Now Begins the Campaign

The Commercial Appeal has already started campaigning for Bob Clement, running against Lamar! for Senator Fred Thompson's seat. It's in this story.

Written by the Washington bureau reporter, James W. Brosnan, it's a largely sympathetic overview of his positions on various big issues, but drawn from single examples. For example, Clement's position on "Labor Rights" is drawn entirely from a vote on the Clinton Administration's effort to introduce new ergonomic legislation. "Foreign Affairs" draws from the Persian Gulf War, Serbia and Cuba! It's almost as though Brosnan wrote this up off-the-cuff, drawing from memory.

The opening is fun:

Lamar Alexander, the Republican nominee,
will say Clement is a liberal who will vote
with Sens. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and
Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.).

Clement will describe himself as a moderate-conservative and maverick
who will often vote against the Democratic majority.

The first paragraph is correct, at least as Brosnan reported it last week. I suspect that's not a winning strategy, as now the AP has begun to paint Hillary as a moderate. A better comparison, at least in the negative sense though it can also backfire, would be to Harold Ford, Jr. He's a know, liberal quantity in this State.

The second paragraph is the meat of it all. "He's a Democrat, sure, but a safe one! Vote for him." The CA will naturally support the Democrat in this race, even against former Governor and income tax supporter Lamar! Alexander. So now the pimping begins. If a reader from his district, or one familiar with him, can write in with some background or links, I'll run it.

Until next time, that is all.
Your Working Boy