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01/23/2005 Archived Entry: "Chairmen, Choice, etc."

Posted by antle @ 04:45 PM EST [Link]

CHAIRMAN, CHOICE, ETC.: George Will gives the rundown on the leading candidates for the DNC chairmanship.

According to the National Journal's Hotline poll, Howard Dean is the front-runner. Former Rep. Tim Roemer (D-Ind.) is a strong contender, but his heresy on abortion - he is pro-life rather than pro-choice - is a major, perhaps insurmountable stumbling block.

But here's the top-tier candidacy that makes no sense to me. Lodged in the top three between Dean and Roemer is apparently former Congressman Martin Frost (D-Texas). Frost is reasonably moderate, at least by mainstream Democratic standards. He is from a red state. But he also lost his House seat during the 2004 election!

Alright, I know that gerrymandering and being forced into a race against another incumbent, Republican Pete Sessions, is what cost him his seat. Nevertheless, if the main task of the new Democratic National Committee chairman is to beat Republicans and make inroads in the red states, shouldn't they go with a candidate with a track record of accomplishing those goals rather than someone who loses his House seat the first time he has to run in a district with a high percentage of Republicans?

It seems to me that Frost's candidacy makes only marginally more sense than David Leland's. That would be the David Leland whose tenure as Ohio Democratic Party state chairman was marked by the Republicans winning every statewide office and both houses of the Buckeye State's legislature. Thus endeth the rant.