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excerpts from the Iowa Daily Report January 2003 On GRAHAM, “He was clearly disturbed by the Lewinsky affair and was one of the Senate Democrats who seemed to be wavering for a while on the impeachment of Bill Clinton. In 2000 GRAHAM was on the short list of vice presidential nominees. Polls showed that he would have improved Al Gore’s showing in Florida.” (The Almanac of American Politics, 2002) Re GRAHAM: “His hope is to win the early South Carolina primary, followed by an impressive showing in other Southern primaries. But how can he get by Iowa and New Hampshire? He might be able to skip the Iowa caucuses, hut he could not finesse the New Hampshire primary as well. With New Hampshire virtually conceded to John KERRY from neighboring Massachusetts, GRAHAM would have to aim for second place there. No easy task.” (Evans & Novak column, Human Events, 1/13) “Democratic pros are still looking for somebody along the model of Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, a Southerner who can break the Republican hammerlock on Dixie and who talks like a moderate but acts like a liberal.” EDWARDS “fits the description, but there is serious doubt in party ranks about nominating a political novice who only four years ago was trying personal injury cases.” Because of that, GRAHAM has been “attracting more attention in party ranks than with the news media. Not only would he be considered a lock in critically important Florida, but would threaten President Bush in other important states.” (Evans & Novak column, Human Events, 1/13) Before undergoing heart surgery, GRAHAM indicated he had made plans to announce for the presidency on 2/3, but the decision is delayed until “the end of February.” He told CNN his tentative slogan was “best able to lead, most able to win.” Highlighting his “most able to win” theme, GRAHAM – a former Florida governor – noted that four of the last five presidents are former governors and (in an apparent effort to contrast with the northeast Dems) mentioned that the last three Democratic presidents were from Texas, Georgia and Arkansas. (“Inside Politics,” (CNN, 1/30)
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Bob
Graham