Southern Political Roundup -- Bredesen Rhymes With President

Professor Reynolds of Instapundit fame writes in this past Sunday's Wall Street Journal that Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen could be the answer to the Democratic Party's self-destructive streak when it comes to nominating presidential candidates.

By the time the '08 presidential election rolls around, it will have been almost half a century since a non-Southern Democrat won the White House -- that being John Kennedy of Massachusetts in 1960. Lyndon Johnson of Texas was elected in '64, Jimmy Carter of Georgia in '76 and Bill Clinton of Arkansas in '92 and '96. Carter barely captured a majority of the popular vote (50.08 percent) and lost in a landslide when he sought re-election in 1980 (Reagan 50.75 percent to Carter's 41.01 percent; third-party candidate John Anderson captured more than 6 percent). Clinton never received a majority of the popular vote (43.01 percent in '92 and 49.23 percent in '96).

Carter and Clinton were Southern governors -- Kennedy was also the last sitting U.S. senator to be elected president -- which leads many to suggest that that particular trait is the key to a Democrat's return to the Oval Office. The good professor writes:

Phil Bredesen is a Northerner, and conventional wisdom says that they don't do well in the South. But Southerners have a tradition of accepting smart Yankees into the fold, so long as they're respectful and not condescending. That, along with a willingness to learn from his mistakes, is Gov. Bredesen's secret. (Ed: Bredesen was born in upstate New York, but moved to Nashville 30 years ago.)

In his first run for governor, Mr. Bredesen campaigned as an almost Dukakis-like technocrat, stressing his business experience and managerial skills. He lost. But by the time he ran again, he had learned how to present a less chilly image. As The New Republic points out, he traveled the state, meeting with opponents and listening respectfully, and without an ounce of the condescension that marked John Kerry's efforts to reach out to the good-old-boy crowd. Instead of TV commercials, he attended chili suppers and town meetings. He listened to people, and they responded to his demonstrations of respect.

Bredesen is known in Tennessee for his ability to transcend party lines while replacing tax-loving Republican Gov. Don Sundquist (Ed: also a born-Yankee; BaT: Hey, you can't win 'em all.), who thankfully was barred from seeking another term. He's turned around the bloated health-care system and cut overall spending, leading to a budget surplus -- without instituting an income tax. However, his refusal to support this tax (which Sundquist pushed and Tennessee Democrats have wanted for years), as well as other reforms unpopular with the state's left, may be his undoing if he entered the national stage.

For other Democrats, Gov. Bredesen's ability to win praise from Republicans is more worrisome than his policies. Tennessee Democratic blogger South Knox Bubba criticizes Gov. Bredesen for his TennCare efforts and for the workers' comp reform, but his strongest criticism comes here: "I hate to accuse Bredesen of being a sellout. But when heartless right-wing 'Christian' conservatives and rabid neo-conservatives bent on world domination start singing his praises, you know there's something wrong."

When you're a minority party, as the Democrats are, reaching out to the opposition would seem to be essential. But whatever his other skills, if Gov. Bredesen's fellow Democrats can't appreciate that, he's going to have problems.

Bredesen in '08!

For a previous post on Bredesen, click here. This post also led to my first -- and only -- Instalanche.

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It's never a good sign when you're on trial and the prosecution brings in a popular TV news anchor to testify against you. Particularly when you are a former Atlanta mayor accused of accepting bribes -- and the TV news anchor was your mistress.

A Chicago TV newswoman testified Wednesday that former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell always carried plenty of cash while the two enjoyed a romantic relationship.

Prosecutors at the federal corruption trial allege that Marion Brooks, 39, went on frequent trips with the mayor, including a Paris getaway. The prosecution wants to convince the jury that Campbell, 52, paid for the rendezvous with bribe money from city contractors.

Asked on the stand if Campbell ever used a credit card for hotel rooms and other expenses, Brooks said: "He always had cash."

The former mayor's wife of 28 years didn't show for "the other woman's" testimony. There's a shocker.

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James Webb, who served as Ronald Reagan's secretary of navy for a couple of years, is running for the U.S. Senate from Virginia -- as a Democrat. Webb must first win his party's nomination before taking on possible 2008 GOP presidential candidate George Allen. Webb endorsed Allen six years ago, and Allen went on to beat massage-lovin' LBJ son-in-law Chuck Robb.

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Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, however, isn't running -- for president. Or so he says. Hurricane Katrina recovery is keeping him "too busy."

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U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., is giving Arkansas-based Wal-Mart a refund:

Clinton returned $5,000 to the political action committee of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., a company with long ties to the Clintons dating back to their days in Arkansas, where Wal-Mart is headquartered.

Clinton campaign spokeswoman Ann Lewis said the money was returned "because of serious differences with current company practices."

Presumably, she raised those same objections -- and refused compensation (up to $64,000) -- when she served on the Wal-Mart Board of Directors before her husband was elected president. Uh-huh, right. She's played this game before.