Sen. Bob Johnson, the Death Star of Bigelow and the polluters’ and pork barrelers’ friend, sounds more and more like a candidate for U.S. Senate, at least judging by David Sanders’ column today. But he’s not deciding any time soon.
Johnson’s entry would spell a little trouble for Sen. Gilbert Baker. Baker, a Republican candidate for Senate, and Johnson share many potential campaign supporters. Which tells you just about all you need to know about Johnson’s Democratic Party bona fides. Baker could run as a moderate against Johnson.
Johnson rejects the criticism that he, as a conservative Democrat, would have a hard time defeating Lincoln, who is widely considered to be one of the Senate’s most moderate members.
“If I run, I will win. It’s that simple,” he predicted, unfazed by the prospect of challenging the senator who can boast of having multimillion dollar campaign war chest.
The source of Johnson’s unbridled confidence: First, the constant stream of encouragement he has received from fellow Democrats in the Legislature, some of whom have from time to time been on opposite side of contentious fights in the state Senate; and second, the “significant” amount of positive feedback he has received from diverse groups of individuals who have said they would contribute to his campaign should he decide to run.
Johnson failed to name a specific person among this crowd of Johnson cheerleaders.