Who Selects Democratic Candidates?
Contenders for DCCC chairmanship campaign quietly
…The party committee chairman is charged with recruiting candidates, fundraising and formulating an earned media strategy.…Democratic aides agree only on the uncertainty surrounding the vacancy and the members on the short list to fill it. They include Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Md.), who, according to Democratic sources, appears to have the inside track over other possible contenders such as Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.), Artur Davis (Ala.), Kendrick Meek (Fla.), Mike Thompson (Calif.), and Xavier Becerra (Calif.).
Davis, Thompson, Van Hollen and Wasserman Schultz all served as Emanuel’s deputies. Thompson was charged with helping the most endangered Democratic incumbents while Van Hollen and Wasserman Schultz raised money for the Red to Blue program and served as spokespeople.
Van Hollen, who is in only his second term, has the support of Pelosi and incoming Majority Whip Steny Hoyer, a fellow Marylander, according to knowledgeable sources.
To me this position and the counterpart in the GOP are at the epicenter of decision-making on what kind of temperament candidates will have and what level of openminded collaboration we can hope for in Congress.
My hope is that high on the list of criteria is a history of working across party lines, enthusiasm about seeking creative solutions to intractable, chronic problems, industriousness, plus all of the other qualities demonstrated by Obama.
5 Responses to “Who Selects Democratic Candidates?”
I guess its a burnout job, but Rahm Emmanuel did such an outstanding job, that I’m sorry to see him turning it over to a relative newcomer-who I believe is more of a liberal. Rahm’s genius was in fundraising, picking the right challengers to run, and knowing which races were close enough to merit a rush of campaign cash.
Van Hollen is Dutch and a Democrat. That would be impossible in Michigan. Fortunately he comes from Maryland. But, alas, never forget that the first great Dutch-American politician after the formation of the American Republic was Martin Van Buren. And he was a staunch Democrat (and eventual Free Soiler).
I would like to find a blog or website that is starting to track the potential candidates in 2008.
I would be inclined to give money to moderates struggling to get on the radar.
Van Hollen is my congressman and I am a HUGE fan. It’s also worth noting that he was in charge of House candidate recruitment in 2006, and thus can take credit for the bumper crop of spectacular D candidates across the country.
Isn’t it amazing that politics is do dead in this country that the primaries cannot be used to select candidates to run for an office.
In the future we will have DC insiders picking to run as Democrats in dozens of districts with no real competition. And of course, once they are elected they get to stay for decades.
It just does not give you a warm feeling about democracy in the US.