Paul Hackett to Face Sen. DeWine in 2006

Paul Hackett, “the Iraq War veteran from Cincinnati who was hailed by national Democrats for his narrow loss this summer in a heavily Republican House district, has decided to challenge Mike DeWine for U.S. Senate in 2006,” reports the A.P. via Yahoo.

Hackett flew home Monday evening “from Washington after meeting with Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada and the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee,” said spokesman David Woodruff, “who served as Hackett’s campaign manager in his special election campaign for the 2nd District House seat against Jean Schmidt. …”

A WSJ poll, according to Swing State Project, shows:

Hackett (D) 44

DeWine (R) 36

From Kos at 12:20 pm:

Incumben Sen. DeWine is myred with low reelect numbers while the Ohio Republican Party implodes around him. Bush is at 37 percent in the state. Governor Bob Taft is at 17 percent. Partisan polls showed Sherrod Brown making a competitive race. That weird (and frankly questionable) internet poll by Zogby yesterday had Hackett handily beating DeWine. So who will DeWine face?

Guess we know now. In August, Chris Bowers wrote:

I like Tim Ryan … he would have an excellent chance … DeWine is arguably the most vulnerable Republican up for re-election … and things only continue to get worse.
However, there is another candidate … who would start with huge support from the netroots, who has already proven he can win votes in areas where most Democrats fear to tread, who will be exactly the sort of truth teller Democrats need … whose position as an Iraq war vet could aid a national Democratic tidal wave in 2006. … Marine Corps Major Paul Hackett.

This map of Hackett’s donors shows that he already has a national movement behind him: … See the map and read more.

11 Comments

Cali Scribe on October 4, 2005 at 3:43 pm

As an untried candidate, Hackett almost defeated Schmidt in a district that overwhelmingly supported Bush in 2004.

In a statewide election, his chances should be greater, especially if he has gained any wisdom from his previous race.

Too early to count this as a Democratic pickup, but it’s a hopeful sign of a change in the political winds…

mlr701 on October 4, 2005 at 3:43 pm

Whhhhhhhoooooooooo-hooooooooooo!!!!

I may not agree with Hackett on a number of issues, but I have a lot of respect for him. I respect anyone who tells it like it is.

Bring on the web site and donation links!!

Dean Pajevic on October 4, 2005 at 3:51 pm

I’m searching for his campaign site … that’s how I ran across Chris Bowers’ nice piece from August.

WIll keep looking. If any of you might know how to find it, go for it, and i’ll add it to the story!

dblhelix on October 4, 2005 at 3:51 pm

You might want to read this:

http://www.mydd.com/section/house

under “Let’s Hope Brown Runs” filed today, OCt 4th.

Dean Pajevic on October 4, 2005 at 4:02 pm

I’ll post some of it so people can see … but regardless, Hackett is going to run and he’s met with Reid et al in D.C. I’m curious if Sherrod Brown will run.

And, what OTHER opposition might Hackett face in a primary?

Let’s hope Brown runs
by Jerome Armstrong
You can discount this as someone that’s on Brown’s team, but even if I had the opportunity to work for Hackett, I’d punt it (I did) to someone else. Others can gripe about my choosing sides, so yea, I plead guilty ahead of time.

Sherrod Brown should run for the US Senate, he’s our best shot at taking back the Senate seat, and will do the most for Democrats to grow organization in the state to win there in 2008.

What about Paul Hackett? Hackett can win, but let’s not kid here. Putting aside Zogby’s internet polling numbers, it’s a longshot. He’s not going to win on organization, but on the luck of television ads to be funded later. Dewine has $7M and a script of Hackett calling Bush a “son of a bitch.” Heck, even a nimrod could turn that into a serious definitional problem for Hackett right off the bat. Would I support Hackett for the Senate? Heck yea; better him than about anyone else. But if Sherrod Brown decides to run, there is no question that he is the choice for a statewide run.

Brown has the money ($3 million in the bank). Al Gore was just in Cleveland raising $500K for Brown asking him to run. Hackett next to zero money, and few connections in Ohio to raise money either. …
- media girl on October 4, 2005 at 5:05 pm
  
  I wish all this were discussed in terms of where the candidates stood on the issues, rather than how fat their wallets were.
  
  Brown seems to have a fairly consistent progressive track record (though I’m not big on his flag desecration amendment support). And this analysis (.pdf) indicates that he’s towards the progressive end of the House spectrum.
  
  Meanwhile, Hackett seems to be a cipher when it comes to the broad range of issues that reflect core values and affect most Americans. His website is full of broken links that point to stances on a lot of things, except civil rights, reproductive rights, equal protection, and many other areas.
  - Dean Pajevic on October 4, 2005 at 7:23 pm
    
    That is good to know. Hmmm .. why isn’t Hackett reprising his race for the House?
    
    P.S. He was kind of an ass on the Bill Maher show. Even Bill was turned off. And his lack of experience really bothers me…
    
    and you’re so right about the issues part. (Are you talking about his old Congressional race Web site or his new Senate Web site, which I couldn’t find?)
    - media girl on October 5, 2005 at 1:18 pm
      
      It was his congressional campaign site with the broken links. I missed his appearance on Maher.

rolfyboy6 on October 4, 2005 at 4:21 pm

Sherrod Brown is a long time Dem stalwart with money, organization, and contacts all over Ohio. Hackett is a celebrity in Blogistan. Both would be good, however in reality checking it’s apparent that Sherrod Brown has some real advantages to offer Ohio. He’s already been to Washington and wouldn’t start from point zero, he has national and state-wide contacts, and already has the nucleus of aides and constituent office people. I’d almost prefer for Hackett to win his Congressional District in 2006 and get some experience. We’re talking the United States Senate here. Yeah, I know, Hackett is cuter.

keepinon on October 4, 2005 at 5:10 pm

Don’t know enough about Ohio’s other Democratic prospects, but that aside, Major Hackett will certainly run an energetic race. If he is the Dems pick, I think he has a very good chance of winning. I think the folks in Ohio are feeling a bit guilty about Nov. 04, and will be looking to make some changes.

Steven D on October 4, 2005 at 6:49 pm

they’re not completely stupid.

This strikes me as sort of “Duh? Of course we run Hackett.”

I’m just not sure it was that easy for them to come to this decision however.

Cali Scribe on October 4, 2005 at 3:43 pm

As an untried candidate, Hackett almost defeated Schmidt in a district that overwhelmingly supported Bush in 2004.

In a statewide election, his chances should be greater, especially if he has gained any wisdom from his previous race.

Too early to count this as a Democratic pickup, but it’s a hopeful sign of a change in the political winds…
mlr701 on October 4, 2005 at 3:43 pm

Whhhhhhhoooooooooo-hooooooooooo!!!!

I may not agree with Hackett on a number of issues, but I have a lot of respect for him. I respect anyone who tells it like it is.

Bring on the web site and donation links!!
Dean Pajevic on October 4, 2005 at 3:51 pm

I’m searching for his campaign site … that’s how I ran across Chris Bowers’ nice piece from August.

WIll keep looking. If any of you might know how to find it, go for it, and i’ll add it to the story!
dblhelix on October 4, 2005 at 3:51 pm

You might want to read this:

http://www.mydd.com/section/house

under “Let’s Hope Brown Runs” filed today, OCt 4th.
- Dean Pajevic on October 4, 2005 at 4:02 pm
  
  I’ll post some of it so people can see … but regardless, Hackett is going to run and he’s met with Reid et al in D.C. I’m curious if Sherrod Brown will run.
  
  And, what OTHER opposition might Hackett face in a primary?
  
  Let’s hope Brown runs
  by Jerome Armstrong
  You can discount this as someone that’s on Brown’s team, but even if I had the opportunity to work for Hackett, I’d punt it (I did) to someone else. Others can gripe about my choosing sides, so yea, I plead guilty ahead of time.
  
  Sherrod Brown should run for the US Senate, he’s our best shot at taking back the Senate seat, and will do the most for Democrats to grow organization in the state to win there in 2008.
  
  What about Paul Hackett? Hackett can win, but let’s not kid here. Putting aside Zogby’s internet polling numbers, it’s a longshot. He’s not going to win on organization, but on the luck of television ads to be funded later. Dewine has $7M and a script of Hackett calling Bush a “son of a bitch.” Heck, even a nimrod could turn that into a serious definitional problem for Hackett right off the bat. Would I support Hackett for the Senate? Heck yea; better him than about anyone else. But if Sherrod Brown decides to run, there is no question that he is the choice for a statewide run.
  
  Brown has the money ($3 million in the bank). Al Gore was just in Cleveland raising $500K for Brown asking him to run. Hackett next to zero money, and few connections in Ohio to raise money either. …
  - media girl on October 4, 2005 at 5:05 pm
    
    I wish all this were discussed in terms of where the candidates stood on the issues, rather than how fat their wallets were.
    
    Brown seems to have a fairly consistent progressive track record (though I’m not big on his flag desecration amendment support). And this analysis (.pdf) indicates that he’s towards the progressive end of the House spectrum.
    
    Meanwhile, Hackett seems to be a cipher when it comes to the broad range of issues that reflect core values and affect most Americans. His website is full of broken links that point to stances on a lot of things, except civil rights, reproductive rights, equal protection, and many other areas.
    - Dean Pajevic on October 4, 2005 at 7:23 pm
      
      That is good to know. Hmmm .. why isn’t Hackett reprising his race for the House?
      
      P.S. He was kind of an ass on the Bill Maher show. Even Bill was turned off. And his lack of experience really bothers me…
      
      and you’re so right about the issues part. (Are you talking about his old Congressional race Web site or his new Senate Web site, which I couldn’t find?)
      - media girl on October 5, 2005 at 1:18 pm
        
        It was his congressional campaign site with the broken links. I missed his appearance on Maher.
rolfyboy6 on October 4, 2005 at 4:21 pm

Sherrod Brown is a long time Dem stalwart with money, organization, and contacts all over Ohio. Hackett is a celebrity in Blogistan. Both would be good, however in reality checking it’s apparent that Sherrod Brown has some real advantages to offer Ohio. He’s already been to Washington and wouldn’t start from point zero, he has national and state-wide contacts, and already has the nucleus of aides and constituent office people. I’d almost prefer for Hackett to win his Congressional District in 2006 and get some experience. We’re talking the United States Senate here. Yeah, I know, Hackett is cuter.
keepinon on October 4, 2005 at 5:10 pm

Don’t know enough about Ohio’s other Democratic prospects, but that aside, Major Hackett will certainly run an energetic race. If he is the Dems pick, I think he has a very good chance of winning. I think the folks in Ohio are feeling a bit guilty about Nov. 04, and will be looking to make some changes.
Steven D on October 4, 2005 at 6:49 pm

they’re not completely stupid.

This strikes me as sort of “Duh? Of course we run Hackett.”

I’m just not sure it was that easy for them to come to this decision however.

Paul Hackett to Face Sen. DeWine in 2006

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Dean Pajevic

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