July 13, 2007
Is there time left for tent folding?
As Nashville Post has described, I do see a disturbing parallel between 1987 and 2007 that I hope will not be fulfilled, but I do see one big difference: In 1987, Nashville did not have early voting.
On July 13, 1987, the campaign of [Bill Boner's] business-supported opponent, former Chamber of Commerce chief Eddie Jones, folded its tents after failing to make significant headway against Boner in the polls.
The field is much more crowded twenty years later, but I have to wonder: Could Karl Dean or David Briley still drop out at this point? Sure, some votes would be wasted, but with every passing day these two candidates (both of whom would make good mayors, in my opinion) are dividing support that they each desperately need to make a runoff. Will both of them be on the outside looking in on August 3rd, wishing that they’d had the courage to do what’s in the best interest of the city today?
That raises another question: Is it more politically advantageous to drop out for the good of the city or to land in fourth or fifth place in a five-candidate election?
![Rob Robinson](http://thinktrain.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/Rob.jpg")
Volunteer Voters » Late Round Dropout Dreams said,
July 13, 2007 @ 5:08 pm
[...] Rob Robinson is still holding out for a miracle. He still wants a David Briley or a Karl Dean to drop out of the Mayor’s race: The field is much more crowded twenty years later, but I have to wonder: Could Karl Dean or David Briley still drop out at this point? Sure, some votes would be wasted, but with every passing day these two candidates (both of whom would make good mayors, in my opinion) are dividing support that they each desperately need to make a runoff. Will both of them be on the outside looking in on August 3rd, wishing that they’d had the courage to do what’s in the best interest of the city today? [...]
Choice is the reward for 5 qualified mayoral candidates said,
July 14, 2007 @ 9:00 pm
Rob, please stop asking David Briley or Karl Dean to let you off the hook from making a decision. With five candidate for Mayor, many people are having to make hard decisions and as grown-ups, that is just what we all have to do sometimes. So many Democrats tell me that they have voted for Clement previously but are having a hard time pulling the lever since he is giving the same speech as he did 30 years ago yet their disloyalty is painful to them. Local republicans are torn between their support for Bob Clement when he was in Congress (and no Republican could win the District), Buck Dozier whom many align with on conservative social issues and Karl Dean who they know through social clubs and mutual friendships. Progressives in Nashville are having to choose between David Briley and Karl Dean, two candidates they are both friends with from school, the workplace or general community leadership. Further complicating the choice is the guilt that at some liberals feel about not voting for Howard Gentry and promoting an African American to the top job in Nashville. Nashville has some hard choices ahead and Nashville voters need to do their homework on the mayoral candidates and search their hearts to decide which one is the best choice to lead the city into the next decade.
Mac said,
July 15, 2007 @ 9:29 am
Could not agree more with CITR’s comments.
I will only add this: If Briley follows through with his apparent promise to run ads on immigration, every progressive in this community will finally know the truth about David’s politics. It ain’t about you, folks, it’s always, always, always about him.
See that river downtown? David is about to sell you right down it, just so he can keep his house.
Rob Robinson said,
July 16, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
Thanks, guys. CITR, you make a fair point that ultimately I (and the rest of the voters out there) will have to make a decision in the race. I’m close, but I’m not quite there yet. I probably will wait until the end of early voting or election day to cast my ballot, but I suspect you’re right that it’s too late at this point to hope for anyone to drop out.
I won’t have a problem casting a ballot for one of the candidates, but I do have a problem with having too many good choices in a crowded field.