Akron Beacon Journal: Hackett ends bid for seat in Senate

Letter says Iraq veteran reluctantly drops out after requests by party leaders

By Carl Chancellor

Rock on.

That was Paul Hackett’s parting remark in a brief letter sent to supporters Tuesday announcing his decision to withdraw from the race for U.S. Senate and thereby avoiding a potentially messy primary battle with seven-term U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown.

Hackett, an Iraq war veteran and seeming up-and-comer in the Democratic party, said he made the decision to step aside “reluctantly, only after repeated requests by party leaders.”

From the tone of his letter, a clearly disgruntled Hackett said that in addition to political pressure to withdraw, there were also “behind-the-scenes machinations that were intended to hurt my campaign.”

However, Hackett declined an interview request to expand on that claim. His campaign spokesman, Karl Frisch, reached late Tuesday morning said Hackett “had already said all he is going to say today.”

In the New York Times article breaking the news of Hackett’s departure on Tuesday, he indicated he was betrayed by the Democratic leadership.

“For me, this is a second betrayal…. First, my government misused and mismanaged the military in Iraq, and now my own party is afraid to support candidates like me.”

Hackett was in Akron on Saturday and told a crowd gathered at Cafe Momus near the University of Akron campus that although he was “hunkered down” fending off attempts by some Democrats to get him to pull out, he “is not” and has “never entertained” the notion of withdrawing.

What a difference 48 hours makes.

The outspoken Hackett, who didn’t mince words when taking on the policies of President Bush, particularly in Iraq, had become a favorite of liberal bloggers. On Tuesday that admiration had turned to disappointment and bitterness.

Several bloggers asked Hackett to reconsider — “Don’t let the spineless Democrats in Washington deter you,” wrote one man.

Another wondered “how many more times the Dems will shoot themselves in the foot before this becomes a completely one-party government.”

However, several bloggers blasted Hackett. One man wrote that Hackett should stop whining. The writer pointed out that the Democratic party establishment “didn’t want (Barack) Obama or Paul Wellstone” when they started their primary campaigns against much better-funded opponents.

“The reality is that Hackett not only couldn’t raise money, but he couldn’t bring many other grass-roots folks in to support his campaign.”

The Democratic leadership nationally and statewide obviously believed that a primary battle between Hackett and Brown would be harmful to the party’s chances in the general election. Party leaders agreed that Brown, who has raised nearly $2.5 million, compared to Hackett’s $200,000-plus, has the best opportunity to beat incumbent Sen. Mike DeWine in November.

Missing from Hackett’s withdrawal letter was an endorsement of Brown’s candidacy. More than one blogger called the obvious omission by the Hackett camp disturbing.

Hackett said there was no “quid pro quo” in his decision to withdraw. He said he will not consider running for a congressional seat in 2006 as he was being urged.

“I will not be running in the Second Congressional District nor for any other elective office,” Hackett wrote.

In an apparent swipe at Brown, who initially said he wasn’t going to run for Senate then later changed his mind, Hackett wrote that he had “given my word to other good Democrats” that he would not run in the 2nd Congressional District.

In the Times article, Hackett indicated that the party wanted him to “not worry about those promises” and enter the 2nd District race.

“In reliance on my word, they entered the race. I said it. I meant it. I stand by it. At the end of the day, my word is my bond and I will take it to my grave,” Hackett wrote.

A Cincinnati-area lawyer, Hackett said he would return to his practice and spend more time with his wife, Suzi, and their three young children.

February 15, 2006 | Filed Under Hackett, News Mentions 

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