A black man in the South running for a Republican seat is not exactly an easy task.

This was the type of loss that elevates a candidate.