In the wake of radio and cable conservative commentator Glenn Beck's announcement of a "100 year plan for America" comes another bloviator who is taking his ratings perhaps a bit too much for granted as a mandate.
Yesterday, former CNN personality Lou Dobbs, newly free after reportedly negotiating an $8 million settlement with the cable news network , told radio talk show host (and failed presidential aspirant) Fred Thompson that"Yes is the answer" to the question on whether or not he might run for the White House in 2012.
"I'm going to be talking some more with some folks who want me to listen in the next few weeks," Dobbs told Thompson. "Right now I'm fortunate to have a number of wonderful options."
The article in Politico is solidly reported, as it speaks to campaign officials who have worked with 3rd party candidates with some modicum of success (Ross Perot, Jesse Ventura).
The story quotes Clay Mulford, who managed Ross Perot's presidential campaign in 1992.
"There's a populist streak in the voting public that spans both left and right, and so you've got the combination of this protectionist element and immigration on one hand, on the right. And on the left you've got this anti-bailout, Wall Street, focus-on-Main Street kind of sentiment," Mulford said. "That streak in American politics is something that's often ignored."
That's the same sweet spot that Glenn Beck is attempted to navigate as well. Beck seems to want to emphasize Libertarians over Republicans, yet the problem with everything is those damn liberals. That's the impression I got yesterday, when I watched the first time ever on his Fox 5 p.m. program (research for my story coming out next week).
Missed Beck's "plan" that he announced over the weekend? Here it is, from the great one's mouth.
This article appears in Nov 18-24, 2009.