Edwards Notes Differences on Issue of World Trade – Mark Sanford, who is the Republican governor of South Carolina and who has pushed the Bush administration to be tougher on China’s trade policies, said, “Trade, in fact, is a surprisingly bipartisan issue
[ “(extlink)NYTimes”:http://www.nytimes.com ]
That last qoute seems to put a strong point behind what seems to be a trend in American politics – that the Senate is a poor road to the White House. In recent years governorships seem to have become the preferred entry route.
I think Senators have a hard time because we have a Federal system and they have responsibilities both towards our country and towards their home states. A governor can devote his entire attention towards his own state, making policy decisions only to please his electorate.
Senators on the otherhand are faced with a quandry. They are elected by their states, and expected to bargain for their states best interest while in the Senate. Their votors hold them responsible for how well they look after their interests, which often boils down to how much money they bring back to their state in the form of Federal grants and contracts. When you run for President however, your decisions are evaluated by people all over the country who tend not to look kindly upon pork-producing politicians.
Senators Can’t be Elected President?
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Edwards Notes Differences on Issue of World Trade – [ “(extlink)NYTimes”:http://www.nytimes.com ]
That last qoute seems to put a strong point behind what seems to be a trend in American politics – that the Senate is a poor road to the White House. In recent years governorships seem to have become the preferred entry route.
I think Senators have a hard time because we have a Federal system and they have responsibilities both towards our country and towards their home states. A governor can devote his entire attention towards his own state, making policy decisions only to please his electorate.
Senators on the otherhand are faced with a quandry. They are elected by their states, and expected to bargain for their states best interest while in the Senate. Their votors hold them responsible for how well they look after their interests, which often boils down to how much money they bring back to their state in the form of Federal grants and contracts. When you run for President however, your decisions are evaluated by people all over the country who tend not to look kindly upon pork-producing politicians.