Too Little, Too Late

Boy, aren’t you going to miss the “Vote for Me!” TV commercials?

Scudder Parker came out swinging Monday morning with a Statehouse presser. Ever since former Paul Wellstone aide Bill Lofy came on board, Scudder’s actually been having press conferences - free media!

About fricken time, eh? Particularly for a candidate who cannot afford much airtime.

Gubernatorial candidate Parker should of been doing that back in June? July? Lack of name recognition is killing him. He’s got no money for the necessary ninth-inning TV blitz. What he’s had has been a bit.... lame?

And he appears staff heavy. Today, for example, Scudder had four campaign staffers with him. The guy he’s trying to replace only had one - a Vermont State Trooper, per usual.

Monday at 11 a.m. in Room 10, Scudder did his best to paint the rosiest possible picture. The message was that he’s been getting closer since Friday’s WCAX Poll had him 10 points behind.  And it’s all about one question and one question only: are you better off now than you were four years ago when Jim Douglas was elected?

Scudder sounded like he was desperately looking for coattails - Bernie Sanders' coattails. Peter Welch's coattails. How come they ain’t there, yet?

Said Scudder:

“Everyone has known, and I have known from the beginning, that this was a difficult race. We were running against a four-year incumbent, a two-term incumbent who is, let’s face it, a pretty good politician.”

Is there any one thing, we asked, that a lot of people might not know about Gov. Douglas that they should know about him?

“That he is more invested in being the governor than he is in governing. And what I want them to know is that my only interest and my only activity will be to help govern this state.”

Incidentally, WGOP, er WCAX-TV did not attend the Democratic gubernatorial candidate's presser. Nor did the Freeps - no more Montpelier bureau for Vermont's Gannett machine.

About 40 minutes later, the little Montpeculiar press pack nailed the Guv right inside the front door at the Capital Plaza Hotel. He was delighted to be nailed en route to the Mental Health Association conclave. Gov. Scissorhands was in top form and loving it.

This middle-aged politican started in the game by winning a Vermont House seat way back in 1972 when he was only months out of Midddlebury College. Montpeculiar has been his stage for more than 30 years.  Cheerful, friendly and funny was he. The look and feel of a winner. He’s done this drill so many, many times before.

Said left-leaning Vermont’s Republican governor:

“I agree. The WCAX Poll is not accurate. In fact, if it worked four years ago, I wouldn’t be standing here today!  I really believe things are going quite well. I’m optimistic and feel very, very confident.”

No pretend there, folks. We hit him with the best shot of the moment - Scudder’s little dig about how he primarily just loves to play governor, rather than actually having to govern. Someone we know likes to call him Gov. Scissorhands for his ribbon cutting skills. Said Vermont's Guv:

“I expect a challenger to say something like that. But Vermonters know me very well. I’ve been serving the people of our state for more than three decades. They know of my accomplishments. They’ve supported me repeatedly  in that time with more votes than anyone’s ever received in the history of our state. My record over the last four years is, I believe, impressive.”

Certainly, Jim Douglas' record of political survival - an anti-wind-power Republican in the Land of Patrick J. Leahy, Bernie Sanders, Jeezum Jim Jeffords. Peter Welch, Matt Dunne and....Howard Dean - that, mes amis, is mighty impressive, indeed!

P.S. Ready for this? The chairman of the Democratic National Committee will be making a Burlington appearance Tuesday morning with Matt Dunne. If Dubie the Republican doesn't break 50 percent, it'll go to a secret ballot by the 180 members of the heavily Democratic legislature.

Interesting.

Comments

[Greenmtngirl]

Peter, Scudder Parker is just too little--period. (How could he be too late when he has been running for almost 2 years, full time?)

He's angry and vindictive. He doesn't inspire any hope or optimism. And, your right, the ad is LAME.

His name ID is low because there's no reason to get to know him--Vermonters like Jim Douglas and the thoughtful leadership he has provided. To most Vermonters, Scudder is just "that other guy" running for governor. And that's the way it ought to be.

Douglas, who even with a commanding lead is working far harder than his challenger, will win by double digits (probably by 12-15) in the bluest of the deep blue states, during the most anti-republican environment since 1874, perhaps ever. It'll be a landslide.

It's all over but the cryin'. You can take that to the bank.

[yellow line]

That doesn't say much. Douglas is one of the most pathetic politicians we've ever had. He doesn't do anything unless someone else lights a fire under him and then after his unfavorable meter triggers, he wakes up, and his response is all political posturing and nothing more...no results, just a bunch of hot air.

Douglas doesn't lead, he follows.

Its unfortunate that he probably will win.

[mm]

Scudder is a thoughtful concensus builder. He will bring people together to solve our states problems - he is not a politician -like Jim Douglas and that is a good thing. He does inspire people - people like me. If the best man wins it will be him.

However if he does not then fortunately with a democratic senate and house "Bush Lite Jim" will not be able to accomplish anything from his lame agenda.He will be a governor who will not get a chance to govern.

[trout]

I'm tellin' ya, the campaign to unseat Douglas starts November 8!

[MCPhotowhiz]

Douglas has sunk to a new low. His latest attack ad on Scudder is crude and ugly. It makes Rich Tarrant's Bernie ads look civilized. Think Douglas is a nice guy? Wrong. Am I better off than I was four years ago since Douglas
took over? No. Is Vermont better off? No! We have the some of the lowest wages in the country. And most business owners will tell you the economy stinks. I am voting for Scudder.

[Stephanie Kaplan]

Peter, why are you so hostile toward Scudder Parker? He's not a professional politician, but he's trying his best to bring a more progressive government to Vermont. All you do is focus on the weaknesses in his campaign. But you praise Douglas, who is a slick politician who has managed to fool the majority (apparently) of Vermonters into thinking that he's a "moderate" rather than the robotic right-wing idealogue that he has shown himself to be. Your failure to acknowlege that Scudder has more substance than Douglas could ever dream of having demonstrates a shallowness on your part that is really disappointing.