Politics: A look at the RI 2008 U.S. Senate Race

Recent discussion on many of the blogs and forums across the state have been speculating between a Jon Scott run for U.S. Senate, Jack Reed as the Secretary of Defense in a Democratic White House in 2009, and how the General Assembly would respond to a Senate vacancy if this were the case.

 

N4N reports transcripts from a 10 News Conference quote Jack Reed ruling out a possible Cabinet position:

 TARICANI: Let’s talk a little bit about your future, we’ve asked you this before, should a Democrat get elected president in 2008 and should you be requested or nominated to be Secretary of Defense, would you accept that position?

REED: No. My intention and hope is that I will be re-elected by the people of Rhode Island.  I am very privileged to serve as a United States Senator and I hope they will give me the opportunity to serve the state and the nation for six more years.

TARICANI: So you are ruling that out.

REED: Yes.

I believe this response resembles the classic, political, diplomatic answer.  Reed knows he should not be discussing this possibility with assertiveness while it is still 2007 and the speculation of this circumstance has no grounds for verity.  Regardless, he will be running a re-election campaign in 2008 and his loyalties lie with the people of Rhode Island at this time.  However, if all the circumstances fall the right way for Reed…meaning a 2008 Democratic White House…I have a hard time believing Reed would give up a Cabinet position.

…Or would he if it meant a Republican would fill his seat?

Tom Shevlin at RIReport wrote last week about a possible Jon Scott run for United States Senate in ‘08.  With little to lose, and everything to gain, Scott should be thinking very seriously about this possibility.  The biggest question I would be asking if I were Scott would be if this comes too prematurely in my political career.  Voters don’t like unsuccessful, perennial candidates.  While a Scott for Senate run would position him nicely if the Democrats win in 2009, and if the new President appoints Reed, and if Reed accepts the position, it otherwise could tarnish Scott’s fresh persona and make him appear to be a true “politician” who essentially runs for office for its own sake.  A lower profile run for State Senate or City Council would not affect Scott’s image and credibility as much as a high profile, U.S. Senate race would.  Scott has demonstrated interest in National politics so I personally believe a low profile run would be less likely.

Of course, Scott’s success at filling Reed’s seat in the Senate largely depends on whether the Governor exercises his executive privilege to appoint the vacancy or if the General Assembly would attempt to strip the Governor from this power.  In a state where politics is a spectator sport and Republicans are despised, I would bet the Democratic General Assembly would not go down without a fight. 

While 2009 seems far away, the campaigns and strategy necessary for a successful U.S. Senate campaign need to be gearing up quite soon.  It will be interesting to watch this situation play out.