Sanders Scares Douglas Out, United Front Crucial

Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas (R) today announced he is not running to replace retiring Sen. Jim Jeffords in the open-seat 2006 Senate race. This is huge news, and a reflection on how Vermont's Independent Congressman Bernie Sanders, who is running for the Senate seat, has become a dominant force in state and national politics. Douglas was heavily courted by the White House, with President Bush personally lobbying him to run. The fact that he declined such high-powered pleas shows just how frightened the Republicans are - and should be - of Sanders. They no doubt polled the situation, and saw just how wide and deep Sanders support is throughout the state. They understand that over the years, he has built an unrivaled following not only among progressives, but, as the Washington Post notes, also among working class conservatives who see him as a lonely voice in Washington with the guts to speak up for their economic concerns. And they understand that for millions of Americans who feel ignored by both parties, Sanders has become a powerful symbol that politicians can be successful AND represent the interests of ordinary people.

Moveon.org also deserves a huge amount of credit for forcing Douglas to back down. They sent an early and strong message that they are not going to let the Republican Party buy this Senate race from Vermonters, and that Sanders is the strongest candidate to win this seat.

Make no mistake about it - the GOP has lost its best candidate, but they will find someone to run, and they will still spend a huge amount of money to try to prevent Sanders from winning this seat. Vermont's right-leaning Dwinell Political Report, notes that corporate executive Richard Tarrant "has let it be known that he will personally spend $5 million to buy the seat."

That's why Sanders is still going to need a lot of grassroots help during his campaign. It will also be necessary for Democratic officials in Vermont to not try to split the vote and throw the election to the Republicans. The Rutland Herald notes that while "Democrats have, so far, seemed to be shy to enter" a spoiler candidate against the Independent Sanders, that "decision is far from a certainty, according to speculation among top Democratic operatives in the state." Throwing a nominal Democrat into the race to peel off 5 or 10 percent of the vote could seriously embolden the Republicans - even national Democratic Party leaders understand the danger of that, and are strongly backing Sanders.

This is an area where, as DNC Chairman, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean can play a huge role in making sure a nominal Democratic spoiler doesn't split the vote and help give the seat to the GOP. He knows as well as anyone that if progressives and Democrats remain united behind Sanders (as they have in Vermont for years), this is a Senate seat we can and should hold.