Salmon to Launch Exploratory Committee for Senate Run
* updated - Progressives call on Salmon to resign *
* updated - Democrats call on Salmon to resign *
After months of speculation, Auditor Tom Salmon announced late today that he is setting up an exploratory committee to help him decide whether to run for U.S. Senate against incumbent Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
Salmon said he'll take the next several weeks to consider whether to make a formal announcement to challenge Sanders, who is up for his first reelection as senator. Prior to his 2006 election to the Senate, Sanders served eight terms in the U.S. House.
"Over the next several weeks, I will consider more formally whether or not I can make a positive difference, whether running for the Senate is right for my family, and whether Vermonters are eager for fresh leadership, new ideas, and a different approach to finding solutions," said Salmon.
As early as last May, Salmon made rumblings that he was prepared to challenge the senator who he claimed was on a "green ego ride." Now, it appears as if the faltering U.S. economy is one of the reasons Salmon is considering a bid for higher office.
“Our nation is in crisis. Millions of Americans face prolonged underemployment, unemployment, and despair. From Washington to Wisconsin we see the effects of poor planning and lots of unproductive blame. Here in Vermont, teachers are on the verge of a strike in some parts and paying property taxes has never been more difficult. America’s decades long spending binge has reached a tipping point," said Salmon. "As an auditor and accountant, I understand that our economic survival is threatened by the massive deficits and debt we are accumulating. As a father, I understand it is my generation’s responsibility to solve these problems now so that ours is not the first generation of Americans to leave to our children a country weaker, less prosperous and less hopeful than the one we inherited."
Salmon said he knows taking on Sanders is no easy task — the popular pol has easily defeated his challengers in each of his past several races.
"I understand that a campaign against an incumbent like Senator Sanders is no easy task. At the same time, I believe that no one is entitled to reelection year after year after year. No one is entitled to any office. Democracy only works when our elected officials are held accountable each and every election cycle through vigorous debate, an airing of the facts, and an examination of the record," said Salmon, who was just elected to his third term as state auditor. He recently announced that he will not seek reelection in 2012, whether he runs for senate or not.
Salmon was first elected auditor in 2006 as a Democrat, but he switched parties in 2009 to become a Republican, claiming: "I did not leave the Democratic Party. The party left me and tens of thousands of others in a reunion with the Progressive Party."
Now, it seems as if he's taking aim at the "Progfather" himself — Sanders. Though to be honest Sanders was never fond of the idea of a third party and he's never considered himself a member of the party, which has seen seven of its party members elected to the House, and two to the senate. The latter senators were elected as hybrid Democrat-Progressives.
A spokesman for Sen. Sanders said it was too early to be talking about the 2012 election and potential challengers.
"Bernie thinks it is much too early to be talking about campaigns. His focus is on doing everything he can to stop Republican budget cuts to LIHEAP, Pell grants, Head Start, the Social Security Administration, community health centers, Community Service Block Grants, public broadcasting and many other important programs," said Michael Briggs, a Sanders spokesman. "At a time when Republicans have fought for huge tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, Bernie will do everything he can so that we do not balance the budget on the backs of the middle class and working families in Vermont and across America. That’s where his focus is now.”
Well, maybe Sanders thinks its too early to talk about campaigns, but that certainly doesn't mean he isn't out raising money. On Dec. 10 he sent out an email to supporters urging them to donate to his campaign by Dec. 31 as a way to provide a strong show of support and quell speculation in the Vermont media, which he claimed was already "handicapping" the race.
December 10 was also the day, coincidentally, that he launched into an eight-hour faux filibuster on the Senate floor that captivated progressives around the country.
His Dec. 10 email began: "My re-election campaign started on November 3rd — the day after the Democrats lost 63 House Seats, 10 governorships and a disastrous 6 Senate seats. Republicans, emboldened by their historic wins on Election Day, have vowed to make even greater gains in 2012. In the wake of the horrendous Supreme Court decision in Citizens United, Karl Rove’s two groups alone raised more than $71 million to pour into attack ads in races across the country. Next time around, with two full years to collect ‘donations’ from billionaires, Rove and others like him will be in a position to buy Senate seats all over America — including the small state of Vermont."
Sanders later noted, "If I can show strong numbers on this first FEC report, there is a very real possibility that the strongest of my potential challengers will choose not to run."
I guess Sanders' haul of more than $500,000 didn't do much to thwart Salmon's challenge, which also picked up steam the day after election day 2012. The day after the election, Salmon issued a letter to Sanders asking the pol if he knew about some of the records requests made of his office, as well as the push to have his roadside DUI tape released to the public.
Salmon intimated that Sanders could have done more to thwart these efforts.
Perhaps it was Sanders' early January letter that has led Salmon to believe that "Bernie" isn't invincible after all.
Earlier this year Sanders drew widespread criticism for issuing a fundraising letter just days after a shooting that left six people killed and more than a dozen wounded in Arizona. In the letter, he mentioend the shooting and the need to raise money, which outraged even some of his supporters. Sanders defended the letter, but at one point hung up on a Vermont Public Radio interviewer when she pressed him on the topic.
So far, website salmonforsenator.com was registered via GoDaddy, and on Feb. 10 Salmon himself registered another website — salmonforvermont.com.
If Salmon doesn't choose to take on Sanders, Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon is considering a bid, too. Though Lauzon told the Barre-Montpelier Times Argus that his decision to run for U.S. Senate, or governor, wouldn't be predicated upon Salmon's decison.
Salmon has also said he if he doesn't run for higher office, he may seek a new career in conflict mediation.
* Update: Progressive Party Chairwoman call on Salmon to resign *
Progressive Party Chairwoman Martha Abbott, who ran for auditor in 2006 and 2008, is calling on Auditor Tom Salmon to resign office.
In a statement emailed to Seven Days, Abbott says: “Vermont taxpayers should not be forced to pay the salary of a guy who has announced that he will be spending his time doing something other than the job we are paying him to do. Salmon was sworn in 8 weeks ago and now says he has accomplished everything he set out to accomplish. It is time for him to resign graciously and let us find someone who will spend their time doing the job of State Auditor."
Salmon has already said he plans to concentrate on the job he was elected to do — State Auditor — while contemplating his political future. Other politicians, he notes, have held statewide office while considering a jump up the political ladder — including former Govs. Jim Douglas and Howard Dean as well as former Secretary of State Deb Markowitz.
Also in that camp would be former Burlington Mayor Peter Clavelle, who ran for governor and lost in 2004, and current Progressive Mayor Bob Kiss, who ran for mayor while serving in the Vermont House. Not to mention U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. Sanders was in the U.S. House when he decided to run for U.S. Senate.
When asked last week about juggling these competing demands, Salmon told Seven Days: I am not surprised that people who may not know my work ethic (on the 610 a.m. bus from St J unless I have to drive), capacity and level of talent of my staff would have questions. Suffice it to say that whatever my future holds, I remain 100 percent committed to fulfilling the obligations of the office to which I have been elected through the end of my term. Among the reasons I decided it was prudent to announce sooner than later my intention not to seek reelection was to give everyone affected the maximum opportunity to prepare and plan accordingly, including my staff and others who may be interested in the job."
* Update 2: Democratic Party Chairwoman Judy Bevans call on Salmon to resign *
Democratic Party Chairwoman Judy Bevans issued this statement Thursday afternoon:
“It’s clear that Tom Salmon is only interested serving one Vermonter — Tom Salmon. As Auditor, his only accomplishment has been his ability to stay in the news, while accomplishing remarkably little. From his publicity-stunt party switch, to his erratic behavior in the press and now this, Tom Salmon may think he was elected to improve his own political standing — but the people of Vermont elected him to serve for four years. Not only will his bid for the US Senate take away from the time he spends working for Vermonters, his behaviors in the last year are only a small indication of the type of unreliable and acrimonious leadership Salmon would continue to bring to either office.
“It is troubling that less than 60 days into his new term as Auditor, Mr. Salmon has lost interest in serving in his current capacity. It is only right that he resigns from office and allows someone who actually wants to serve as State Auditor to take his place. Vermonters deserve an Auditor who is committed, grounded and dedicated to the future of our state, not someone who is solely concerned with advancing his own career. I ask Auditor Salmon to heed my words and resign from office immediately.
“Senator Sanders is a longtime Vermont public servant and champion of the middle class. The fact that Auditor Salmon would seek to oust such a leader for our state shows just how out of touch he is with Vermonters and the needs of our state.”
Salmon say he'll offer "a different approach to finding solutions". That's precisely the reason Bernie has been elected so many times.
Posted by: oy | March 03, 2011 at 06:35 AM
Didn't Salmon wildly mis-manage his own credit card debt before becoming auditor?
Did he point to any meaningful philosophical reason for abandoning the Democratic party, or was that move as craven and self-serving as it appeared?
Has he done anything significant as auditor? Has he stopped any waste, fraud or abuse that we know about? As far as I know his only accomplishment was giving his staff raises, going out and getting drunk with them and then getting a DUI.
Didn't he once tell you to "fuck off" Shay?
To be very honest, when I look at Salmon I see an overgrown 15-year-old with a silver spoon in his mouth and a terribly selfish attitude about everything. Delusions of senatorial grandeur seem to fit the pattern perfectly.
Somebody tell me why that's wrong.
Posted by: Haik Bedrosian | March 03, 2011 at 08:11 AM
"At a time when Republicans have fought for huge tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, Bernie will do everything he can so that we do not balance the budget on the backs of the middle class and working families in Vermont and across America."
Can someone please write Sanders a new line. This one has been used so many times it literally makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit.
Sanders rants over and over and over.... Bernie, you have been in Congress this whole time, you have had the opportunity to fix and you failed, epically. Clearly you are not the right person for the job. Resign, Chavez has a seat at his table for you right next to Quadaffi.
Posted by: Jcarter | March 03, 2011 at 08:45 AM
Haik
"To be very honest, when I look at Salmon I see an overgrown 15-year-old with a silver spoon in his mouth and a terribly selfish attitude about everything. Delusions of senatorial grandeur seem to fit the pattern perfectly."
Sounds like Tom will put up a good fight against Bernie then... spoiled brat that throws tantrum when things don't go his way.... rude to interviews... spitting image of Bernie.
How about we find someone befitting a Senator....
Douglas?
Posted by: Jcarter | March 03, 2011 at 08:47 AM
Sounds like Haik needs to go to the Auditors Office and get to know the person he is analyzing.
Posted by: matt Trottley | March 03, 2011 at 09:05 AM
It may be that Salmon has no intention of winning, but rather a keen personal interest in riding GOP donors' money right into a long vacation or even retirement for himself. Stranger things have happened.
I'm not hearing anyone stepping up and defending Salmon very loudly here. I'm interested in hearing the counter arguments in favor of Salmon, if there are any. We all know the arguments against Bernie already. How does Salmon defend the arguments against him?
Posted by: Haik Bedrosian | March 03, 2011 at 09:11 AM
Sounds like Haik needs to go to the Auditors Office and get to know the person he is analyzing.
That's not an effective political strategy Matt. Every voter in the state can't go to his office to get to know him. Salmon will have to reach me as a voter another way.
Why don't you tell us why you think I should get to know him?
Posted by: Haik Bedrosian | March 03, 2011 at 09:22 AM
"A spokesman for Sen. Sanders said it was too early to be talking about the 2012 election and potential challengers."
Yeah, too early for anyone except Sanders himself, of course. What a hypocrite.
And Progs calling on Salmon to resign because he can't work his job while planning a run against Bernie? I'm trying to remember them calling on Prog Clavelle to resign as Mayor when he ran for Governor, and calling on Prog Bernie to resign from the House when he was running for Senate. They did that, didn't they?
Posted by: hypocrisyalert | March 03, 2011 at 09:23 AM
Jesus, Clavelle spent almost a year doing almost nothing but running for Governor - and incredibly badly, at that - while he was Mayor of Burlington. What did Martha Abbott have to say about that?
It really seems the few remaining Progs have just said "fuck it" at this point.
Posted by: Jimmy | March 03, 2011 at 09:24 AM
“Our nation is in crisis. Millions of Americans face prolonged underemployment, unemployment, and despair. From Washington to Wisconsin we see the effects of poor planning"
Surely, Mr. Salmon is aware that until Scott Walker took office -- only 2 months ago -- Wisconsin was running a surplus?
Gotta love Republicans' chutzpah: "The country's in shambles, so let's elect the people who put it there."
Posted by: Jeffrey E. Salzberg | March 03, 2011 at 09:36 AM
Salmon is little more than a stalking horse for Douglas. The "exploratory committee" will basically try to determine if there is enough anti-Sanders sentiment to make a Douglas run work. If they determine there is, which is doubtful, Douglas will jump into the Senate race and Salmon will be the Republican candidate for Governor. The "exploratory committee" will also spend time trying to
figure out where Welch stands with Vermonters. Any weakness there, does not look like there is any at this point, will provide another option for either Douglas or Salmon. While this is all a bit fishy, it is not just about Salmon. There is a little "bait and switch" going on here.
Posted by: reelvermonter | March 03, 2011 at 10:06 AM
Bernie Sanders, Martha Abbott and Tom Salmon - Three Somethings come to mind - and it isn't Musketeers
Posted by: Mark | March 03, 2011 at 10:33 AM
"I'm not hearing anyone stepping up and defending Salmon very loudly here. I'm interested in hearing the counter arguments in favor of Salmon,"
Haik, you are hearing the counter arguments, you just aren'y paying attention.
Bernie is a raving ranting wild man. Counter argument, Salmon is calm and speaks softly and intelligently.
Bernie has accomplished nothing. Counter argument, Salmon can do no worse.
Bernie preys on the tragedies of the others. Counter argument, Salmon doesn't
Bernie raises funds to pay his wife and daughters. Counter argument Salmon hasn't.
Bernie has no real worth he claims in filings after 15+ years on the dole. Counter argument, Salmon had debt problems but appears to have worked them out. Meaning, either Bernie is a liar or he is financially retarded. Salmon on the other hand at least has a semblance of fiscal sense if he got into debt and then got out of it.
Bernie.... no one likes him, counter argument, Salmon has at least mild support.
Look we can go at this all day. The fact is Bernie is all talk, gets nearly nothing accomplished, and is as shady as the next politician. He gets away with it because of his freaky hair and glasses. He continuously provokes both class warfare and partisanship. He refuses to work with anyone and is on the extreme far left... no one wants to work with him, no one wants to assoicate with him and he is pretty much useless in representing this state. It's like say McCain v. Obama. It was never McCain v. Obama, it was anybody other then McCain aka Dubya. Same thing here, anybody but Bernie the prog is a step in the right direction.
Posted by: Jcarter | March 03, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Interesting difference between Bernie and EVERYONE else. After the AZ shooting the whole of Congress came together to say that they really needed to tone down the rhetoric and at least be more respectful and less hateful.
Bernie gives us this gem
" The Republicans in this Congress, in a way unprecedented in modern American history, will begin a political assault on the very foundations of modern American society."
Bernie doesn't fit in, he is ineffective, never passes bills unless it's naming a fire station and is in general more harmful then helpful. No sane and moral person would be so despicable as to dance on the fresh grave of child gunned down to raise a few bucks. Sanders is morally corrupt and needs to be shown the door.
Posted by: Jcarter | March 03, 2011 at 11:07 AM
The provisions that Bernie Sanders added to the health care reform bill, in support of community health centers, resulted in vastly improved and affordable health care for one of my family members. It meant a lot more to us than the name of a fire station.
Posted by: Selene | March 03, 2011 at 02:29 PM
@Selene,
The health care reform bill hasn't taken affect yet?
Yes Bernie does tack on an amendment here and there that helps people out. But after 15+ years in Congress don't you think he should have done a bit more then that?
BTW is your family member aware of Catamount Health?
Posted by: Jcarter | March 03, 2011 at 02:53 PM
I'm sure Ms. McDonald will welcome Tom's entry into this race with open arms. Baptism by fire Pat! Have fun with this.
Posted by: Rob Doper | March 03, 2011 at 03:30 PM
Run Tom Run !!!! Bernie has had his day n the sun. It's time for C H A N G E
Posted by: Tom of Mad River | March 03, 2011 at 06:34 PM
With Bernie constantly looking to a bloated federal government to solve problems, Vermont have lost our true independent spirit. Face the facts - we are now reliant on the feds for nearly everything. Single payer is the next link in the chain that will put us in deeper dependence. But that's what socialism does, and who would deny that Bernie is a socialist?
Vermont used to be proud of our independence. Now, we're nothing more than 'in dependence.' Shame on us. Elect Tom Salmon for US Senator and we'll begin to move back to the roots that made Vermonters the envy of the nation.
Posted by: Tom of Mad River | March 03, 2011 at 06:48 PM
The hyprocisy of the dems and progs is astounding, though not surprising. Why were they not demanding Bernie step down from his US House seat when he announced his bid for the Senate five years ago?
Posted by: WAN-VT | March 03, 2011 at 07:00 PM
So- I guess the Sanders supporters are feeling ok that Bernie is out of state at poltical fundraisers to raise money for himself? Seriously - I grew up in VT and feel that Bernie is so far away from VT values that it amazes me that he has been elected so many times - after all, he came to the state from NY and somehow made the whole situation work for himself. I personally feel that there should be term limitations for elected officials- but those people will never vote themselves out of a job!
Posted by: Anne Massucco | March 03, 2011 at 10:03 PM
I also grew up in VT and feel Bernie is expressing
VT values. If republicans expressed VT values Jim Jeffords
wouldn't have felt the need to leave them and we wouldn't have
a Democrat and independent in the senate and a democrat in the house.
Posted by: Mike Burke | March 03, 2011 at 10:34 PM
"“Senator Sanders is a longtime Vermont public servant and champion of the middle class. The fact that Auditor Salmon would seek to oust such a leader for our state shows just how out of touch he is with Vermonters and the needs of our state."
This is just too funny. Thanks Bevans I needed a laugh this morning. The hypocrisy of the left knows no bounds. ROFLMAO
Posted by: Jcarter | March 04, 2011 at 08:17 AM
If considering a run for higher office means you must resign the current one then the Dems must still be steaming at
Peter Shumlin
Deb Markowitz
Doug Racine
Susan Bartlett
Bernie Sanders
Bob Kiss
etc
The political partisanship in this state is ridiculous. Oh but wait, these two will be decrying harsh divisive talk and nastiness as soon as the campaign official starts, all the while making much ado about nothing.
Posted by: Jcarter | March 04, 2011 at 08:19 AM
@ jeffrey salzberg - "Surely, Mr. Salmon is aware that until Scott Walker took office -- only 2 months ago -- Wisconsin was running a surplus?"
You, sir, need to get your facts straight. Either you are misinformed, or you are just plain lying. Take your pick... one or the other.
Posted by: Tom of Mad River | March 04, 2011 at 08:33 AM
JCARTER, I don't think the partisanship is exclusive to Vermont or to politicians; I'm pretty sure the left/right fault line has officially and permanently separated our entire country. And with so many lies and hatred being spewed from both sides, I wouldn't be surprised if I lived to see a second American Civil War.
Posted by: Bungalow Benchly | March 04, 2011 at 12:25 PM
* updated - Progressives call on Salmon to resign *
* updated - Democrats call on Salmon to resign *
I call on Progresssive and Democrat officerholders to resign. At least every single one of those who won't swear out a written oath that they are not thinking of running for higher office and will not think about running for higher office at any time while they are currently in office. After all, by even thinking -- even for one second -- about running for higher office someday, they are not using that time to fulfill the responsibilities of their CURRENT office.
I call on Bernie to resign. He is currently out fundraising for an election that won't occur until November of 2012. That is pure derelection of duty.
Posted by: hypocrisyalert | March 04, 2011 at 04:17 PM
JCarter,
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but you are clearly out of touch, my friend. Bernie and Tom Salmon don't even belong in the same sentence, never mind debate. There are no comparisons to be made between them. Finally, Bernie didn't start saying the words that are used to describe him, voters and supporters across VT and America did. Learn the facts from something other than FAUX News and Bernie is also not all of Congress or the Senate. One person can champion the for the needs of Americans but isn't responsible if there is no desire to compromise or be bipartisan within our totally political government.
Posted by: Cpidge | March 04, 2011 at 04:36 PM
Cpidge, you may like Bernie, and you're entitled to do that. But the fact is, he is and has been already campaigning and fundriaising for his November, 2012 reelection, while at the same time saying that it's too early for Salmon to be running. Whether you like Bernie or not, and whether or not you think "Salmon and Bernie don't belong in the same sentence," Bernie is a a hypocrite, plain and simple. The kind of hypocrite who blames tragedies like the Arizona shootings on "right wing reactionary rhetoric," and then uses that very same tragedy to raise money for an election that was at that time a year away (Nov. 2012) and for which he had no known opponent. It's disgusting.
Posted by: wha? | March 04, 2011 at 07:00 PM
@BB,
I entirely agree with your statement. Both the left and right have drifted towards the extremes enlarging the partisan divide. It will end poorly.
That said, my only point is I hear less of the "high road rhetoric" from the right. It seems to be more from the left that denounces partisanship and partisan rhetoric all the while going on with the daily routine. The right certainly has become much too idealistic for my tastes as well. I just see them owning it and not pretending they are "working together" for the media, but rather stating the position and not sugar coating it. Walker in Wisco for example, he makes no apologies for his stance, he stands by it. I'm not saying its right, but I give him credit for taking a stance and sticking with it letting the chips fall where they may. I would prefer that to someone telling me one thing and doing the opposite with never an intention of fullfilling it, or standing by their word.
Posted by: Jcarter | March 04, 2011 at 10:47 PM
cpidge,
You make an interesting point despite yourself. Bernie is one person and as you say one person can make a difference. You then go on to tell me I'm out of touch, not mainstream. Seems Bernie isn't "mainstream" either. Sometimes being part of the flock only makes you next on the wolfs menu.
Posted by: Jcarter | March 04, 2011 at 10:49 PM
The health care bill also almost killed VSAC - which does a great job - thanks alot washington!
Posted by: matt Trottley | March 07, 2011 at 05:10 PM