Thursday, October 12, 2006

More Warner   [Rich Lowry]

The Hotline's quick take:

Technically, Mark Warner never was running for the WH '08 Dem nod, but his announcement this a.m. has the feel of someone dropping out of an active campaign.
— Warner had been running unofficially for 2 years and seemed to have dotted all the "i"s and crossed "t"s with his family. No Dem except Hillary Clinton had as big a staff in place, ready to go.
— When a candidate like Warner, who had so much going for him (consensus top-tier candidate) decides to quit, one can't help but wonder why. The family thing rings very true considering the climate of scrutiny we live in. Could it be that more and more candidates (or families of candidates) just lack the stomach to face increased personal digging from new media muckrakers? Rumors become truths (even if they're falsehoods) much faster these days.
— Warner's exit frees up a LOT of money and talent for other '08 Dems. The two big beneficiaries: John Edwards and Evan Bayh (Bill Richardson and Tom Vilsack too). But his exit also leaves a "new flavor" vacuum, which could yet be filled by Barack Obama. With new low-hanging financial fruit available, will IL's junior senator make his move?

10/12 12:40 PMShare