More Bill Young Speculation
The Fix, a political blog on the Washington Post website, has put up a list of its top ten races to watch in 2008 - races that were not competitive last November, but which might be become battlegrounds in 2008. And who should appear at number on that list but our own 10th district!
But why would Bill Young, who rather easily won re-election last year, be on that list?
Because, especially now that he is part of the new Republican minority, Young is considered a likely candidate to retire. At 76, in a closely divided district (it narrowly went for Gore in 2000 and as narrowly for Bush in 2004), with his chairmanship of the House Appropriations Committee (or, indeed, any other chairmanship) nothing but a fading memory, is Young finally ready to retire? Particularly if a strong, well-funded challenger emerges? It seems that virtually everyone has predicted his retirement at some time or another over the last ten years, but never in the last thirteen years have the inducements to remain been so meagre Young.
posted by Campaign Manager @ 2:45:00 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
What about the rumors that his wife will run for the seat if he retires?
If Young keeps getting hammered for his silence over the Walter Reed mess then that might contribute to his desire to retire.
The rumor about his wife running if Young retires hasn't existed as much as Young waiting for his son to be old enough to run for the seat and replace him.
Young won the seat handily in 2006... and 2004... and 2002, etc. But that does not mean that Young was or is unbeatable as it stands. The problem is when Democrats mount a challenge, either it's a watered down candidate or one that is influenced by the far left of the party (or the Greens who make up an ample number of Progressives in St. Petersburg) which either failed to inspire voters or alienated others.
At any rate, Young is done IMHO. If he doesn't retire, the Netroots may focus on that race if a worthy challenger comes forward.
I suspect Young will hold the seat as long as he is physically able, but he can't be enjoying the Congress as much as he used to. He lost his appropriations chairmanship a few years and now he's been relegated to the minority.
However, should Young retire, that seat's would be up in the air. But the problem is, to encourage Young to retire, the Dems probably need to post a strong candidate now. Kriseman has been suggested as a possibility. Justice's strong showing would make him formidable, though his anemic fundraising would be a significant problem.
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