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Saturday, September 24, 2005
Kitzhaber to Challenge Kulongoski in Dem Primary?
A number of Oregon Democrats, unhappy with Governor Ted Kulongoski, are looking long and hard for an another candidate. According to The Oregonian's Harry Esteve, they just might have found their ideal challenger.
In 2002, the Democrats' best shot at defeating GOP Senator Gordon Smith (it's far easier to beat a freshman than someone who has served two or more terms), Kitzhaber led many to believe that he would challenge the Republican. However, Kitzhaber waited until the very last minute to pass up the race, leaving Secretary of State Bill Bradbury scant time to raise the requisite funds to mount a successful race. Smith more than doubled Bradbury's spending and defeated the Democrat by more than 15 points.
In short, although Kitzhaber might be more liberal than Kulongoski, Kitzhaber is not nearly the team player that Kulongoski is. And with the Democratic Party on the verge of retaking the State House next year and extending it's lead in the State Senate, would they truly be best served to nominate someone who hasn't always proved to be a team player?
John Kitzhaber left politics nearly four years ago with a bad case of burnout and troubling questions about government's inability to solve problems.While many Democratic activists in Oregon revere Kitzhaber to the point that they would risk splintering the state party to renominate him, they might be wise to take at least one point into account.
Now the former governor is back -- pressing for national health care reform and listening politely to suitors testing a "draft Kitzhaber" movement in the upcoming governor's race. It would mean taking on incumbent Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski, whom Kitzhaber supported in 2002.
"There have been people talking to me about it -- unsolicited," Kitzhaber said Friday, after speaking to a national committee studying health care.
But, he added: "It would take an awful lot to make me believe that I could do more good for the world Logan (his 7-year-old son) will inherit with another four years as governor rather than with what I'm doing privately."
In 2002, the Democrats' best shot at defeating GOP Senator Gordon Smith (it's far easier to beat a freshman than someone who has served two or more terms), Kitzhaber led many to believe that he would challenge the Republican. However, Kitzhaber waited until the very last minute to pass up the race, leaving Secretary of State Bill Bradbury scant time to raise the requisite funds to mount a successful race. Smith more than doubled Bradbury's spending and defeated the Democrat by more than 15 points.
In short, although Kitzhaber might be more liberal than Kulongoski, Kitzhaber is not nearly the team player that Kulongoski is. And with the Democratic Party on the verge of retaking the State House next year and extending it's lead in the State Senate, would they truly be best served to nominate someone who hasn't always proved to be a team player?
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