Lest you thought otherwise, Gov. Jim Douglas is indeed running for re-election in 2008. He said as much in a three-page April 24 letter to prospective campaign donors. He wants their money, he said, "to help fight off the Democrats and win a fourth term."
Is it early to be running for re-election? Douglas spokeswoman Dennise Casey said it's typical to start raising money at this stage.
Vermont Democratic Party Chairman Ian Carleton said the governor is running for re-election all the time, anyway. "This is a governor who campaigns 12 months of the year," Carleton said.
Two years ago, when Democrat Scudder Parker kicked off his campaign against Douglas in October - 13 months before the election - Douglas said, "Anyone who begins a political campaign this early does a real disservice to the state of Vermont."
There are, of course, all kinds of subtle arguments about what constitutes a "political campaign" and whether raising money is the same as campaigning.
Any candidates for governor rising to the top among the Democrats? Carleton said those conversations don't begin in earnest until after the legislative session, which appears to be in its final two weeks. No doubt, those conversations are taking place already, even if less than earnestly.
Will a high-profile Democrat take the risk of running against the three-term incumbent? Who would you like to see and what would that person bring to the table?
- Terri Hallenbeck
