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The 2012 Presidential Campaign is odd in that among potential candidates, there are a dearth of Congressional Candidates.
After both parties nominating U.S. Senators in 2008, there are few members of Congress mentioned as Presidential Candidates. Senator John Thune (R-SD) is the only exception. Of course, he faces re-election in 2010. However, he really only has to worry about suffering the curse of George Allen if Rep. Stephanie Sandlin (D-SD) leaves her safe Congressional perch to challenge Thune. Still, Thune will do as a 2008 Congressional vanity candidate for the Presidency.
Congressional vanity candidates have been part of every election I’ve seen since 1996. They come from the U.S. House or Senate with a wide variety of legislative specialities and experience. Some candidates are running on a particular issue. Others simply want to let you know about all the great legislation they passed. Others are just starved for attention. Whatever the case, these vanity candidate always show up on the hustings. However, they lack the national organization, money, resources, base, or media attention to run an effective campaign. A look at some recent vanity Congressional Canidates for the presidency:
Italics indicates the candidate withdrew before any primaries were held.
Beyond Thune, I could also see Norm Coleman making a bid for the White House should he be re-elected and Pawlenty not choose to run for President. Beyond that, we may be headed for a low water mark in Congressional Vanity candidates. I can’t think of anyone from the House, and the Senate is pretty well tapped out.
If you’ve got suggestions leave them in the comments.
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:56 am
How about Susan Collins?
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:58 am
I wouldn’t be surprised by Jim DeMint.
Susan Collins won’t do it.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Maybe Lindsey Graham? or perhaps Mike Pence.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Jim DeMint came to mind, but he’d be too serious a candidate, as would Mike Pence.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:09 pm
My immediate thought was Mike Pence.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:11 pm
If Jim DeMint is really a serious candidate, then this party is headed downhill quickly.
Put simply, he’s quite crazy.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:12 pm
There’s already a 527 here in SC running ads about DeMint being SC’s best Senator.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Norm Coleman? Are you serious? Maybe Al Franken will run too and we’ll be treated to another recount!
Also: Mike Pence is not a serious candidate the presidency, nor is Jim DeMint. They have no distinguishing qualities other than being loyal to the party’s conservative base. That does not cut it in presidential politics.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
There’s already a 527 here in SC running ads about DeMint being SC’s best Senator.
The better of two? Gosh, he’s in the top 50%, too, isn’t he?
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Pence. And he’ll get approximately as far as Duncan Hunter
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:21 pm
There’s already a 527 here in SC running ads about DeMint being SC’s best Senator.
Given his competition…
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Eric Cantor
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:05 pm
In this just completed cycle, Chris Dodd was not so much a vanity candidate as he was a place holder for the Kennedys’ to assess whether their real candidate Obama was going to fly and be able to credibly challenge Hillary. As long as Dodd was in the race, the Kennedys’ could beg off any endorsement pressure from the Clintons and not have to endorse Obama before they were sure he would fly. Remember, most all of the “Court Jesters of Camelot” (and their descendants, e.g., Axelrod) were working for Obama from the start. All of this may seem trivial but in politics it is important to know where the bodies are buried and who is connected to who.
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:20 pm
The best vanity candidates aren’t easy to identify in advance, because what truly makes it a vanity candidacy is having no answer to the question “Why in the world is HE running?” Orrin Hatch, Chris Dodd, and Bob Graham are exemplars of that. At least Specter, Dornan, and Kucinich all had something stuck in their craw or maybe even a screw loose.
So think the 5-6 most generic Republican Senators, and you can bet one of them- especially if they are nearing the end of their career- will be your vanity candidate.
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Ron Paul!
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Bark,
Ron Paul certainly can’t win, and in that respect it looks like vanity. But I think he is a crusading prophet- or at least in his own mind. He comes from a conservative tradition that has very few voices in the GOP today, and for that reason alone, his candidacy has purpose. I didn’t vote for Paul, but if we had heeded his warnings a few years ago about the credit crunch we’d be in a lot better position.
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
I like Ron Paul…as a congressman. Though he probably makes a better prophet than executive. I just threw his name in there because he seemed to fit the congressional vanity candidate model better than most.
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Bark,
“Though he probably makes a better prophet than executive.”
I agree with that. If I were President, I would keep him around as an advisor. I wouldn’t have him run a Department or agency, but I would like to have his advice handy.
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Adam, you are aware that 2012 is four years from now, right? And to say that there are a “dearth of Congressional candidates” is rather silly at this point, right?
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Lindsay Graham – could be seen as the ‘heir apparent’ to McCain and inherit some of his campaign infrastructure.
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Ron Paul raised more money than most of the Republican candidates in 07, that alone clearly does not make him a vanity candidate.
He also had a serious message. Ron Paul actually started a movement in this country and especially with the youth.
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Yes, Lindsay Graham would definitely fit the vanity mold. He has no cause. He has no chance. At least half the party hates him.
But I could see him running.
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Lindsay Graham could be the comprehensive immigration reform, anti-earmarks, military experience candidate and maybe could even get Joe Lieberman and McCain to campaign for him (get the band back together again).
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:28 pm
I like Lindsey Graham a lot. But I’m in a serious minority. So I’m not going to fight this fight right now.