Evan Bayh 2008 presidential campaign
Friends of Evan Bayh | |
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Dan Pfeiffer, Barry Wagman | |
Receipts | US$0 (2007-01-31) |
The 2008 presidential campaign of Evan Bayh, Democratic Senator and 46th Governor of Indiana, began shortly after the 2004 presidential election.
Although he was frequently mentioned as a possible challenger to frontrunner
Bayh spent a considerable amount of time campaigning throughout the early
Two weeks prior to his withdrawal, Bayh filed his organization with the
Early stages
Following the re-election of President
As word increased of Bayh's intentions, political scientists opined on the detractions of a run. Citing the fact that his eight years as governor may be nullified by its distance in time and that his visibility in the Senate was low, critics pondered whether moderate voters may be more inclined to line with possible candidate Mark Warner of Virginia. However, this criticism subsided once Warner decided against a run in October 2006.[1]
On the campaign trail
2005
Bayh traveled to the first primary state of
The following month, Bayh decided to vote against the confirmation of
Bayh continued to campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire as November 2005 approached. Media outlets reported that 10 potential presidential candidates had visited Iowa in October. When asked about the attention given to the state 26 months prior to the caucus, Bayh replied that he "wish[ed] the process didn't begin this early, but it does".
It was revealed in December 2005 that Bayh had raised $1.2 million in the first two quarters of 2005, more than any other potential candidate with the exception of Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee.[11] But the cash did not translate into high marks among possible voters as a CNN poll conducted December 9–11 found that Bayh had the support of only 1% of self-identified Democrats, placing him seventh among possible candidates.[12] Later in the month, Bayh was criticized by the video game industry for political posturing in his quest along with Senator Hillary Clinton to crack down on explicit content in video games. The manufacturers claimed that the movements were simply attempts to increase his appeal to values voters for his presidential run.[13]
2006
As 2006 began, Bayh had $9.5 million on hand, $3.1 million of which he had raised the previous year.[14] A large portion of his time in the first month was spent positioning himself. He took a hard-line against the government of Iran, referring to leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as having a "radical, almost delusional nature," and then criticized the Bush administration for "ignoring" the situation, stating that "diplomacy, economic sanctions, [and] other means" needed to be used.[15] For balance, just as he had in the previous year, Bayh voted against the appointment of a George W. Bush Supreme Court nominee when he cast his "no" vote for Samuel Alito. However, his fellow potential Democratic presidential peers, voted in a similar fashion.[16] Late in January, Bayh gained the position as speaker at the Jefferson-Jackson dinner in North Carolina for the upcoming April. The gain came as a loss for North Carolinian John Edwards, who also was considered a potential candidate for the Democratic nomination. A Bayh spokesman, commented that the Senator was chosen because he "has a lot of ideas about how to fix Washington and make America better". Prior to the event, in the beginning of February, Bayh made an appearance at the Congressional Black Caucus political action committee, spoke to the United Auto Workers conference, and made a trip back to Iowa for a plethora of events during the February 11–13 weekend.[14] By the end of the month and into March, Bayh criticized the Bush administration from the right, attempting to appeal to all segments of the political spectrum by speaking out against the plan to sell American ports to United Arab Emirates companies.[17]
March for Bayh began with reports that the potential candidate was one of the most conservative Democrats of the Senate. However, it was later revealed that he was the 19th most conservative Democrat during the
Bayh headlined the Jefferson-Jackson dinner for Michigan in the first week of April,[21] and made rounds on political talk shows throughout the month. He weighed in on the immigration debate, stating that the government should come up with a solution "without rewarding [and] violating the law, to bring [illegal immigrants] out of the shadows" and to "impose fines, [perform] criminal background checks" while making sure the immigrants "pay back taxes [and] learn English." He elaborated that it was in America's "national security interest" to give the immigrants "some kind of regular status here."[22] Later in the month, he traveled to North Carolina to deliver the keynote address at the Jefferson-Jackson dinner, just as he planned earlier in the year.[23]
Bayh continued campaigning in Iowa during May, making appearances in
While campaigning in Des Moines during the first week of July, Bayh commented that he would campaign for embattled Senator Joe Lieberman in his Connecticut primary fight against Ned Lamont if asked to do so, but stopped short of proclaiming support for the candidate if he lost the primary and decided to run as an Independent.[29] As he completed his fifth trip to Iowa, party officials in the state remarked that he was "making inroads" in the state, commenting that "Democrats are looking for somebody who is new and fresh."[30] The candidate revealed his economic goals during a speech, stating "that creating opportunity for middle-class Americans will be a centerpiece of my campaign." He then listed his objectives including: tax credits to pay for college tuition of low to mid-level income Americans, covering insurance costs of small businesses for its sickest employees, and incentives for saving and buying automobiles with "good gas mileage." However, in order to pay for these proposals, Bayh stated that raising taxes would be "a decision worth making".[31]
In August, Bayh spread his staffers trained at "Camp Bayh" throughout the critical early primary and caucus states, sending 25 to Iowa, 15 to New Hampshire, three to Nevada, two to South Carolina, and leaving five to remain in Indiana.[32] He returned to Iowa in mid-August, with a packed schedule that included fundraisers and a news conference for the "
Following Mark Warner's withdrawal from the race in October, Bayh looked to gain the most in the field of candidates. He immediately began to call former Warner supporters, hoping they would support his campaign.[37] During a visit to New Albany, Indiana, the candidate called for the 9/11 Commission's recommendations to be enacted.[38] Later in the month, he made a stop in Nevada to discuss senior issues with Nevada's gubernatorial candidate Dina Titus.[39]
The Democratic takeover of Congress during the
Exploratory committee
On December 3, 2006, Bayh announced that he would form an exploratory committee in order for him to travel and raise funds more effectively for a presidential run. Upon this declaration, the candidate appeared on
Withdrawal
Two weeks following his announcement, Bayh withdrew from the race, citing that "the odds were longer than I felt I could responsibly pursue". He further commented that a run would cause him to be "absent from the Senate...instead of working to help the people of my state and the nation."[46]
Employees
The following individuals worked as advisors to Bayh as members of the All America PAC and at the candidate's Senate office.[47] Media consultant Anita Dunn was slated to be given a promotion and replaced as the Friends of Evan Bayh committee was formed, but the campaign's brevity prevented any notable action.[48] Dunn would go on to serve as President Barack Obama's interim-White House Communications Director, replaced by another Bayh campaign employee, Daniel Pfeiffer, who currently holds the post.[49]
The campaign also featured
Position | Employee | Image |
---|---|---|
Senior Advisor | Nancy Jacobson | |
Senior Advisor | Thurgood Marshall Jr. | |
Chief Technology Officer | David Holtzman | |
Pollster | Paul Maslin | |
Media Consultant | Anita Dunn | |
Executive Director | Marc Farinella | |
Midwest Political Director | Chris Hayler | |
Northeast Political Director | Sean Downey | |
Communications Director | Daniel Pfeiffer | |
Chief Financial Officer | Barry E. Wagman | |
Finance Director | Kory Mitchell | |
Administrative Director | Tyler Bullen | |
Press Writer | Jonathan Kott | |
Policy Coordinator | Jennifer Linker | |
Technology/Internet Operations | Chris Smith | |
Online Organizer/Blogger | Ryan Alexander |
- Senate Office
Position | Employee |
---|---|
Chief of Staff | Tom Sugar |
Deputy Chief of Staff | Linda Moore Forbes
|
Reaction
Bayh was criticized throughout his campaign for being "boring" or "dull," but media outlets also described the candidate as "folksy" and displaying a "Midwest charm,"
After seeing 20 minutes of Evan Bayh, there wasn't much love or hate...They appreciated his down-to-earth appeal, but they wanted to see more passion.
Aftermath
Nine months following his withdrawal, Bayh endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton, stating that he believed she would "run a campaign that is both tough and smart when it comes to protecting our nation's security".[56] He campaigned with the former First Lady, sticking to her when the race tightened with the surging Senator Barack Obama.[57]
After Obama secured the nomination, Bayh endorsed the Senator from Illinois and was mentioned as a
Bayh later appeared at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, delivering a speech in support of the Democratic nominee stating: "The time for change has come and Barack Obama is the change we need".[63]
References
- ^ a b "Evan Bayh". George Washington University.
- ^ "Granite State Happenings". George Washington University.
- ^ "Granite State Happenings". George Washington University.
- ^ "Granite State Happenings". George Washington University.
- ^ "Bayh: Democrats Lack Credibility on Security Issues". Fox News. Associated Press. 2005-08-04.
- ^ Barabak, Mark (2005-08-20). "Politicians take early dip into '08 waters". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Bode, Ken (2005-09-30). "Criticism of Sen. Evan Bayh's Vote on John Roberts is "Nonsense"". Indianapolis Star.
- ^ "The Situation: Friday, October 28". CNN. 2005-10-28.
- ^ "Candidates Start Early in Iowa for 2008 Presidential Race". Fox News. 2005-11-03.
- ^ Novak, Robert (2005-12-19). "Long-term Rummy?". CNN.
- ^ Grimaldi, James V.; Schmidt, Susan (2005-12-05). "Dorgan Tangled in Abramoff Web". The Washington Post.
- ^ "Poll: Clinton vs. Giuliani in 2008". CNN. 2005-12-16.
- ^ "Lawmakers Target Video Game Retailers". ABC. 2005-12-17.
- ^ a b Cillizza, Chris; Murray, Shailagh (2006-01-28). "Swann's Popularity Has a Downside for Some Pennsylvania Republicans". The Washington Post.
- ^ "Senators: Military last option on Iran". CNN. 2006-01-16.
- ^ "Alito sworn in as nation's 110th Supreme Court justice". CNN. 2006-02-01. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
- ^ "Bayh Questions Arab Company's Possible Port Operations Takeover". WRTV. 2006-02-20. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- ^ Klein, Ezra (2009-04-03). "THE STRANGE CASE OF EVAN BAYH". The American Prospect.
- ^ "The Situation: Monday, March 6". CNN. 2006-03-06.
- ^ Kepple, Benjamin (2006-03-27). "Sen. Bayh tells Democrats he backs current primary". New Hampshire Union Leader.
- ^ "The Situation: Friday, April 7". CNN. 2006-04-07.
- ^ "Lawmakers draw immigration battle lines". CNN. 2006-04-04. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
- ^ "The Situation: Friday, April 28". CNN. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
- ^ "The Note: RealClearPolitics". ABC News. 2006-05-19.
- ^ Cillizza, Chris (2006-06-12). "Schumer Gets Cold Shoulder for Endorsement". The Washington Post.
- ^ "Senate votes against withdrawal proposals". Associated Press. 2006-06-23.
- ^ Rioux, Paul (2006-06-24). "Indiana senator tours Slidell damage". The Times Picayune.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Senators back Big Easy rebuilding". The Washington Times. 2006-06-24.
- ^ Preston, Mark (2006-07-07). "Bush confidently predicts GOP wins in November". CNN.
- ^ a b Glover, Mike (2006-07-08). "Sen. Bayh Seeks Edge in Democratic Field". The Washington Post.
- ^ Lee, Mara (2006-07-18). "Evan Bayh targets middle-class voters". Courier Press.
- ^ Preston, Mark (2006-08-10). "Democrats lead in generic ballot". CNN.
- ^ Preston, Mark (2006-08-15). "Santorum closes gap, but still faces an uphill battle for re-election". CNN.
- ^ "Presidential Candidates Take On Wal-Mart". The New York Times. 2006-08-17.
- ^ Halperin, Mark; Chalian, David; Davis, Teddy; Bradley, Tahman Nitya; Venkataram, Nitya; O'Donnell, Emily; Seshasai, Karuna; Rapheal, Mona; Anderson, Erica; Jones, Catrin (2006-09-15). "The Note: Independent Fighters Under Ken Mehlman's Direction". ABC News.
- ^ "ANALYSIS WEEK 5: The first exit". Haaretz Israel News. 2006-10-30.
- ^ Cillizza, Chris (2006-10-13). "Democrats Work to Fill Ideological, Electoral Void". The Washington Post.
- ^ Mann, David (2006-10-06). "Bayh talks homeland security, Iraq". News and Tribune.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-21.
- ^ Halperin, Mark; Chalian, David; Davis, Teddy; Bradley, Tahman; Baker, Sarah; Jones, Jones; Anderson, Erica; Steinberger, Daniel (2006-10-19). "The Note: Mature and Incurably Green". ABC News.
- ^ Lawrence, Jill (2006-11-08). "Elections help sort out playing field for 2008". USA Today.
- ^ "THE 2006 ELECTIONS: THE OVERVIEW; For Democrats, Time to Savor Victory at Last". The New York Times. 2006-11-08.
- ^ Bell, Diane (2006-11-21). "In Hollywood, why not basketball hoop in office?". Union-Tribune.
- ^ Ferraro, Thomas (2006-11-27). "Likability poll bad news for Kerry". The Washington Post.
- ^ Cillizza, Chris (2006-12-03). "Bayh Considers Presidential Bid". The Washington Post.
- ^ Clark, Amy S. (2006-12-15). "Bayh Bailing On '08?". CBS News.
- ^ a b "Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh Compares '08 Presidential Prospects to 'David and Goliath'". Fox News. Associated Press. 2006-12-16.
- ^ "Key People-Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)". George Washington University. 2006-12-13.
- ^ Cillizza, Chris (2006-12-04). "Bayh Considers Presidential Bid". The Washington Post.
- ^ Cillizza, Chris (November 10, 2009). "Dunn leaving White House, Pfeiffer takes over". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
- ^ Eurie, Stacy Boulware (June 2004). "Thurgood Marshall, Jr: A Call To Citizen Service". Sacramento Lawyer. Sacramento County Bar Association. Archived from the original on June 26, 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
- ^ "Key People- Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)". p2008.org. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ^ Curry, Tom (2006-05-22). "Bayh gets a taste for '08 during an Iowa tour". NBC News.
- ^ Cook, Charlie (2006-05-07). "Circling the White House". The Washington Post.
- ^ Davison, Nicole (2006-04-07). "Potential 2008 Presidential Candidate Senator Evan Bayh to Visit HBS". Harvard University. Archived from the original on 2008-10-18.
- ^ Dickinson, Tim (2006-04-05). "UPDATE: Handicapping 2008". Rolling Stone.[dead link]
- ^ Barrett, Delvin (2007-09-24). "Bayh Endorses Clinton for President". The Washington Post. Associated Press.
- ^ Healy, Patrick (2008-03-20). "Clinton Campaigns With Bayh in Indiana". The New York Times.
- ^ Barrett, Ted (June 10, 2008). "Obama VP team discusses 20 possible picks". CNN. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
- ^ "Sources: Bayh, Kaine out of Obama VP race - Barack Obama News - NBC News". NBC News. August 22, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
- ^ Tapper, Jake. "Obama Makes VP Choice, Keeps It Secret". ABC News.
- ^ "Bayh was about a 'coin toss' away from being veep, book says". IndyStar.com. November 1, 2009. Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
- ^ "Sen. Bayh lost 'coin toss' for VP slot – Legislative notebook". Evansville Courier & Press. November 1, 2009. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
- ^ Superville, Darlene (2008-08-28). "Potential Obama veeps get turn on stage". Dallas Morning News.