« Here It Is: Mitt's Dropping-Out Speech | Home | MoveOn Raised Almost $360,000 For Obama Since Yesterday »
Dem Congresswoman Hooley Retires, Setting Up Potential Close Election
In a rare development for this cycle, a House Democrat from a swing seat is retiring. Six-term Congresswoman Darlene Hooley (OR), aged 68, announced today that she is not running again because of a desire to move on after 32 years of public service.
The district might be a tough fight for the Dems to hold — President Bush carried it by one point in 2004, and her self-financing opponent from 2006 has been eyeing another run. However, Hooley said that the prospects of Dems picking up seats this November actually made her decision easier: "I think it will be easier to elect a Democrat this year, and I don't know about two years."
Advertisement
Bush carried the district by one point in 2004? Doesn't sound too difficult to me.
Besides, I am sure there is a whole slate of backup Dem challengers out there. I know many were itching for a campaign fight with Sen. Gordon Smith (R).
February 7, 2008 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is a good context to ask a fundamental question: what name, Clinton or Obama, on the presidential ticket would give us a better shot at winning Oregon 5th district?
We can generalize this: what would be the gap in congressional seats won in November between the 2 candidates?
Comparing Clinton's 50+1% with Obama's 50 states strategies, as well as their appeal to independents and even republicans, I think we might be talking about at least 10 seats, maybe a lot more.
Surely, neither candidate will win all states. But the question is: how can we make Oregon 5th safe, how can we squeeze one more seat out of Idaho or Utah?
Clinton is a great defensive candidate: she said she can handle any right-wing attack; she has wonderful support from the poor and of the older, the categories that most need safety.
But this year, the democratic party should play offense. I can't remember when, in recent history, odds were even half as good.
February 7, 2008 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink