Would Paul Hackett have given us the same net result as Ned Lamont?

[eeyore]

I had no horse in the race in the primaries, but it sure was ugly to see Hackett thrown under the bus in favor of Sherrod Brown. I guess someone out there knew what they were doing (DLC?). Perhaps Ohio was more likely to back someone who was running on something beyond just an anti-war stance.

Is there a parallel with the Ned Lamont race? In both races voters ultimately voted in a more moderate and known candidate, and the newcomer anti-war candidate ultimately did not succeed.

Interesting, and maybe related....but maybe not.

:shrug:

[Rose Siding]

1. The party leaders dicked with both of them

Some of them convinced Ned that they could get Joe to back off, I think, so he held his fire for too long after the primary win. -And Hackett turned out ok but he had some real loose cannon moments.

[eeyore]

7. Both were kind of one note candidates...

I come from an old-style Conservative family (except for me), and while my family is now against the war, they would never have voted for either of those candidates. I think that in order to cross over and get the more moderate/conservative voters, they would have needed something else to run on beyond being against the war. If Hackett had gotten the nomination we may not have the Senate today.

[blitzen]

2. not sure...but Hackett, on the radio at least, is a pretty outspoken lefty

in the mode of Malloy. Somebody that we like, but whose statements would have killed him in the eyes of the average voter. But then, I've only heard him after he was out of the race, so maybe he ramped it up at that point

[Kolesar]

3. Oh please, enough already

DLC? More moderate??

[w4rma]

4. Brown isn't DLC as far as I know. I think it was more a matter of playing hardball

in politics. That and I think folks leaned more towards Brown since he has been around for much longer than Hackett. Folks know where Brown stands on most every issue, but Hackett is a relative newbie.

I do hope that Hacket gets over his ego and gets back into politics and runs for something as a Democrat. I do like him. I'd like to see him hold as high an office as possible.

[AlCzervik]

5. i can't redo this election, i just can't. We won.

[ShaneGR]

6. In the end, the odd thing is Sherrod Brown is far more liberal than Paul Hacket

Hacket, a good man and an Iraq war veteran had good local groundswell and had almost won a House race in a heavilly Republican district. He had never been elected to anything before.

Sherrod Brown is a lifetime politician who had won both Statewide office and his congressional seat for 2 decades. Wait till you see him speak on the Senate floor. The guy is a liberal maverick.

Anyways, the DSCC (Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee) basically begged Sherrod into the race because they trusted his experience over the flavor of the month. That's what happened.

[AlCzervik]

8. I like Hackett just fine but after years of hearing Brown speak in the house

i love him, he has balls and he doesn't back down--that is no reflection on Hackett btw.

[eeyore]

13. I agree with your take...

And conservatives were obviously more ready to vote for Holy Joe than for the unknown of Lamont. The Republican in that race got next to nothing.

I don't really know much of Brown, but I wish him the best. I just remember the hellfire around here when Hackett stepped down.

[ShaneGR]

16. Just to give you some examples on how Brown views issues...

Brown is from a medical family. He favors Universal Healthcare for all.

Brown is from a heavily unionized region of Ohio. He is anti-free trade and repeatedly organized revolt against the free trade bills.

Brown is pro-choice 100%.

Brown is anti death penalty.

Brown voted against the Iraq war. In fact, Brown led a turnout of about 1000 Ohio'ans through the rain in violation of their free speech zone permits to protest a Bush speech.

Brown is for stem cell research.

Brown's wife was a liberal columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer for years and stepped down from her job to help him with his campaign.

He's absolutely as true blue progressive as they come, and perhaps the most liberal Senator of Ohio since Howard Metzenbaum retired 12 years ago.

He has the potential to attract support in the spirit of Wellstone.

[eeyore]

18. Great!

I just remember how pissed off everyone around here was when Hackett pulled out. I appreciate the education, and look forward to watching him!

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

9. Brown is actually to the left of Hackett

he just wasn't as well-known and not the darling of the blogosphere when he started in the race

Remember how vicious Hackett was to Murtha? I think we got the better guy in the end.

[OhioBlue]

10. not very related at all.

I don't really want to rehash the Hackett v Brown primary... but I do have to say that Brown is not the more moderate v Hackett. Sherrod has always been a great progressive voice.

I wasn't happy about the way the pre-primary situation went... but... the more I have learned, the more I understand. Ultimately, Sherrod was the right candidate. He also adds a great progressive voice to the Senate. He is a huge asset to the progressive voice in the Senate. He also has an incredible persona... you cannot help but like him when you meet him. He frames the issues almost perfectly and he ran a campaign that we can all be proud of and should take notes from. He was amazing!

I am so happy I volunteered for him and overjoyed that he is our Senator-elect.

There is really no comparison to Lamont and Lieberman.

[eeyore]

14. Glad to here it...

As I said, I don't know much about Brown, so thanks for educating me.

[OhioBlue]

20. Sherrod has been a leader

against trade bills that do not include workers' rights and environmental protection... i.e. FAIR TRADE

He has also been a leader for women's rights, veterans' rights, workers' rights, senior citizens' rights, etc...

In Ohio, his Congressional office is notorious for being the one to call if you want something done. He has made it a priority for his office to work with and advocate for regular Ohioans... not the special interests. He is an incredible public servant that holds his civic duty in the highest regard. His father was a small town doctor that never turned anyone away. His father's influence combined with his mother's dedication to civil rights and giving everyone an opportunity regardless of social/economic class, instilled the progressive values that we are fortunate to have in our next Senator.

He might just be our most important addition to the Senate to advance a progressive message.

He's incredible and I couldn't be more proud of our Senator-elect!

[lcordero2]

11. I don't think that there was a parallel

I think that Ohio hated the GOP so much that it didn't matter if we had the devil as the democratic candidate.

[PassingFair]

12. Hackett would have KICKED ASS.

As would Lamont, had he been running against only ONE
republican. Lieberman should be ASHAMED of himself.

[eeyore]

15. I agree about Lieberman

He became the Republican in the race, and unfortunately he now has a shitload of power.

[stillcool]

17. second post I've seen on Paul Hackett...

weird.

[jonnyblitz]

19. Hackett didn't stay in the race and run as a third party candidate.

there are NO parallel's to Lamont after what that asshole Lieberman did.

[upi402]

21. Nope, and he supported Brown. Brown was next in line I hear.

He had just been in the fight longer and rubbed enough shoulders.

[Quixote1818]

22. Don't buy the illusion that CT actually likes Joe Lieberman

He got 10% more votes from Republicans who were TOLD to vote for him by Karl Rove. Lieberman was elected by Republicans who don't even like him.

[upi402]

23. Joe & Rove want Republicans to occupy our party

Like dressing up lib!

[blm]

24. DLC had nothing to do with it - Sherrod Brown is as left as they come. He will be

a much needed boost for the lefties there now. Especially with the centrists trying to control everything.

[bigtree]

25. weird analogy

Sherrod won his race