Charlie Cook's take on the presidential candidates.......

[gratefultobelib]

I'd never heard of Mr. Cook, who writes the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, but he was on our local NPR show today and here's what I remember he said:

Barack Obama--It must have really been a tough decision to decide to run, particularly because he has 2 young children (maybe 6 and 8), but he had to know since he had gone around campaigning for others and drawing huge crowds that he was a hot item. In 2012 he might not be so hot, and after more years in the Senate, who knows what might happen. He doesn't think his lack of experience on the national scene will be that big of a hindrance.

Hillary Clinton--poll numbers are way up there. The party faithful cannot forgive her for the IRW vote, and want her to denounce her vote, which she is not going to do. Her stand is that she went in and voted on the best intelligence information available, and she and her handlers have decided it is more important not to be seen admitting to making a mistake. She's a woman and needs a strong image. She doesn't need to be the Big Dog from Hope, she is her own woman.

If Cook mentioned John Edwards, I don't remember it!

On the repub side, he seems to think John McCain has the edge, but sees room for a 3rd candidate, i.e. Michael Bloomberg, to be an Independent candidate (a la Ross Perot), come in late and actually win.

McCain--showing his age. He will be 72 in Nov 2008. Seems to be off his game.

Guiliani--could be the nominee but the base will not support his liberal views on abortion and gay rights.

Mitt Romney--his 180 degree turnaround on social issues is a real turnoff. Also people are suspicious of his Mormonism.

Candidates like Richardson, Levin, Vilsack, Huckabee just can't get air time due to the number of tier one candidates.

Cook thinks most people in the U.S. are really not paying that much attention to the jockeying for position. After the primaries next year, that will definitely change.


You can listen to the whole show at the link provided



http://www.kcur.org/uptodate.html#Wednesday

[kstewart33]

1. Thanks for the summary.

He sounds spot on.

So far, the Repubs have no candidate. Rudy's polling well, but there are so many skeletons in his closet, that by the time the Dems are through with him, he won't have a chance, IMO.

[Bucky]

2. People will pay attention AFTER the primaries? Gad!

Most people will become aware of what's going on after it's too late to do anything about it.

Guess that makes those of us who are awake on this count a little more relevant.
.

[Rydz777]

3. Bloomberg

Bloomberg has as much money as Ross Perot and could afford to mount his own campaign. I think the Perot campaign helped Bill Clinton, but I wonder whether Bloomberg would do more damage to the Democratic candidate or to the Reprobate.