Douglas Has Huge Liabilities in a Senate Race

GOP Gov. Jim Douglas is widely considered to be the strongest Republican candidate to run for the open Senate seat in Vermont in 2006. But, as the LA Times reports, while Douglas is being courted by the White House, he is "a very reluctant" candidate. Why? A few reasons. First, as Vermont political scientist Garrison Nelson notes, Vermont is "now a clear blue state" meaning "it's Sanders' seat to lose." But even more than that could be Douglas's highly controversial positions and friendship with George W. Bush - not exactly a popular figure in Vermont:

DOUGLAS SUPPORTS SOCIAL SECURITY PRIVATIZATION: The Los Angeles Times reported on 2/27/05 that during the National Governor's Association meeting in Washington, Jim Douglas told reporters he supports President Bush's plan to privatize Social Security. Back in Vermont just days later, Douglas tried to blur his position. As the Rutland Herald noted, Douglas "has taken pains to distance himself from any direct support of the president's Social Security approaches when in Vermont." [LA Times, Wallsten, 2/27/05; Rutland Herald, 3/4/05]

DOUGLAS TRUMPETS CLOSE TIES WITH BUSH: In 2000, Douglas was the Bush for President Vermont State Chair, bringing George W. Bush to the state for a fundraiser. On 1/19/05, Douglas told the Burlington Free Press that "The president is a good friend." [Sources: Bush for President Press release, 10/29/99; Burlington Free Press, 1/19/05]

While as Governor he has been able to blur the implications of those liabilities by saying they aren't state issues, in a federal race they will certainly be major points of debate. And a candidate who supports privatizing Social Security and is a "good friend" of George W. Bush might have a lot of trouble in a place like Vermont...