Black Pol From Southern Red State Exploring Options
Talk about an "Empire State of Mind." First it was the Sex And The City sequel movie trailer. Now, after losing a race for the U.S. Senate in Tennessee, Harold Ford Jr. is eyeing a similar race in New York.
Ford, an African-American Blue Dog Democrat with a family deeply rooted in Tennessee politics, lost a hard-fought campaign to Bob Corker in 2006. Now, he's considering running against incumbent Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in this fall’s Democratic primary.
Having moved to New York only three years ago, the 39-year-old former House member has told friends that he will decide in the next 45 days whether to run, the NY Times is reporting.
Ford is being encouraged by a group of very influential New York Democrats (as well as Republican New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg) who are dissatisfied with Gillibrand. Governor David Patterson appointed Gillibrand last year to fill the seat vacated by Hillary Clinton when she became Secretary of State.
Ford’s namesake, Harold Ford Sr., represented the 9th Congressional District for 22 years. Fresh out of law school, Ford Jr. was then elected to the same seat, serving from 1997 to 2007 before bowing out to run for the Senate. Despite the Ford family having its share of scandals and controversies, they remain very much beloved by the African American community -- particularly in Memphis.
The Senate race against Corker was particularly testy, with both campaigns battling to the end. Corker won by 49,935 votes in a race in which more than 1.8 million were cast.
Since that loss, Ford has taken a job as a vice chairman of Merrill Lynch; served as a television commentator; served as chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council, a Democratic think tank; and, in 2008, married Emily Threlkeld, a public relations specialist.
Rep. Steve Cohen, who holds Ford’s old seat, said anyone with Memphis roots who gets elected to Congress can benefit the city.
“I wish him nothing but the best,” said Cohen, who has tangled with members of the Ford family over the years. “I think it’d be great if he was successful. He knows Memphis, loves Memphis. As a senator from New York who had Memphis ties, it’d be good for Memphis.”
According to the Times, Gillibrand has already raised at least $5.5 million, and will likely raise tens of millions more.
Ford raised about $20million during his last run, one-quarter of which came from New York, the Times reported.
“Senator Gillibrand is a voracious fundraiser. That’s something she’s well known for,” Cohen said. “She’s raised a lot of money and she’s got a lot of the establishment on her side. She’ll be a formidable opponent and a difficult opponent to beat.”
Cohen said Ford’s chances are aided by New Yorkers’ history of electing political outsiders to represent the state.
“New York has welcomed Robert Kennedy, who had limited contacts with (the state), Hillary Clinton and others over the years,” he said. “It’s kind of a melting-pot state. I think it’s up to the people of New York.”
Talk about an "Empire State of Mind." First it was the Sex And The City sequel movie trailer. Now, after losing a race for the U.S. Senate in Tennessee, Harold Ford Jr. is eyeing a similar race in New York.
Ford, an African-American Blue Dog Democrat with a family deeply rooted in Tennessee politics, lost a hard-fought campaign to Bob Corker in 2006. Now, he's considering running against incumbent Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in this fall’s Democratic primary.
Having moved to New York only three years ago, the 39-year-old former House member has told friends that he will decide in the next 45 days whether to run, the NY Times is reporting.
Ford is being encouraged by a group of very influential New York Democrats (as well as Republican New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg) who are dissatisfied with Gillibrand. Governor David Patterson appointed Gillibrand last year to fill the seat vacated by Hillary Clinton when she became Secretary of State.
Ford’s namesake, Harold Ford Sr., represented the 9th Congressional District for 22 years. Fresh out of law school, Ford Jr. was then elected to the same seat, serving from 1997 to 2007 before bowing out to run for the Senate. Despite the Ford family having its share of scandals and controversies, they remain very much beloved by the African American community -- particularly in Memphis.
The Senate race against Corker was particularly testy, with both campaigns battling to the end. Corker won by 49,935 votes in a race in which more than 1.8 million were cast.
Since that loss, Ford has taken a job as a vice chairman of Merrill Lynch; served as a television commentator; served as chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council, a Democratic think tank; and, in 2008, married Emily Threlkeld, a public relations specialist.
Rep. Steve Cohen, who holds Ford’s old seat, said anyone with Memphis roots who gets elected to Congress can benefit the city.
“I wish him nothing but the best,” said Cohen, who has tangled with members of the Ford family over the years. “I think it’d be great if he was successful. He knows Memphis, loves Memphis. As a senator from New York who had Memphis ties, it’d be good for Memphis.”
According to the Times, Gillibrand has already raised at least $5.5 million, and will likely raise tens of millions more.
Ford raised about $20million during his last run, one-quarter of which came from New York, the Times reported.
“Senator Gillibrand is a voracious fundraiser. That’s something she’s well known for,” Cohen said. “She’s raised a lot of money and she’s got a lot of the establishment on her side. She’ll be a formidable opponent and a difficult opponent to beat.”
Cohen said Ford’s chances are aided by New Yorkers’ history of electing political outsiders to represent the state.
“New York has welcomed Robert Kennedy, who had limited contacts with (the state), Hillary Clinton and others over the years,” he said. “It’s kind of a melting-pot state. I think it’s up to the people of New York.”