Will New York Elect Merrill Lynchs Harold Ford Jr. As Its Next Senator?
Interesting trial balloon from the New York Times: Former Tennessee Rep. and current Merrill Lynch banker Harold Ford Jr. is weighing a run for Senate against Hillary Clinton substitute Kirsten E. Gillibrand. Ford had been a rising star among Democrats in DC. But in 2006, a very Democratic year, he tried to make the jump to Senate and failed against Republican Bob Corker. So he packed up, headed to New York, and landed a high-paying job as an executive at Merrill Lynch. But his interest is clearly poltics (his father was a politician), as evidenced by his frequent TV appearances and continued role in the Democratic party. Wall Street would like him to run, Bloomberg would consider endorsing him, as would several other prominent Democrats. However for the sake of party unity, the very top players like Chuck Schumer would not be keen on a pitched primary battle among Democrats. But between this, and the wave of Democratic retirements, this is shaping up to be fascinating (and very bloody
