With all the talk about how Hillary Clinton is the strongest candidate we could run in 2016, I can't help but dredge up the often unnecessarily bitter 2008 primary battle and remember all of the reasons I cast my first ever ballot for Barack Obama and have no regrets doing so. While Clinton now has sky-high favorables, this is because as Secretary of State she was out of the limelight of partisan politics and they will almost surely come back down to earth when the right wing noise-machine kicks into high gear. Still, she'll without doubt be a strong candidate and I'd prefer her to some schmuck like Andrew Cuomo, but this diary isn't about either of them.
This diary is about a true, bona-fide progressive stalwart with a knack for running tough campaigns and winning a Republican leaning constituency while being a progressive fighter. This diary is about a liberal hero who remains popular in the nation's most essential swing state of Ohio and won by a larger margin than Barack Obama despite facing an onslaught of $40 million dollars from corporate special interests.
This candidate is 2nd term-Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown and it is my belief that he represents our best shot at sending a true liberal to the White House in 2016.
What makes Sherrod so great? First let's look at his record:
98% Prgoressive Punch Score
95% ADA score
100% NARAL score
91% ACLU score
87% LCV score
100% NAACP score
A member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus while in the House
On particular issues, he is:
A strong supporter of Gay Rights having voted against DOMA in the house in 1996
An opponent of the continued occupation quagmire in Afghanistan
A strong proponent of Fair Trade policies
A strong supporter of aggressive Financial Reform to hold the big banks accountable
A strong supporter of Health Care Reform, having voted for Obamacare and supports a Public Option
A supporter of efforts to combat Climate Change
I could go on an on about Brown on the issues, but a quick google search could tell you a lot more. However, when there are plenty of even more solidly progressive Democratic candidates who could potentially run such as senator Sheldon Whitehouse or governor Martin O'Malley, why is Sherrod Brown such an appealing candidate?
It's simple. Brown has a long history of winning first in a Republican-leaning congressional seat and then in slightly Republican leaning Ohio while being a tried and true progressive fighter. We have only two other potential presidential candidates who are popular statewide officeholders from key swing states: Mr. I love fracking, governor John Hickenlooper in Colorado, and senator Mark Warner in Virginia. Brian Schweitzer of Montana is a popular former governor of a red state and a strong liberal on health care (but not the environment) who might run, but with a base as small as Montana he stands no chance of winning the nomination. While both Hickenlooper and Warner are fairly solid, mainstream Democrats (and Warner is my top choice for VP, or pres if neither Hillary or Brown runs) neither is a liberal champion. That leaves us with Sherrod Brown who is both popular in the key swing state in the nation and consistently stands up for progressive values. If Brown were to run, he wouldn't have to give up his senate seat and would be just shy of 65 on election day (though he won't look it). When PPP conducted their final poll in November 2012, while Obama had a 47/49 disapproval rating, Brown sported a healthy 48/43 and went on to win by a larger margin, demonstrating his popularity
For all of you who were avid supporters of Howard Dean due to his unabashed fighting for progressive ideals and for those of you who became reluctant supporters of John Kerry based on electability in 2004, here is your moment to be pragmatic and idealistic by supporting a popular swing state liberal. A Sherrod Brown candidacy will excite the base far more than running another corporate Democrat like Andrew Cuomo or Mark Warner while appealing to swing voter all the same.
If Sherrod Brown runs for president I will quit my day job and work day and night to send this great man to the White House. So join me and let's support a true liberal hero for president in 2016.