Hackett campaign staff critical of his performance

[Algorem]

Complex mix behind Hackett's withdrawal

political newcomer was ill at ease with process
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/114025579369310.xml&coll=2

Saturday, February 18, 2006
Elizabeth Auster
Plain Dealer Bureau
Washington

...Interviews with people familiar with his campaign suggest that Hackett's team was struggling not only with outside pressures from Democrats eager to avoid a primary, but also from internal tensions stemming partly from Hackett's personality and his newness to the grueling pressures of running a hotly contested, high-profile Senate race...

While most candidates share that feeling, people familiar with Hackett's campaign say he was especially resistant to efforts by aides to get him to use one of the most efficient but unpleasant fund raising techniques: sitting at the phone for hours, calling friends, relatives, and strangers to ask for money. Tension over the problem led in January to the departure of his finance director.

Hackett, who prized his independent streak and proudly called it a family trait - he voted twice for Ross Perot for president and championed gun rights as well as gay rights - also chafed at having his schedule set by aides. On the weekend before he bowed out, aides say, he stunned his staff by refusing at the last minute to attend certain events - including appearances at several black churches - that had apparently been put on his schedule over his objections...


He referred a reporter to Clermont County Democratic chairman David Lane, who said Friday that he has "seen no proof that a Democrat" was behind the rumors...

[MADem]

1. That fundraising crap is an absolute BEAR

It's horrible, painful, and uncomfortable....over time, though, it gets easier. And therein lies the problem--after time, people are inured to the discomfort of it all, and the motivation to change the system diminishes. But it is prostitution of a very sordid sort; and it interferes with good governance.

I think Hackett should go back to square one, run locally, for a state legislature seat or other public office, and start to rebuild a base and sharpen his priorities. He can hone his political skills that way, and he is still young. In a few years he can look at cracking the national establishment, if he still has the mind, heart and stomach for it. He has some very good instincts, and a desire for public service. He just needs some seasoning...

[OzarkDem]

7. I really do feel sympathy for him

it was a near impossible task. Most people would rather stand naked on a busy intersection than have to spend hours on the phone begging for money. Getting into the race so late made it an unbelieveably difficult job.

[Kukesa]

34. Riiight. nt

[Dr.Phool]

18. Fundraising is the most demeaning thing I have ever done.

Literally, 8+ hours per day on the phone, calling people you don't know, and begging for money. It does get easier after a while, but not much.

[OzarkDem]

41. How is your campaign going?

If you have a web site, pls post a link, I'd like to make a donation.

[FreedomAngel82]

60. There are other ways to fundraise without calling people all day

You can put an ad on the tv, local newspaper and the internet for example.

[EFerrari]

84. How is it going, Dr. Phool? This is why we need public

financing. A whole layer of cr@p! would be removed from our elections.

[Marie26]

53. It really is

And I think the constant need to beg for money makes politicians slowly lose their souls. Any ideals they had at the beginning become lost to the incredible need to raise funds. And pretty soon it doesn't seem so bad to accept that convienent $100,000 check from Exxon - so you can stop fundraising already. It is demeaning, and I understand why Hackett couldn't bring himself to do it. But that's still how the game is played in DC, and if he couldn't raise funds, he'd have a hard time running a state-wide campaign. And he'd have a hard time being a national senator w/o having to sell out eventually - the fundraising train never really ends. At a smaller level, he can still serve the public w/o having to lose his integrity. And maybe he can still make a comeback in the future to help make some reforms to change the process.

[FreedomAngel82]

59. Right

This is how you build networks and supports. You have to do the blood, sweat and tears. It looks like he didn't want to do the work. I think he was jumping into something he wasn't used to. Running for a high seat like the Senate I'm sure takes a lot of hard work and dedicating like that. While there are issues I do agree with Hackett on and he would've been a nice fresh body in the democratic party he should've seeked advice first from others perhaps on what it's like to run a campaign to make sure it's what he wanted to do. It's like when you're a singer and in the music business. You have a lot of things you don't want to do but you must do in order to get your name out there. There are some singers who love to do the interviews, press conferences and sit all day on the phone talking to different people while others hate it and just want to perform and all that. So it's the same type of thing. It all comes with the package.

[kstewart33]

2. We need campaign victories

Hackett is an admirable guy in many ways, but refusing to do the most annoying and tiring aspects of campaigning won't get you elected. If he can't do the hard stuff, then good riddance to him.

We need to win. I'm so tired of losing.

[Catrina]

3. Another whisper campaign against Hackett to make sure he gets no

support even now? If the implications in this article are true, let those making the claims identify themselves and prove what they are saying.

He most likely did not go the events, or want them scheduled, because he was about to withdraw from the race ~ this article stinks of allegations with absolutely NO proof, just the same old 'I'm not sayin' but he could be (fill in the blank). Either prove it or shut up.

That article is total BS and just one more attempt to destroy one more great candidate ~

[saracat]

4. DSCC CYA in action . The little shits want another job!

Scurrying around after backstabbing their boss. Lovely.

[Algorem]

5. Yeah they made it up,so did his wife.

That's a whole lotta whispering,now it's even coming from his own house.


http://www.popdrain.com/videos/cheneyhuntgame.swf

[Catrina]

12. His wife accused him of prejudice? Wow, that I did not know ~

Please provide a link ~ this just gets worse and worse, allegations, and whisper campaigns, and outright lies and attacks on a person's character.

Notice that no one has attacked or whispered about Brown???? Nor spread rumors about him. Is Brown so uncertain that he will win, that he needs to have his surrogates atttack a man who has already said he will help him win if he can?

IF Paul Hackett had asked me to donate to Brown's I would have, but not until then ~ that article stinks, it makes despicable implications with absolutely nothing to base them on. And if Brown is endorsing any of this, not even Paul Hackett could get me to do anything to help him ~

If Brown supporters want the support of those who are disappointed at the loss of Paul Hackett, they need to STOP thrashing him!! It is only making people more and more angry, that anger will transfer to Brown, who is going to now be facing his REAL enemy, not the man who kept his word to the Democrats.

[Algorem]

17. who said prejudice?whosaid accused?what she said's in the article

[OzarkDem]

37. Another hit and run by Catrina

The usual posts filled with factoids and false accusations, enough to stir up argument, then away she goes.

[Catrina]

51. Another wrong assertion from OzarkDem ~ I do have other things to do

but I will either defend anything I say, or I will correct anything I might have said wrong. Anyone who knows me, knows I will not run from any argument. And I did respond to your last missive. Try checking before you post ~ I hope you don't mind if I go have dinner now? :rant:

[Kukesa]

22. Perfect! You summed up the situation for this Buckeye. nt

[OzarkDem]

38. Where do you live?

Are you from Ohio? What City?

[Kukesa]

42. I live in the Dayton area, Washington Twp. Wanna have coffee?

[OzarkDem]

50. No thanks

[Kukesa]

56. Pity. Why don't you declare where you live in your profile? nt

[saracat]

25. All his wife said is that it was a "struggle for him' and it was "hard for

him to ask for help" This goes to the chracter of the man and is not a negative and is nothing like what is being alleged by the so called "staffers'. They are covering their collective asses by vilifying Hackett. And the reark about his wife by certain posters is both childish and misleading! Ths DSCC has wrong . What they did was disgusting and "machine " poltics and they ought to be ashemed of themselves. And If Sherrod Brown thinks this is okay , he certainly isn't the type of liberal I can respect. If he had any integrity , he would be calling Schumer and Reid out himself.

[Algorem]

32. His wife is right.He sucks.

[saracat]

35. What a well thought out intelligent argument!!

:sarcasm: Reactions like this are why the Democrats lose. It is really too bad some don't want a "real " cadidate, but prefer to have decisions made by those who have a particular self serving agenda.I am soo disapointed that some Dems are so stupid and are incapable of learning. The definition of insanity again? Of, thats right doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result! Like allowing the Party flaks to make the decisions for you over and over. Maybe these "failed operatives will get it right one day!

[OzarkDem]

40. Enough with this silly crap

As someone posted in another thread, anyone who has worked in politics knows that every candidate who runs for office would like to just go out on the campaign trail, make speeches and shake hands and have the party raise all the money for them to run. New people are always disappointed when that doesn't happen. Seasoned candidates know you have to raise your own money.

It doesn't work that way, especially in a primary. Hackett had to learn that lesson just like everyone else. You can't expect to make a few magic phone calls to Dem leaders and have the money come pouring into your bank account.

That's not Sherrod Brown's fault. He spent 7 years raising the 2 million he has in his campaign account - 7 years.

This is the real world, Hackett and his supporters would do themselves well to learn from this race and show some character by not blaming it on everyone else.

[saracat]

Sorry but I am not any kind of a neophyte and this is still disgusting.

And time served does not "entitle " a candidate to anything.

[Kukesa]

57. Yeah, it's not his "turn" is it? Or is it? nt

Edited for typo.

[stickdog]

73. 7 years to raise 2 million?

Hackett was raising money on a much quicker pace than that!

[Catrina]

52. Exactly! you said it perfectly. I'm wondering if the OP really is a

Brown supporter. He/she seems to be working hard to turn people away from him. Someone needs to straighten out this mess. The best way would be for both Brown and Hackett to find out who is making these false allegations, and then condemn them.

As for Schumer, he's my senator, sadly, and he is interfering in other races now also ~ and I agree with you re what Brown should do. I would have respect for him if he broke his silence on this and joined with Hackett to end it so people can start focusing on Dewine ~ :hi:

[FreedomAngel82]

62. Oh good grief!

Just because someone posts an article about the Hackett deal does not mean they are a Brown supporter! I posted a thread being critical of Hackett and got told the same thing. I'm not supporting either one since I do not live in Ohio. Please, grow up! And do we know what Schumer and Reid told his donors? All we know is that they called his donors and Hackett and told him the poll numbers and that he should run for Congress instead.

[FreedomAngel82]

61. Exactly

If I was a campaign manager for Hackett here is the advice I would've given him if he asked me:

1) Call up Reid, Schumer and whoever else was involved and had a serious talk with them. If they weren't from Ohio tell them to fuck off (not those words of course but same concept).

2) Do the damn work and go to events, even the one's you don't like. Politicians have to do shit they don't like all the time. How else are you going to show people you care about them? I have a video of John Kerry from when he was campaigning and he goes to this little town in Iowa. All these other politicians forget them and go to the big town's but Kerry didn't. At the end of this video it shows some young people saying how they appreciated Kerry taking the time to come to their town because it shows he cares about them. This is why you do the events you may not like to do, to at least show people you have an intrest in them and want to hear what they have to say to you. If you're going to be a represenitive of the state you're going to represent everyone including these people you're offending.

And for people who are dissing this article please stop acting like Hackett is a god. He's not a god and he is to blame for this deal too since HE backed down. HE's the one who didn't give the people of Ohio a choice. He could've stayed in and fight. Imagine if John Kerry backed down in the 2004 race because of the SBVT assholes.

[OzarkDem]

8. Your inexperience is showing

The news in the article is pretty standard for most political candidates. It happens all the time. Running for office is hard, nothing new about that and its not surprise Hackett succumbed to the same pressures. Any candidate in his shoes would have had the same problems.

The guy deserves credit for trying and the party leaders deserve credit for letting him try, in spite of the impossible odds of him being able to do it. Everyone has learned something here, including Hackett, and he's come away a much better candidate for it.

[Algorem]

9. what's he running for now?

just kidding.not for a while I hope.


http://www.popdrain.com/videos/cheneyhuntgame.swf

[Catrina]

16. Did you read the article? It's standard to accuse a man of prejudice

against minorities even though there is absolutely nothing to support that claim?

he stunned his staff by refusing at the last minute to attend certain events - including appearances at several black churches - that had apparently been put on his schedule over his objections...

If this is standard, together with all the rest of what we have seen regarding Paul Hackett's run for office, then there is little hope for this country ~

I just read that Brown lent some of his staff to Hackett ~ I am losing more and more confidence in Brown the more I read about this ~

He is out of the race now, he graciously stated that he would help Democrats who are running anyway he could. But the 'whisper' campaigns (no names, these 'sources' need to be identified) continue ~ this is tragic really, not for Paul Hackett ~ he'll survive, and is way better off out of this, but for the country ~

To think we are only at the beginning of the election year and it has been disgusting so far ~ :cry:

[OzarkDem]

28. Make up your mind

are you a Hackett supporter or just a Brown attacker? Or are you just here to stir up trouble? Whichever it is, you're not making a lot of sense.

If Hackett refused to attend events in the minority community, that's certainly a problem he needs to deal with.

Get your facts straight (or stop trying to twist them) when it comes to Sherrod Brown - he loaned Hackett's campaign staffers and support when Hackett ran in the special election against Jean Schmidt.

[Catrina]

47. I am trying to get the facts straight.

I have seen Hackett attacked over and over here, I have not seen Brown attacked ~ I thought this was over, Hackett is no longer in the race and he has said he will do whatever he can to help Democrats win. That should be the end of the story.

I supported Hackett's campaign and will be supporting all the Dem candidates, including, I hope, Brown since he is now the candidate, from all I've read about him since then, he seems like a good man.

Someone needs to stop this ~ Brown is now the candidate but if his supporters continue to attack Hackett, it will only harm him ~ if these attacks are coming from the right, then they need to be exposed. But I will defend anyone who is wrongfully accused of something, as I'm sure will you.

We need to win and I want to support Brown, financially if he needs it. I'm sure others feel the same way ~ but when the attacks, including the one in the article above, continue, it will only have a negative effect on Brown ~ rightly or wrongly.

The right way to handle it, and the most decent way, would have been to realize how disappointed Hackett's supporters are, along with the nastiness of the whole mess, and give them time to absorb what happened. But all I've seen here are attacks on those who are already upset. I expected better, I suppose ~

[FreedomAngel82]

64. You haven't seen Brown attacked?!

Where the hell have you been?! The first few days Brown was constantly attacked when there's no proof his campaign was involved! Good grief! Hackett is NOT god! If you're not going to support Brown then don't! You don't have to go and be all whiny because people aren't attacking Brown like you wish they would. If you want to attack Brown than make a post about it!

[Kukesa]

82. I haven't . Link please or point me to the thread. nt

[stickdog]

76. Guess it can't be a whisper campaign when you treat the rumors

like gold and repeat them yelling from the rooftops. Right?

[FreedomAngel82]

63. So why didn't he go?

Why at the last minute did he change his mind? He refused at the last minute to go somewhere and it was already on the schedule whether he put it there or not. If you're going to represent the State as a Senator you're going to represent people you might not like. Maybe Hackett isn't a religious person but he'll still represent those religious folks and he should go and give a speech and take time to find out their concerns of the state of Ohio and write them down for later to see if he can help them. If he didn't make it into the primary and Brown did he could've given those concerns to Brown. Even if he didn't make the scheduling plans it's still on the schedule and everyone is already prepared for him to go. It would be very rude to not go after saying you'd show up (even if it's not you directly who did).

[stickdog]

74. Yes. Everybody has learned that for establishment Dems

one's word doesn't mean jack shit.

[JNelson6563]

21. It's very likely

The finance calls are the most common cause for a candidate to drop out and it applies to every single level of politics. The politician who thinks all they need to do is attend events and that the party machine will take care of the bothersome details like money, is the sure loser.

Have seen this play out many times and am about to witness it within my own Cong. District yet again.

Julie

[upi402]

6. "Interviews with people familiar with his campaign" -sources?

:shrug:
names?

[kevinbgoode]

46. Probably Jean Schmidt n/t

[EFerrari]

58. Lol!

[madfloridian]

10. Remember where a lot of Hackett's staff came from.

"Brown and Hackett are improbable adversaries. Brown helped Hackett in his Congressional run this summer by loaning him staff and contributing money. Had Brown not initially bowed out of the Senate race this summer, Hackett almost certainly would not have run for the seat."


http://www.motherjones.com/news/update/2005/10/firing_back.html

[Algorem]

11. Sirota- Ohio's Largest Paper Tells the Real Story About Hackett

http://www.davidsirota.com/2006/02/ohios-largest-paper-tells-real-story.html

The Cleveland Plain Dealer published a post-mortem on Paul Hackett's failed candidacy for U.S. Senate, and the piece confirms what I've written about this over the last few days. The story makes clear what should be obvious: Hackett was outworked and outorganized by a better, more progressive candidate, Sherrod Brown. Hackett thought he should be able to walk to the nomination and not have to do the grueling, unglamorous work that it takes to be a candidate in a major statewide race - and when he found out that wasn't the case, he bailed...

Cooper really had it right - Hackett had a lot of potential that could have been maximized in a different, smaller race. I wrote that previously. And it really is a disappointment to see him leave politics altogether. However, after reading this article, and after knowing what we all know about Sherrod Brown's stellar progressive record, it becomes very clear that Brown is the better nominee.


http://www.popdrain.com/videos/cheneyhuntgame.swf

[TallahasseeGrannie]

13. I guess this teaches us that to be successful in

politics you have to have the "it" factor but you have to be able to do the slogging that goes with it. I know lots of folks with one or the other, but not many folks have both.

[rucky]

15. The man's been in combat & still couldn't stomach politics.

That sure says something about politics.

[madfloridian]

19. Use these search words. Your attacks here are making it worse.

Use these words at google

sirota, brown, campaign

Read, and stop attacking.

[Algorem]

20. Rat-a-tat-tat! Kabloom! The top 2 on list are from buckeyesenateblog.

If you believe buckeyesenateblog you are working on making a fool out of yourself.Who's name should i put in when I search- "(fill in blank),hackett,campaign"?

[madfloridian]

24. Damage control in full force.

These attacks are going to hurt Brown more now if they keep up. Hackett is out. I hear Brown is a good man...would he like your doing this? Would he appreiate Sirota's doing this?

I don't know, but I doubt it. If he is the good man you guys say, he should hate the way this all went down.

[Algorem]

30. Doing what? Trying to minimize all this Hackett nonsense's negative im-

pact on Democrat's chances to win? Funny coincidence all the Republican sites are running this "Democrats sabotaged Hackett" bullshit like it's true.Hackett's either just a spoiled prick or a Republican tool.Or both.

[madfloridian]

33. Two or three are going all over this forum attacking Hackett...

He is out of the race. You are going to hurt yourselves by doing this.

[FreedomAngel82]

66. Oh I see

So now we can't even discuss the issue and learn from mistakes. Nice. If you don't like the thread DON'T READ IT!

[saracat]

36. As one might wonder about certain posters who keep slandering Hackett!

[Algorem]

48. one might wonder about certain posters who keep slandering Dem Party

[saracat]

54. It is not slandering the Party to question the motives of certain

operatives. Dick Morris used to work for the Dems to and it is not considered slanderous to question him. And let us not forget Bob Schrum who doid such a wonderful job for us not just once but several times. Clarly not everyone in this great party of ours is either correct or a political genius.I am not a Bushbot. I have opinions, and I want us to win and I want us to do it integrity.

[FreedomAngel82]

67. Hackett isn't god and isn't the democratic party

He ran as a democrat but he's not the whole party and he isn't a god. Please. Give me a break.

[stickdog]

77. Republican sites like "Mother Jones"?

Right?

[FreedomAngel82]

65. Thank you

It seems to me after he came close to beating Schmidtt last time (I still think he did and don't buy the "humdity" bullshit) he thought he'd get it easily this time and wouldn't have to go to all these various campaign speeches. Every politician has to pay their due's. Even the canidate I'm backing here in my district has been working very hard lately from local events to big time events like in DC. It's apart of the game. So I think that and not being able to handle peer pressure got Hackett. I also wish he wouldn't give up in politics all together but hey if he can't handle it than that's fine.

[PassingFair]

14. How the Democrats Took Out Paul Hackett-Mother Jones

DSCC: Swiftboating Conniving Bastards.

No Excuses. None.

Representative government is gone if OUR party acts this way.

Nothing but Hobson's Choices.

http://www.motherjones.com/news/update/2006/02/hackett_drops_out.html

[Kukesa]

23. Swiftboating. And I had hoped it was over. nt

[OzarkDem]

31. Riight

:crazy:

[Skidmore]

26. So the politicos couldn't call all the shots? That's why they cut him off

at the knees? Perhaps they should have let him speak to the people and teach them a new way of doing something. I have great admiration for a man who doesn't want to be owned and has something to say.

[OhioBlue]

27. Why must you continue with this?

Seriously? Hackett is out, your St. Sherrod has the Dem nod to take a shot at DeWine, why do you keep posting crap to try and make Hackett look bad? It serves no purpose for your cause. it just pisses people off that support Hackett, makes us feel defensive and less likely to support Brown. As a Sherrod Brown supporter, you should look to mend fences and gain support for Brown rather than keep this up.

[Kukesa]

29. Saint Sherrod? Priceless! nt

[KittyWampus]

39. What? this is the 1st time I've read this article/info about Hackett's

performance. Meanwhile, DU was inundated by 'Damn the Demcratic Party' posts for DAYS ON END as Hackett supporters wailed and gnashed their teeth.

Once again, blatant hypocracy rears its ugly head on DU.

[OhioBlue]

43. I don't remember if you posted in the Ohio Forum or not

but it was getting ugly. Algorem is very much on the side of Brown. I am simply saying that with Hackett out, it might be better to try and mend fences and gain support for Brown's effort to unseat DeWine than to continue kicking people when they are down.

It isn't hypocrisy - it is a comment on how I see the continued effort of Brown supporters to make Hackett look bad as counterproductive to their efforts.

[Divine Discontent]

45. exactly! n/t

[Divine Discontent]

44. gnashed their teeth?

(Eyes rolling)


We lost a very well liked candidate in a horrible MELTDOWN for the Democratic party, which embarrassed us a lot. If you think that's good, then go ahead and continue mocking the people that were pissed that Hackett was swiftboated, lied to, and had calls made on Brown's behalf to pull the table legs out from under his campaign because the Ohio dems knew that Brown had been working his butt off longer to win this seat than Hackett had, and that's why they did it.

Sadly, Hackett is more popular with independents and moderates and would have easily defeated whinin' DeWine, and Sherrod will still win, but it's going to be close.

God bless..

[FreedomAngel82]

71. Sorry but

he's the one who backed down. He can't handle peer pressure. Isn't that something you're supposed to learn in, oh I don't know, high school?

[Kukesa]

83. That's a very nice post. Thanx. nt

[FreedomAngel82]

68. Oh of course

That and blaming the DLC when they weren't involved. LOL. I cracked up. Hackett is the one who has shown he can't fight. He can bark, and that's nice, but I like a politican who can fight. Imagine if Dean, Kerry, Edwards and Hillary Clinton have backed down because of attacks and things that happened with Hackett. And of course Hackett is never to blame for being the one who dropped out. :eyes:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

49. I Feel For Him, But This Just Shows Me Even More He Wasn't Ready For Such

a race, and that Sherrod Brown will hold up much better.

I like Paul alot and love what he had to say, but I think he needs to try for the house again and gain a bit more political experience under his belt before running for such an important Senate seat. I think he's really good, but thought he wasn't quite ready. The article seems to solidify that point for me.

[carpe diem]

55. while it's interesting to watch the drama continuing to play out...

over Mr. Hackett's withdrawal, those of you in Ohio (I'm not) need to keep your eyes on the prize...the link below suggest that the Brown campaign is starting to hemorrage from this incident and griping about and at Hackett and his supporters is not going to help. As someone who is desperate to see the Democrats recover at lest one branch of government this fall, I would encourage you guys to get over whatever you have to get over and stop antagonizing each other. Hacket's out, Brown is in, those of you who won this round, should be gracious and reach out to the Hackett crowd, and please do whatever it takes to staunch the bleeding while you can. I know that it seems like a long way to November but you don't have a minute to lose fighting amongst yourselves...please...United We Stand...

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/February%202006/Ohio%20Senate%20February.htm

[FreedomAngel82]

69. I'm not going to hold my breath for that though

People here seem to be pretty stubborn. Don't expect many people who were Hackett supporters to go to Brown and care about the seat anymore. They need to look to the democrats in the primaries who lost in 2004 and they continued on for the good of the party.

[Blue State Bandit]

70. Paul was just overwhelmed.

It's a cut throat business. It takes time to acquire the thick skin needed to keep your cool when your under constant attack. Especially when your getting it from both sides.

I can't wait to hear what Paul has to say when he's on Hardball Monday. It was a tough blow to the Fightin' Dems, but it seems that Eric Massa (NY-29)is still running strong, and has the ability to keep the Fightin' Dems movement together.

I think they still have a good shot at giving us plenty of seats in the House.

<http://pleonexiabeyondhubris.blogspot.com>

[OzarkDem]

72. Matthews will just stir the hornet's nest

I hope Hackett doesn't take the bait and let Matthews continue to fan the flames of division and discontent.

Its amazing how much more media coverage Hackett is getting compared to Brown. No one wants to focus on Dem winners, just those who want to criticize the party.

[snowbear]

75. Hackett has always done good on Hardball ~~

He intimidates Tweety and handles himself REALLY well!

[stickdog]

78. Wake me when Brown actually wins.

Seems that we've been through this before recently.

[Blue State Bandit]

79. Good, and I hope he gets stung right in the (BEEP)!

I'll have my popcorn ready!:popcorn:

[JCMach1]

80. CAmpaigning is very hard, stressful, and often thankless

You are constantly under the mircoscope and your life and schedule are NOT your own.

I learned these things and many more in my 2002 run.

[zulchzulu]

81. Like a fine wine, Hackett wasn't quite ready yet

Many great candidates didn't have success come easy in their first tries at politics. Or their second... Ever follow politicians like Truman?

In the interim, Hackett should help the Brown campaign and do his best to get that victory. All the pointing fingers and naysayers will soon walk away. 2006 is too important to get distracted.