It’s time Massachusetts launched one other candidate for president.
Not a joke, as Joe Biden would say.
Trying again, it’s 65 years since Massachusetts Democrat Sen. John F. Kennedy was elected president in 1960, turning into the primary Roman Catholic to be elected to the best workplace within the land.
Since then, three distinguished Massachusetts Democrats and one Republican have run for president and all have misplaced—Sen. Edward M. “Ted” Kennedy, brother of JFK, in 1980, Gov. Michael Dukakis in 1988, Sen John F. Kerry in 2004 and Republican Gov. Mitt Romney in 2012.
All 4 had been crushed.
Ted Kennedy misplaced to fellow Democrat President Jimmy Carter within the Democrat primaries and on the occasion conference. Carter was defeated within the election by Republican Ronald Reagan.
Whereas each Dukakis and Kerry each gained their occasion’s nomination, each had been defeated within the November elections, Dukakis by Vice President George H.W. Bush, and Kerry by Bush’s son Texas Gov. George W. Bush.
Romney was crushed by President Barack Obama.
Now, imagine it or not, comes Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey who, like her Massachusetts predecessors, can be apparently dreaming Washington goals.
Healey, after all, should win reelection in 2026 for something to occur, the best way Dukakis did in 1986, earlier than dreaming of going nationwide.
And Healey would want a weak main subject to run towards, which is what each Dukakis and Kerry had after they gained their occasion’s nomination.
Dukakis’ important opponent was civil rights chief Jesse Jackson. His different lengthy forgotten opponents had been Sen. Al Gore of Tennessee, Sen. Paul Simon of Illinois and Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri.
Kerry’s opponents had been Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and Gen. Wesley Clark of Arkansas.
Scouring the political panorama and the Democrat’s ludicrous response to Trump’s boffo congressional speech Tuesday, the occasion continues to be in a state of disarray.
If it doesn’t stand for hate of Trump, it could stand for nothing in any respect.
Not solely has the occasion cratered earlier than the dominance of Trump, but it surely seems to have extra craters than the moon.
The Democrat Get together is leaderless.
So why not run?
Having served two phrases, Republican President Donald Trump won’t be on the poll, and Vice President JD Vance will more than likely be the favourite to be the Republican candidate to succeed him.
And on the left, the 2028 Democrat Get together nomination for president will likely be up for grabs.
It’s uncertain the occasion will once more have Kamala Harris as its candidate, not after her abysmal efficiency towards Trump in 2024.
She may run for governor of California in 2026 to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom who’s time period restricted.
And, talking of Gavin, the two-term governor is so politically weakened by California’s issues, each pure and man-made, that his political future is on life help.
The Democrat Get together is so weak, and so bereft of great leaders that even Minnesota Gov. Timi Walz (“Tampon Tim”), Harris’ daffy vice-presidential operating mate, is toying with the thought of operating for president.
And whereas Trump and the GOP are driving excessive in the present day, controlling the presidency, the Home and the Senate, something can occur between now and 2028.
Healey, in the meantime, has raised her nationwide profile along with her ongoing assaults on Trump. She scored a fawning New York Occasions puff piece final weekend that drew lots of consideration. She additionally appeared Wednesday on “Late Evening With Seth Meyers” on NBC.
The problems apart, Healey brings to the Democrat Get together nationwide scene one thing different candidates should not have.
Whereas the Democrat Get together has run ladies for president, albeit it unsuccessfully— Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Harris in 2024— Democrats haven’t run a girl who’s a governor and overtly homosexual, like Healey. She may be a vice-presidential operating mate.
Individuals will dump on the dreamy concept, simply as they dumped on Dukakis’ dream. However Dukakis did win the occasion nomination.
Typically a possible nationwide candidate, like a prophet or prophetess, is usually not acknowledged in his, or her, personal nation.
With nobody else round, what has she acquired to lose?
Veteran political reporter Peter Lucas might be reached at: peter.lucas@bostonherald.com
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