Rick Metsger for Governor?
According to the AP, state Senator Rick Metsger (D-Welches) is considering a run for governor.
The potential field of Democratic challengers to Gov. Ted Kulongoski grew by one on Tuesday when state Sen. Rick Metsger, a former TV news anchor and reporter, said he's "seriously thinking" about taking on Kulongoski in the 2006 governor's race."I just think that the state has absolutely no comprehensive vision or plan for the future," the senator said when he was asked why he would consider taking on Kulongoski.
According to the Big O, one consideration relates to the Democrats' state senate majority:
Metsger said one factor he must consider in running for governor is that his term in the Senate is up next year. If he doesn't run for re-election, he said, the Democrats might have trouble holding the seat.
Discuss.
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Sept. 14, 2005
Posted in in the news 2005. |
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Sep 14, '05
Oh, give me a break! First of all read the AP (KATU) article. What high level job would the Sec. of State leave office for? I think that job is about as good as it gets, other than being governor.
If Metsger is so delusional he thinks he could clear the field in such a fashion in order to get an open shot, it's the same delusion that makes him think the brand of moderate politics that he shares with Teddy K would be any better received than the Governor's. The only difference is that Metsger will be more likly to tell people what they want to hear. He will back out. But stay tuned if he doesn't, I predict the airing of fun rumors....
What is this, about 50% of the Oregon Senate who are threatening to run?
Sep 14, '05
J Smalls,
What are you talking about? You know Metsger is a state senator right? Not SOS?
And what was your last line about 50% of state senate running?
Just a reminder to all Blue Oregoners, please post sober.
10:48 a.m.
Sep 14, '05
Roro, you should probably read the AP article all the way through. Metsger, according to Kulongoski's then-chief-of-staff Peter Bragdon, tried to get Ted K to show Bradbury the door.
Sep 14, '05
Rorovitz:
To take your own advice a little further: read and post sober. If you read the KATU article, which I specifically referred to, you'd understand the SOS reference.
Metsger is the 4th State Senator to rumble publicly about running. I was making the point that a lot of them -- specifically Senators -- are looking at taking out Teddy K. Sorry to have to spell that one out for you.
Sep 14, '05
Read the whole article it talks about Metsger's threat to run against Bill Bradbury in 2004. Adkinson, Walker, Metsger it's more like 10% of the State Senate. Rorovitz you know that stick up your ass they have surgery for that now.
Sep 14, '05
It's actually 13.33%. So much for trying to be funny, it never was my strong suit. Maybe I should just aspire to be 13.33% funny.
Sep 14, '05
I'm not sober so I can't post,
Billy Dalto
Sep 14, '05
I like Rick. Rick's a good guy. Rick's a capable lawmaker on his best days.
Rick will never be governor.
Besides, who is the Governor these days, anyway? Haven't seen or heard from them in weeks. Maybe months.
Sep 14, '05
Three state senators in the last five weeks have announced intentions of running for governor. If this continues, approximately 16 more will join the race before the March 27, 2006 filing deadline. 19 senators is roughly 63 percent of the chamber.
My question for y'all: Which 11 senators that haven't already announced do you think shouldn't bother running?
Sep 14, '05
Am I a minority of one who believes that Metsger has a much better shot of ousting an incumbent than most? Or does everyone else forget (or dismiss) his two decades of TV exposure in the Portland market(and to a lesser extent, statewide)?
If you want to take potshots at my analysis, please do. It's all on the kazablog.
Sep 15, '05
Ok, so wow was I a bad poster. My fault, my mistake, apologies to the Blue O community.
I agree with Kaza that Metsger has more of a shot than Sorenson and Walker (if she's running for gov). But what do BlueOregonians think of Metsger's chances? Is he a contender or an also ran? I guess that's assuming he does run.
4:44 p.m.
Sep 15, '05
So if Rick's term is up in '08, seems like he can run for governor in the '06 primary and still retain his senate seat. If he wins in the general election the Dem Party would appoint a temp to fill in until Patti Smith HD-52(R-Corbett) runs against Dem X in '08.
Does someone want to enlighten me on this one?
Thanks.
Sep 15, '05
"So if Rick's term is up in '08, seems like he can run for governor in the '06 primary and still retain his senate seat. If he wins in the general election the Dem Party would appoint a temp to fill in until Patti Smith HD-52(R-Corbett) runs against Dem X in '08.
Does someone want to enlighten me on this one?
Thanks. " Senators elected in 2002 and thus up for re-election in 2006 include: Morrisette Walker Morse Winters Courtney both Starr Ringo Devlin Shields Metsger
5:38 p.m.
Sep 15, '05
Otay, LT. I stand corrected. I live in Rick's district and campaigned for him last time around, so you'd think that I could keep this straight........
Sep 16, '05
So which state senators are not up for re-election in 2006? And who have some credibility to run for governor?
Sep 16, '05
Senators elected in 2004 include Westlund, Deckert, Burdick, Carter, Gordly, Verger, Bates, Prozanski.
12:56 a.m.
Sep 17, '05
LT, was that a freudian slip there? Westlund is not a Democrat.
Sep 21, '05
Ds up in the Oregon Senate in 2006: Bates (In Play) Prozanski (In Play) Morrisette (In Play) Walker (In Play) Courtney (In Play) Johnson (In Play) Ringo (In Play) Devlin (In Play) Schrader (In Play) Shields Metsger (In Play)
Rs up in the Oregon State Senate in 2006 Winters (In Play) Morse (In Play) Bruce Starr (In Play) Charles Starr
Ds are in deep crap this next time around...hope you-all enjoy the show!
In Play = less then 4% registration advantage for either party.