People think analysts are full of poo
The Ford blog links to this story, which says:
“Some analysts think the Democrats could stage a surprise here. This seat will be open, because Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is leaving, and the Democrats are tapping U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr. as their candidate.
Actually, Ford stands no chance and I’ll call it now. The trick to winning in Tennessee is the middle and eastern sections of the state and Ford doesn’t have them. Sure, he’s a darling in Memphis but elsewhere people don’t know who he is. Or care.
Ford is a dynamic African-American congressman from a prominent political family; he’s already airing TV ads.
The problem is that the South has never elected an African-American to the Senate.
Really? What about Hiram Revels of Mississippi? Not only was he in the south but he was the first black senator. And he was a (gasp!) Republican. Seems like Dick Polman is making shit up.
Another potential problem is that his uncle, a Memphis politician, was indicted by a federal grand jury on bribery charges.
Ayup.
Update: In light of Manish’s comments, I will note that there is conflicting information on whether or not Hiram was elected or appointed. At the time, there was no 17th amendment so senators were not popularly elected but were elected by the state legislature. Most sources I’ve found say he was elected, which has to mean elected by the legislature.
So, Dick Polman may be correct or not, depending on what your definition of elected is.
Another black senator from the south is Blanche K. Bruce.
August 9th, 2005 at 9:34 am
Oh yeah, his Uncle. From that prominent political family. Isn’t his father just as infamous too??
August 9th, 2005 at 9:57 am
“Another potential problem is that his uncle, a Memphis politician, was indicted by a federal grand jury on bribery charges.”
I would have thought that would have been a major problem, but his uncle helped Jr out by resigning and just keeping his head down as he awaited trial. I think it is going to be less of a problem than it was because his uncle did this.
August 9th, 2005 at 12:24 pm
dude…learn to read. From the link:
The Mississippi state legislature sent him to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate during Reconstruction, and he quickly became an outspoken opponent of racial segregation. Although Revels’ term in the Senate lasted just a year, he broke new ground for African Americans in Congress.
You’ll note that he wasn’t elected to the Senate and being there a year would suggest that he either lost his election bid or didn’t run. Also, he was a Republican during Reconstruction. The R’s and the D’s were slightly different parties in that era.
SayUncle says:
I was researching Revels and had multiple links open and pasted the wrong one. the other that I read is here and states In 1870 Revels was elected as the first African American member of the United States Senate. .
Other sites (the latter link also being a congressional website) also state he was elected. Not sure who is correct at this point since I’m getting conflicting data.
Note: currently, I am banned from commenting at my own site. Not sure now, hence the comment edit.
August 9th, 2005 at 1:46 pm
Just curious: Has the South sent an African-American to the Senate since 1870? If not, then while the Ford blog was technically incorrect, the larger point stands.
August 9th, 2005 at 1:52 pm
Two words: Marion Barry.
August 9th, 2005 at 3:43 pm
Ford is not quite the “darling” of Memphis any more. The media love him, especially the daily newspaper, but he’s encountering some surprise opposition among Shelby County Democrats. His primary oppenent, Rosalind Kurita, is getting good notice here, too.
Tennessee isn’t through with Fords, either. Ophelia Ford, who at 55 has no political experience whatsoever (bar campaign help), won the Democratic primary for John’s seat. She faces a Republican who is liked, but won’t be able to beat her due to demographics. She’s essentially got the seat now. She won in part thanks to help from robo-calls by her older brother, Harold Sr.