Presidential candidates already catching eyes, though still early
(Eighth in a series)
By Chip Drago
Mobile Bay Times
From Christopher Dodd to George Pataki, prospective presidential candidates -- announced or not, forthright or coy -- still seek to catch the eyes of influential politicos and the "Big Mo'" that could lead to their party's nomination.
With that in mind, the Mobile Bay Times contacted a number of local and state politicos to assess the lay of the presidential campaign in the here and now.
"I am currently corresponding with Al Gore to encourage him to run. I think he is far and away the best candidate, and I truly wonder if Hillary or Barack is electable. Barack would be a good vice president to Gore, and I think a lot of folks would be more comfortable with a black VP first before a black president. Hillary has a lot of negatives, and I think sexism would hurt her. I think Al is seriously considering a run, but that is a hunch not based on anything significant he has told me."
-- Mead Miller,
restaurateur
"I don’t have a candidate yet."
-- Luther Strange,
unsuccessful GOP nominee for lieutenant governor
"Too early to get involved."
-- Sydney Raine,
Mobile Works
"Just as with any contested Republican primary I am not going to endorse or actively participate in any campaign until the general election although I have seen where several county chairs across the state have gone public in support of one candidate or another. It will be interesting to see if (Wisconsin's Tommy) Thompson’s entry significantly impacts the current running order. I still contend that the current frontrunners will need to select a Southern or mid-western social conservative as a running mate to solidify the base."
-- Mark Erwin,
Mobile County GOP chairman
"I am supporting the candidate who has yet to announce, Newt Gingrich.
"Although Newt may have a few skeletons in his closest, but what politician doesn’t, he is the only candidate with a plan. His book, Winning the Future, ought to be required reading by all Americans. I am not implying that everyone would agree with his plan, but I do think he will cause people of intelligence to think about what has been happening in this country and what we must do in the very near future to secure our role as the world economic and military power. If we don’t, we are going to find ourselves answering to the Chinese by 2020.
We have created too many messes in this country, i.e. social security, health care, education, homeland security, immigration, etc. and we must take drastic measures to reform these before it is too late. I believe Newt Gingrich is the only candidate with the leadership ability to bring bi-partisan support to solving these very serious problems. He has the experience and he has the intelligence. The rest of the field, both democrats and republicans, are flip flopping away!"
-- Mike Thompson,
CPA
"Not sure yet."
-- Riley Boykin Smith,
former director of state Conservation Department
"Gov. Bill Richardson is absolutely the most qualified of all the candidates, Democratic or Republican, and I without hesitation support his candidacy. I wouldn’t mind seeing Tom Vilsacks of Iowa or Dodd on the Richardson ticket as VP. If Gore jumps in, I would definitely support a Gore-Richardson ticket."
-- Christ Coumanis,
Mobile attorney
While I intend to be a candidate for delegate to the Republican convention, I have not made up my mind which candidate I will be listed for, but John McCain is my first choice at this date."
-- George Callahan,
former state senator
"I am presently uncommitted. Probably leaning towards McCain, as a moderate Republican. I prefer him over Giuliani because of his experience at the national level."
-- John Furman,
assistant district attorney
