Indiana senator testing waters for 2008 U.S. presidential bid
{{date|August 23, 2005}}
Relatively unknown [[w:Indiana|Indiana]] [[w:United States Senate|Senator]] [[w:Evan Bayh|Evan Bayh]] is taking steps to make a run for U.S. President during the 2008 election cycle. Bayh has formed a [[w:political action committee|political action committee]] (PAC) and already is a leading money-raiser among Democratic party hopefuls. The [[wikt:Hoosier|Hoosier]] politician also is touting his appeal to traditionally republican voters.

===Popular red state politician===
Among the selling points Bayh points to in his likely 2008 bid is that he is a democrat who consistently wins elections in republican [[w:red state|red state]]s by appealing to moderate republican and libertarian-leaning voters.

A former leader and key figure in the [[w:Democratic Leadership Council|Democratic Leadership Council]] moderate movement in the Democratic party that brought [[w:Bill Clinton|Bill Clinton]] to the national stage, Bayh is known as a Democrat who won with landslide margins of victory during both terms as Indiana's governor and two U.S. Senate runs in the traditionally Republican-voting state. 

In an interview with the ''[[w:Terre Haute, Indiana|Terre Haute, Indiana]] Tribune Star'' newspaper, he noted Democratic former president [[w:Harry Truman|Harry Truman]] as a role model. In recent news reports he also criticized the national Democratic Party image as being weak on national defense. 

Critics point out this popularity with moderate republicans could be a liability for Bayh in the Democrat Primaries, which are traditionally controlled by left-leaning party activists, also referred to as "Progressives."

===Organized money raiser===
Between January and July 31, 2005, three years before the election, Bayh has raised $1.17 million for a potential 2008 bid--more than most potential 2008 presidential nominees. He out raised fellow democrats [[w:Hillary Clinton|Hillary Clinton]], [[w:John Kerry|John Kerry]] and [[w:John Edwards|John Edwards]]. Each, unlike Bayh, are well-known household names in the United States. Money-raising results by political action committees are reported to and released by the U.S. [[w:Federal Election Commission|Federal Election Commission ]].

Clinton is widely considered the front runner, and Democratic money leader. She has focused her attention on reelection in 2006 to her [[w:New York|New York]] U.S. Senate seat. For that campaign, she has raised $10 million. 

Bayh is being beaten in the money-raising arena by Democratic party chairman [[w:Howard Dean|Howard Dean]], who raised $1.77 million in the first six months of the year. Dean has made a name for himself as an effective money-raiser for liberal causes. But Dean has bowed out of the 2008 race according to reports.

Bayh is trailing the top Republican 2008 presidential; hopeful, Sen. [[w:Bill Frist|Bill Frist]],  considered a top Republican candidate for 2008, who collected $1.9 million in the first six months of 2005.

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.tribstar.com/articles/2005/08/23/news/top_stories_yesterday/top03.txt
|title=Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh offers his views on everything from the War in Iraq to family values
|author=Mark Bennett
|pub=Terre Haute Tribune Star
|date=August 23, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.southbendtribune.com/stories/2005/08/21/opinion.20050821-sbt-MICH-B8-The_lessons_of_histo.sto
|title=The lessons of history not likely to be lost on this Bayh
|author=Jack Colwell
|pub=South Bend Tribune
|date=August 23, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2005/08/23/opinion/times_editorials/1ccecb6e3f7e52b3862570650082fb3a.txt
|title=If Bayh becomes president, he should remember Lugar
|author=
|pub=The Times of Northwest Indiana
|date=August 23, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-bayh05.html
|title=Bayh says Democrats must be willing to use military 
|author=Mike Glover
|pub=Chicago Sun-Times
|date=August 5, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.qctimes.net/articles/2005/08/03/news/state/doc42f059a16d08f505498360.txt
|title=Evan Bayh makes Iowa appearance
|author=Dan Gearino
|pub=Quad City Times
|date=August 2, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050802/NEWS02/508020378
|title=Bayh's fundraising arm is 'fueled up' for potential presidential race
|author=Maureen Groppe
|pub=Gannett News Service
|date=August 2, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.politics1.com/p2008-dems.htm
|title=Presidency 2008: THE DEMOCRATIC HOPEFULS
|author=Ron Gunzburger
|pub=Politics1.com
|date=August 22, 2005}}

{{publish}}

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{{archive}}
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Indiana]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:2008 United States federal elections]]
[[Category:Democratic Party (United States)]]
Relatively unknown Indiana Senator Evan Bayh is taking steps to make a run for U.S. President during the 2008 election cycle. Bayh has formed a political action committee (PAC) and already is a leading money-raiser among Democratic party hopefuls. The Hoosier politician also is touting his appeal to traditionally republican voters.

A former leader and key figure in the Democratic Leadership Council moderate movement in the Democratic party that brought Bill Clinton to the national stage, Bayh is known as a Democrat who won with landslide margins of victory during both terms as Indiana's governor and two U.S. Senate runs in the traditionally Republican-voting state. 

In an interview with the Terre Haute, Indiana Tribune Star newspaper, he noted Democratic former president Harry Truman as a role model. In recent news reports he also criticized the national Democratic Party image as being weak on national defense. 

Critics point out this popularity with moderate republicans could be a liability for Bayh in the Democrat Primaries, which are traditionally controlled by left-leaning party activists, also referred to as "Progressives."

Clinton is widely considered the front runner, and Democratic money leader. She has focused her attention on reelection in 2006 to her New York U.S. Senate seat. For that campaign, she has raised $10 million. 

Bayh is being beaten in the money-raising arena by Democratic party chairman Howard Dean, who raised $1.77 million in the first six months of the year. Dean has made a name for himself as an effective money-raiser for liberal causes. But Dean has bowed out of the 2008 race according to reports.

Bayh is trailing the top Republican 2008 presidential; hopeful, Sen. Bill Frist,  considered a top Republican candidate for 2008, who collected $1.9 million in the first six months of 2005.

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North America United States Indiana Politics and conflicts 2008 United States federal elections Democratic Party (United States)