I'm sure many politically tuned-in Vermonters are surprised that we are sitting here in March without a known Democratic candidate for governor, but it indeed we are.
Peter Galbraith is, of course, considering running for governor. He has been laying low of late, however.
What should the good voters of Vermont make of that? "You're to make nothing of it," Vermont Democratic Party Chairman Ian Carleton said.
Yes, party officials and Galbraith have all heard from nervous Democrats who think that a candidate needs to get in there yesterday if he/she wants to have a stab at it, but there's another theory that Vermonters' attention these days is not on the governor's race, Carleton said.
To wit: Those who are paying attention to political affairs are paying attention to the Legislature. When that's done with in May, they'll turn their attention to the governor's race. That will be the time to catch the momentum.
Do you buy it? There is some logic to the notion that a quick sprint to the finish line can be more effective than a long race with lots of ebbs and flows.
Here are some other theories I've heard in recent days:
- The lack of a Democratic gubernatorial candidate means the Legislature has less power against the governor. He knows he's the cat and they can't muster a dog to chase him.
- That there is a plan B if Galbraith doesn't run. Your guess is as good as mine as to who that is. Pure speculation: If Barack Obama ends up being the Democratic presidential candidate, Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin jumps into the race in hopes of coat tailing the call for change.
- That Dems will use polls such as the recent one from WCAX, which showed non-candidate Galbraith comfortably leading Progressive candidate Anthony Pollina, to persuade Pollina to yield the right of way to the Dems.
- Terri Hallenbeck
