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Graham looks likely to run
By BILL ADAIR, Times Staff Writer
WASHINGTON -- A possible presidential campaign by Sen. Bob Graham picked up momentum Tuesday amid signs he is likely to run. Two senators and one of Graham's closest political advisers said they believe the Florida Democrat will launch a formal campaign soon. "I've talked to him, and it looks like he's going to do it," said Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, whose state hosts the nation's first caucus to pick presidential delegates. "I think he's going to run," said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., who spoke with Graham twice over the holidays. Nelson said he concluded Graham would run because of "what he said and his body language. He's getting down into the sprint position." Charles Reed, a close adviser of Graham's who runs the California state university system, said Graham is showing growing interest in the race. Reed said Graham seemed about 80 percent likely to run a week ago and that has risen to "82.5 percent." But Graham said he has not made a decision and is still talking with elected officials, political leaders, campaign contributors and friends about whether to run. He had breakfast last week in Miami with Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, met with Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe on Tuesday and is tentatively scheduled to see financier Warren Buffett on Thursday. Graham said about 95 percent of the people he has spoken with have urged him to run. "It's been very encouraging," he said. "I'm pleased that not only in Florida but around the country, there are so many people who are looking for a candidate with my background and my views." Graham's advisers have said he may not decide until February, but some Florida Democrats have urged him to make a decision quickly so he can line up experienced campaign strategists who are not yet committed to a candidate. Graham has also been warned that he is beginning to lose ground to other presidential candidates who are raising money in South Florida. In a favorable development for Graham Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota announced he would not seek the presidency and would remain in the Senate. "This is where my heart is, where my passions lie," Daschle said. "I belong here and want to stay here." Daschle's decision shrinks the list of likely candidates. That list is likely to include Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, former House Democratic leader Richard Gephardt and Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. Other possible candidates include Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, Gen. Wesley Clark and the Rev. Al Sharpton. Sen. John Breaux, D-La., joked Tuesday that he was launching a new caucus of senators who are not seeking the presidency. He said it will be a very small group. Buddy Shorstein, a former Graham chief of staff and one his closest advisers, said the three-term senator and former governor is "the kind of person who wants as much information as he can possibly get before he makes a decision. He's going to look at it very closely, collect as much information as possible, do it as methodically as possible and then make a decision." Shorstein has spoken with Graham several times about the logistics of a possible campaign -- how much money would be needed, how it could be raised and whether Graham could raise enough. Shorstein said Graham still needed to speak with "the South Florida fundraising group" that gave Clinton $2-million to $2.5-million on a typical visit. But Shorstein said he realized those dollars were raised under "soft money" rules, which allowed larger contributions to party organizations. Presidential candidates can raise only $2,000 per contributor for the primary election. Shorstein said he and Graham had not discussed using Graham's famous "work days" -- his longtime practice of spending a day in various jobs -- in a possible campaign. But Shorstein said he expects that work days would become a crucial part of a Graham candidacy. "You just assume if he's playing (in the campaign), he switches the work days to where ever the primaries or caucuses are," Shorstein said. "Iowa is the most retail of retail politics. I would think Graham would be effective in Iowa." -- Times staff writer Bill Adair can be reached at (202) 463-0575 or adair@sptimes.com.
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From the Times wire desk
From the AP |
