Democrats take the Michael
Updated on 27 April 2007
And then there were eight. Yes - eight Democratic contenders in the running for the 2008 White House race.
Bet you can't name them all - I ran out at five. But after last night's South Carolina University debate (the earliest presidential debate ever) perhaps the real star of the show has emerged.
Step forward Mike Gravel - one-time New York cabbie, former Alaska senator - best known for getting the Pentagon papers placed on public record back in 1971.
Now liberals everywhere are suddenly going mad for him. In last night's debate - frontrunner Hillary Clinton came equipped with an ultra-slick rapid response page which posted instant rebuttals to the other candidates - live....
All very impressive. But Mr Gravel has been winning fans with his down home radical style. And it's not just the left wing bloggers singing his praises.
'You know the first time you get there you're all excited - "My God, how did I ever get here?" And then, about six months later, you say, "How the hell did the rest of them get here?"'Democrat hopeful Mike Gravel
Even the New York Times has spotted Gravel's star potential. Among the former senator's proposals - making keeping US troops in Iraq a federal offence.
He confronted Barack Obama over his stance towards Iran - 'Who do you want to nuke, Barack?' 'I'm not planning to nuke anyone right now, Mike, I promise' came the reply. 'Good, we're safe then for a while', said Mike.
At least that's all straight, then. But seriously, Mr Gravel has absolutely no chance of winning the nomination. Zero. Zip. Zilch. So why put himself through it?
Could it be to show up the others, with their apolitical let's please all of the people all of the time responses and their fancy instant rebuttal machines?
Let's leave the final words to the former Senator, who said seeking the highest office in the land was a bit like his first experience of Congress.
"You know the first time you get there you're all excited - 'My God, how did I ever get here?' And then, about six months later, you say, 'How the hell did the rest of them get here?' "
This article originally appeared on the Newsroom blog
