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DSCC: Hodes the "Presumptive Democratic Candidate"

by: Dean Barker

Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 06:14:42 AM EDT

Landrigan makes a catch:

In an 11th-hour, fundraising plea, DSCC Chairman and Florida [umm, New Jersey, no?] Sen. Bob Menendez features prominent the NH Senate race with Republican Judd Gregg having already announced that he doesn't intend to run for a fourth term next year.
"And in New Hampshire, Congressman Paul Hodes is the presumptive Democratic candidate to replace outgoing Republican Judd Gregg," Menendez wrote.

I object on principle the DSCC telling us who the nominee is for our races pre-primary, presumptive or not, as I did last cycle when Chuckie Schumer ran the show.

But the reality of the situation this time differs. Carol Shea-Porter and John Lynch have both stated they won't run for it, and every other available New Hampshire Democrat is 1000 feet lower in the sky. So, yeah, Paul Hodes is the man to win this seat. And boy, will it be refreshing to have a real progressive in that comity club. You can help make that happen here.

Dean Barker :: DSCC: Hodes the "Presumptive Democratic Candidate"

Tags: NH-Sen, Paul Hodes, DSCC, (All Tags)

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DSCC: Hodes the "Presumptive Democratic Candidate" | 12 comments

Well, last time (0.00 / 0)

Lynch wasn't running, and Shaheen was indeed 1000 feet above Buckey, Marchand, and Swett. That's largely why they all bowed out quickly.

There WAS an apparent difference, though, in the DSCC recruiting a reluctant candidate.

But really, saying that mainstream candidate A is the "presumptive nominee" when there is nobody else in the race isn't too pushy.

by: elwood @ Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 05:22:28 AM CDT

by: you @ soon

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Not the same. (4.00 / 2)

Marchand, Swett, and to a certain degree Buckey, were all running active and credible campaigns. Marchand was the mayor of Portsmouth, Swett is a well-known party figure, and Buckey is a highly regarded astronaut and professor. They had real support, and they would have run credible general election campaigns. There's nobody other than Hodes in that category now.

by: This Was The Moment @ Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 21:11:39 PM CDT

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by: you @ soon

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I made my contribution!!! (0.00 / 0)

Today is the FEC filing deadline -- if you're able to donate (even a small amount), now's a good time to do it.

Let's give Paul the warchest he needs to fight back against the Sununus (and anyone else who wants to turn back the clock in New Hampshire).

by: Dartmouth Dem @ Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 07:42:19 AM CDT

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Don't you think it's time we dropped the pugilistic frame (0.00 / 0)

and reclaimed elections as a voter action?

Civil rights =

to vote
to hold elected office
to serve on juries
to propose and approve laws
to enforce the law
to have one's contracts recognized in the public record

by: hannah @ Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 08:20:10 AM CDT

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by: you @ soon

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"Fight Back" (4.00 / 4)

In the fifteen years that I have been involved in New Hampshire politics, I have witnessed too many fine people -- from Arnie to Dick to Joe Keefe -- fall victim to chronic misrepresentations and downright slurs.

Candidates with resources can use them to fight back -- by righting wrongs and holding Republicans accountable for their records.

And there's nothing wrong with that.

by: Dartmouth Dem @ Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 08:37:30 AM CDT

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by: you @ soon

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I'm just not convinced that it's a job for the candidates. (0.00 / 0)

The voters and the supporters of candidates need to take the lead.

Champions are good. But the solitary defender of his/her own honor is at a disadvantage. And the hired hand is rarely as effective as a dedicated supporter.

"Help me fight by sending money" is not persuasive.

by: hannah @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 15:13:08 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Presumptive (4.00 / 1)

I pretty much agree with Elwood here, but I do have one objection to the term "presumptive."

It's March.

March 2009.

by: JimC @ Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 13:32:47 PM CDT

by: you @ soon

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Look up the technical term "heir presumptive" (4.00 / 2)

For example, at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H...

The heir presumptive isn't guaranteed to inherit, they are just the one who will inherit if there are no new events that change the inheritance. The eldest son is the heir apparent, the brother of a childless man who might conceivably still father a child later is the heir presumptive.

I think the usage here is correct -- we now know enough to say that unless some politically seismic event occurs, Hodes will be the nominee.

by: daveMB @ Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 15:59:17 PM CDT

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by: you @ soon

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But that's a complaint about (4.00 / 3)

the race starting early, not how we describe it.

With Hodes in, and Lynch and Shea Porter both out, "presumptive" doesn't sound unfair.

by: elwood @ Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 17:10:52 PM CDT

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correct n/t (0.00 / 0)

Democrats solve problems, Republicans sit and say no.

by: Ray Buckley @ Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 18:24:06 PM CDT

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by: you @ soon

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Al Franken is 59 and... (4.00 / 1)

the Candidate Presumtive will be # 60.

"Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does." Allen Ginsberg

by: JonnyBBad @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 16:02:24 PM CDT

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Jeepers (0.00 / 0)

War.

by: JimC @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 16:09:40 PM CDT

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DSCC: Hodes the "Presumptive Democratic Candidate" | 12 comments