The Democrats don’t have any easy targets in next year’s senatorial elections, but it’s interesting to see an emerging strategy they have. In 2008, the Democrats successfully ran Kay Hagan against Elizabeth Dole in North Carolina. Sen. Hagan is the niece of Lawton Chiles who served as both a senator and the governor of Florida. This seems to be a model for the 2014 campaign, with Alison Lundergan Grimes running in Kentucky and Michelle Nunn running in Georgia. Ms. Grimes is the sitting Secretary of State, but she is also the daughter of former Kentucky Democratic chairman Jerry Lundergan, who is a close ally of the Clintons. And Ms. Nunn is the daughter of former Georgia Senator Sam Nunn.
Of course, the Republicans are dealing with something similar in Wyoming where Liz Cheney is challenging incumbent Republican Senator Mike Enzi. But that seems more like a rouge operation than part of a Republican strategy.
It’s interesting that these women all have the advantage of having a father who has already created some credentials. It’s given them a political leg-up, but Dubya taught us that the offspring is not necessarily the equal of the parent. Come to think of it, so did Evan Bayh.
Now you’ve got me thinking:
Godfather II was better than the original. (Yes, it was. Oh, yes it was!)
Have there been any political heirs who were better than the original?
I always think Godfather II is better until I watch Godfather. Then I change my mind.
How would you rate the Roosevelts?
You’re right, there’s one.
I was actually not asking a rhetorical question. I tend to think both Roosevelts were great presidents in their time and did big things. Trying to claim that one is greater than the other is probably a disservice to both. But certainly I would say that Franklin was every bit the equal of his uncle (or fifth cousin or whatever you call it).
Meh. He was good on a lot of things. But he wanted to be an emperor.
How would you rate Alf Landon and Nancy Kassebaum?
The Albert Gores? I’d take the son over the father there. Jerry over Pat Brown?
Jerry Brown is the best answer yet.
Name recognition and the contact list for fundraising no doubt give political families an advantage.
Plus political advice – it’s hard to ignore someone’s thoughts if they have won. At the same time, winning is a combination of tactics, strategy, and someone having a car accident at the wrong time. Lot of random stuff happens.
Pun intended?
Beat me to it!
For women candidates who have a track record, whatever the truth of the situation, the family connection give them the appearance of being less “aggressive” . it’s possible, however, this dynamic backfires on Liz Cheney, because her run appears to be her father extending his reach. (partly because that’s what all her talk show appearances were about and she didn’t appear to have qualifications for the state dept job – whether she did is not the point, the appearance of it but it looked like nepotism
That’s interesting. Living in Cook County I can attest to that. Name recognition is a huge part of the election.
I guess it has always been so to a large degree, but more and more the US seems to be evolving into a kind of Monarchy – absent a royal family but very much with a class of Noble families.
See also: NASCAR.
Kay Hagan has done a good job for North Carolina and deserves re-election. It is gonna be tough, but if we put our shoulders to the wheel, we can get it done. Voter suppression efforts by the Republican General Assembly will force Democrats to adopt an aggressive absentee ballot program and target and turnout as many 2012 Obama voters as we can.