Ford took over his seat from his father, Harold Ford Sr., who represented the actual district -- mos...

1. Harold Ford's Star Rising to Senate Seat?
Ford took over his seat from his father, Harold Ford Sr., who represented the actual district -- most
of which is within Shelby County throughout greater Memphis -- regarding 22 years. Just Before his
election, Ford labored on the Clinton-Gore transition team in 1993 and also appears in order to have
been attracted in order to Clinton's "New Democrat" approach, supporting partly fiscal duty along
with reasonable positions in social issues.
Five-term Democratic Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (search), promises to jump throughout swiftly to become
able to fill the particular void when Senate Vast Majority Leader Bill Frist announces he is stepping
down following his term throughout 2006, leaving a new Tennessee Senate seat wide open.
"I don't underestimate Congressman Ford in virtually any way and the loved ones has been involved
in West Tennessee politics for years, yet I believe it is likely to be difficult to run contrary for you to
the partisan alteration of Tennessee proper now," Klingler added.
But all the positive attributes can always be produced to appear negative inside a GOP spotlight,
Gonzales added.
"I think Harold offers the same type of possible to be an enormously effective candidate," Davis said.
Ford, any familiar face on television news interviews and frequently called about as getting a
spokesman for your party, offers not hesitated for you to vote with conservatives about key concerns
such as banning partial-birth abortion or even for prayer inside school. He voted to provide
President Bush authorization to invade Iraq and then for cuts within the capital gains tax.
"He's been carving out an account as becoming a Blue Dog Democrat (search) along with hoping in
which would be sufficient, for you to allow him to become competitive. because regarding that, some
get considered him to become also conservative - I'm among them," he said.
"The problems which Congressman Ford may have is actually answering towards the traditional
liberal particular curiosity groups as well as the national party as well as attempting to stay in
mainstream regarding exactly where Tennessee voters are," said Brian Nick, spokesman for the

2. National Republican Senatorial Committee.
"There continues to become able to be absolutely no formal decision created regarding Harold
Ford's candidacy," stated Rep. Al Wynn, D-Md., head in the CBC's political wing, "but I'm confident
that your Congressional Black Caucus PAC would contemplate him favorably. I anticipate we will
supply him with as much support once we did Senator Obama."
Though often in distinct sides with the issue, it does seem that members in the CBC, also as Ford's
fellow Blue Dogs, see the promise throughout his possible candidacy.
"There has been an enormous seismic transfer of Tennessee. ... I think it is likely to become really
difficult for anyone right now for you to stem which tide," mentioned Hans Klingler, any political
advisor together with Jim Arnold & Associates, any Texas-based firm operating using among your
potential Republican candidates regarding Frist's seat, former Rep. Ed Bryant.
"I intend to perform as being a candidate regarding U.S. Senate. Inside the actual coming months, I
will continue traveling over the state as well as listen towards the conditions that issue to become
able to nearly all Tennesseans -- tax reform, the actual economy, wellness care, fiscal duty ...
national safety as well as social security," Ford told FOXNews.com.
Referred to as the "Prince involving Memphis" as well as "a poster boy for your New Democrats" by
the Metro Pulse On the Internet journal throughout Knoxville, Tenn., Ford has been named one of
Folks Magazine's 50 Many Gorgeous people within the Globe inside 2001. some in contrast his
celebrity with that of recent Illinois Sen. Barack Obama (search), the just real black U.S. senator
presently inside office. Obama's successes portend positive things for Ford and then for black
Democrats overall, a range of backers said.
Most agree that Ford is unlikely for you to encounter a tough Democratic primary. Republicans tend
to be currently showing curiosity about rivalling for the GOP primary, which includes Bryant, state
Rep. Beth Harwell, Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker as well as former Rep. Van Hilleary.
"Obviously, we're excited in the possibility which Harold Ford would operate - he's a rising star
about the congressional scene so we will be very lucky to have him as our united States senator,"
stated Jim Hester, executive director in the Tennessee Democratic Party.
State Democratic chairman Hester shrugs off Republicans' comments, pointing in order to strong
southern Democrats just like Tennessee's own governor, Phil Bredesen (search), Sen. Mary Landrieu
associated with Louisiana along with Gov. Michael Easley in North Carolina. "We're strong inside
the state and we're strong locally. We haven't fared well around the national stage, but the scenario
is cyclical and that may change."
"If you have the actual capability to supply an email crisply along with successfully and furthermore
you can relate with voters, you can transcend the total large quantity of racial along with political
boundaries," said Rep. Artur Davis, D-Ala., which together with Ford is a person in the CBC along
with on this list of House's southern black representatives.

3. Nonetheless, Republicans are usually quick to label what could potentially be the formidable
challenger to just about any Republican nominee.
In fact, Republicans say Ford hasn't a shot associated with winning a statewide race throughout
Tennessee, which has 2 Republican senators and also earned a Republican majority in the state
Senate for that first time since Reconstruction. Nevertheless their state also features a Democratic
governor plus a Democratic-led Home Assembly. Tennessee voters went with regard to Bush more
than Sen. John Kerry 57 % in order to 43 % in the last election.
He has also stood firm together with Democrats over protecting affirmative action policies, banning
oil drilling within the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve and opposing Bush's tax cuts. Aside from
getting a new member of the Congressional Black Caucus (search), he is furthermore the member of
the particular New Democrat Caucus (search) and the Blue Dog Coalition (search), that counts as its
members Democrats together with fiscally moderate views.
Sources say Ford's official candidacy could coincide using Frist's formal announcement of his
resignation. That They include that the particular 34-year-old, former Capitol Hill staffer and special
assistant inside the Clinton administration may be laying the groundwork along with producing
feelers that are for real this time despite prior quashed inquiries straight into potential Senate runs.
"I believe he is carrying out the best thing within running regarding Senate throughout Tennessee,"
Walters added, but nonetheless Ford will be on the "folly-type mission" for pondering he can get in
the conservative state through mimicking conservative Republicans.
Unlike many members with the CBC, Ford has "positioned himself like a centrist," Davis said. "I
believe it'll enable him to destroy out of the pack in which black Democrats are pushed for you to

4. within the South."
Republicans "will try everything they are usually in a position to to always be able to manufacturer
him any liberal and create sure people be aware of party coming from that he comes," he said.
"He can be a beautiful candidate since he's young, he can well in television, he likes to be on
television and that he doesn't appear to be beholden to the civil rights-era type Democrats," stated
Nathan Gonzales, analyst for that Rothenberg Political Report.
Other observers wonder whether Ford should anticipate a range of resistance from his left flank.
Ron Walters, director in the African-American Leadership Institute (search) in the College involving
Maryland plus an active Democrat, mentioned he plus more liberal black Democrats are worried
with a new few associated with Ford's policy positions.
National Republicans usually insist in which zero Democrat can acquire statewide workplace inside
the Red State south. Yet Ford's supporters say that GOP bluster won't deter the congressman's well-
laid plans.