# Democrats: Nominate a "Red State" Governor **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 4, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025 "2004-11-04T19:40:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025/1 "2004-11-04T19:40:39Z")
This seems like such an obvious strategy to me. The road to the Whitehouse simply does not run thru the Senate. For either party. And forget the Northeast, or it will most likely produce yet another Dukakis. The [Nation Governor’s Association](http://www.nga.org/governors/1,1169,,00.html) lists all the Governors and is a pretty good reference. Anyone got a favorite governor to nominate? Bill Richardson might be a good candidate. He’d have appeal to Hispanics as well. The Democrats would be well advised to groom him, or another governor for '08. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025/2 "2004-11-04T20:13:19Z")
Elsewhere here I’ve already proposed Evan Bayh of Indiana. OK, not a governor now, but a former governor. And he was re-elected by a convincing margin in a deep-red state. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025/3 "2004-11-04T20:43:28Z")
Why would Democrats nominate a Repulican governor? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025/4 "2004-11-04T20:47:32Z")
Not a Republican governor, a Democratic governor from a state that voted red (for president) this November. Like Bob Graham of Florida may have been a good pick. ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025/5 "2004-11-04T20:49:11Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > Why would Democrats nominate a Repulican governor? 😕 Just because a state traditionally votes one way in the Presidential elections doesn’t mean they vote the same way for Governors. California and New York are both examples of this. They both voted fairly strongly Democrat with the Presidential elections, but both have Republican Governors. ---
**Author:** ![Israfel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/87869e/32.png) [@Israfel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Israfel)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025/6 "2004-11-04T20:52:36Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > Why would Democrats nominate a Repulican governor? 😕 Not all “red states” have republican governors. I agree- definitely a smart move for the democrats. Senators are more often than not unsuccessful in presidential bids and both parties should be wary of nominating them. Which is why I hope Frist doesn’t get the nod in 2008. Richardson is fairly popular among Democrats and moderates and (despite failing to deliver New Mexico this time around) should be a strong candidate. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025/7 "2004-11-04T20:56:36Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Like Bob Graham of Florida may have been a good pick. Is he an ex-governor? Obviously he’s not the incumbent. 🙂 But it doesn’t even have to be a “red state” governor. Maybe someone from PA or another mid-Atlantic state. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025/8 "2004-11-04T20:58:05Z")
The problem is that the Democrats don’t vote with one mind in the primaries. The primary process is not good at finding somebody who would be electable, but rather someone who’s not polarizing. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025/9 "2004-11-04T21:01:10Z")
Yeah, Bob Graham used to be governor of Florida. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025/10 "2004-11-04T21:02:27Z")
[Mark Warner](http://www.governor.virginia.gov/) (governor of Virginia)? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025/11 "2004-11-04T21:05:22Z")
[Mike Easley](http://www.governor.state.nc.us/) (governor of North Carolina)? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025/12 "2004-11-04T21:09:26Z")
[Phil Bredesen](http://www.state.tn.us/governor/) (governor of Tennessee)? (Actually a native of upstate New York, I believe.) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025/13 "2004-11-04T21:17:09Z")
[Brad Henry](http://www.governor.state.ok.us/display_article.php?article_id=73&article_type=1) (governor of Oklahoma)? ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025/14 "2004-11-04T21:20:08Z")
Bredeson’s a good Governor. He’s got a great reputation in the state. He’s a good speaker, and would likely play well nationally. ---
**Author:** ![Reloy3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c68b51/32.png) [@Reloy3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reloy3)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025/15 "2004-11-04T21:24:11Z")
How about my Governor, Dave Freudenthal - A wildly popular Democrat Governor in one of the most conservative states in the country - Wyoming. He is seen as a tough straight talker (McCain-like), has a history as a US Attorney (Strong on Law and order/ security issues), and is financially responsible (Wyoming had a relatively huge surplus, and he mostly prevented it being spent). His downsides? he is not likely to thrill the left wing of the Democratic party (he didn’t endorse either Pres. candidate initially), he is from a small state (But neither Gore or Edwards could claim their own states, so I think a candidate’s ability to draw in their own state’s EC votes is overstated), and he isn’t the most handsome guy in the world, but other than that, he might be a winner. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025/16 "2004-11-04T23:16:12Z")
> [@Reloy3](#): > > How about my Governor, Dave Freudenthal - A wildly popular Democrat Governor in one of the most conservative states in the country - Wyoming. He is seen as a tough straight talker (McCain-like), has a history as a US Attorney (Strong on Law and order/ security issues), and is financially responsible (Wyoming had a relatively huge surplus, and he mostly prevented it being spent). Sounds like someone I would gladly vote for over Bush. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025/17 "2004-11-05T00:43:48Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Sounds like someone I would gladly vote for over Bush. You mean Jeb? Do people seriously think he’ll run? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025/18 "2004-11-05T00:52:51Z")
How about [Bill Richardson](http://www.governor.state.nm.us/) from New Mexico?? He’s got a lot of folksy charm, he’s hispanic, and I think he’d have a lot of mass appeal. They should seriously consider nominating him for the top spot next time. -XT ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025/19 "2004-11-05T00:56:48Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > You mean Jeb? Do people seriously think he’ll run? I meant this time. I should have said “would’ve voted for”. Sorry for the confusion. > [@xtisme](#): > > ``` > How about Bill Richardson from New Mexico?? He's got a lot of folksy charm, he's hispanic, and I think he'd have a lot of mass appeal. They should seriously consider nominating him for the top spot next time. > > ``` Yeah, I mentioned him in my OP. What do you know about his stand on issues? Seems like he was on the short list for VP for awhile. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025/20 "2004-11-05T01:05:45Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Yeah, I mentioned him in my OP. What do you know about his stand on issues? Seems like he was on the short list for VP for awhile. Well, its difficult for me to really be objective in talking about Richardson…he’s a personal friend and a friend of the family. Like McCain. That said, I think he will have pretty good mass appeal. He’s a very personable guy. People just like the man (sort of like Bush but without all the other baggage). He will massively appeal to the Hispanic vote, and probably the minority vote in general. His positions are left of US center, but not radically so, and he has a pretty good record here in New Mexico, especially with education. He’ll do well in the debates. I think it was he that took his name off the short list of VP’s…I think he has his eye on 2008. The Democrats should seriously consider him. -XT [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-nominate-a-red-state-governor/273025.md?page=2)