Neither the GOP nor the Democratic faithful can be doing backflips these days. Tonight is the night of the big Democratic Party Autumn harvest fundraiser at the Old Labor Hall in Barre, where many were hoping to see some sort of great unveiling of a candidate to run against incumbent Governor Jim Douglas. Could still happen, I suppose, but nobody's holding their breath.
In fact what some from the liberal wing of the Party are doing is turning their frustration towards organizing, with reports of progressive Dems quietly having conversations about drafting a candidate themselves, rather than continue feeling humiliated by the lack of one. There are also murmurs of a floor challenge to Chair Ian Carleton during reorganization if no candidate has emerged by then. Tough stuff, but it's clear a lot of folks are choosing activism as an alternative to despair.
But on the other hand, how rough must it be to be a Vermont Republican these days? Sure, Douglas has got the Dem field cowering – but he is an electoral juggernaut who has trounced his last two opponents and has held elective statewide office since time immemorial. Peter Welch, on the other hand, is but a lowly freshman US Representative who has only been on one statewide ballot successfully…
While elected with a comfortable margin, it was hardly a landslide, and the guy has received almost daily taunts suggesting he'll be only a one-termer.
And yet, who have the Republicans got to take him on?
Exactly. Bupkus.
The rumors of Jeff Wennberg came and went quickly with nothing of substance to back them up. the only muttered hope of the Grand Ol' Party would seem to be former Auditor of Accounts Randy Brock, who has enough of the green to bankroll himself.
But he's hardly a stellar candidate, and is likely smart enough to steer clear, given that Welch has been busting his butt to stay in the media, to keep in steady contact with constituents, and is earning a reputation as the hardest working freshman in Washington – and is going to put any opponent at a serious fundraising disadvantage. The RCCC is abysmally low on money and has way too many vulnerable incumbents, so its likely a candidate would not get any national help in what's shaping up to be another Democratic electoral landslide.
Just recently added to the mix is a recent email that went out to Welch supporters from “Campaign Manager Carolyn Dwyer,” suggesting that the same, highly-lauded election team may be back in the mix for round two. That probably doesn't make potential chalengers feel any better.
So yeah, I'm pissed about the whole Governor thing as a D…
…but hey – at least I ain't an R.