John Nichols writes a glowing endorsement of Democrats voting for Green Party candidate Tom Clements in an upcoming issue of The Nation. After lamenting having Alvin Greene as the Democratic nominee, the author asks,
If only there was an alternative! If only there was a credible contender with a record of local, state and national activism, with a firm grasp of the issues, thoughtful progressive positions and an easygoing yet professional style.
Well, there is. Green Party nominee Tom Clements will share the November ballot with DeMint and Greene. Clements is a native Southerner who worked for thirteen years with Greenpeace International and directed the Nuclear Control Institute before taking over in 2008 as southeastern coordinator for Friends of the Earth. He was a campaign manager to former Georgia Congressman Doug Bernard, an experienced player on the international stage since his days as a leading antiproliferation campaigner and an able spokesman on issues ranging from environmental racism to global warming to the green economy. Clements is economically populist, socially progressive and antiwar. And he knows the race should be about DeMint, not the foibles of his Democratic challenger. Accusing the incumbent of being so interested in national political positioning that he has gone “AWOL from South Carolina,” Clements says it is folly to focus on Alvin Greene’s troubles. “I want [this race] to be about, Where is Jim DeMint, and why doesn’t Jim DeMint come back to South Carolina to face the voters and discuss the issues?” says Clements, who has gained steady coverage with his demand that the senator debate.
But could Democrats get comfortable with a candidate from the Green Party? Are they over the bitter memories of the 2000 presidential race, when Democrats accused Green presidential nominee Ralph Nader of peeling off just enough votes in Florida and New Hampshire to elect George W. Bush? They should be. A lot has changed in the past decade. Traditional Green issues, such as climate change and sustainability, have gone mainstream. Greens keep winning local elections, with 140-plus party members serving as mayors, county commissioners and school board members in dozens of states—including South Carolina. And Democrats would do well to recognize that the Greens have skipped runs that might have drawn votes away from progressive Democrats such as Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold.
You can read the rest of the article here. Clements is also beating Democrat Alvin Greene in the fundraising department, as IPR earlier reported here.
In other news, Greg Snoad, an active Democrat and high school social studies teacher, has announced a write-in bid for Demint’s seat.
Karen would you like have a chance of winning in the real world bearly little more than 1 month before election. What organization does your candidate have to generate support or funds. If the democratic party did have a candidate even one that I disagreed with on many issues I would implore the Greens to step aside and help knock off demint(dimwit). This may be a rare chance to catch him with his pants down. Pun intended, there is a chance to actually win if “purity” and ego’s get put in the draw!
how far are the greens in getting “Clements” out there? Any co operation from any democratic party organs?
Ferguson is the best choice for US Senate for SC. DeMint has done nothing for his constiuents his entire term. His consistent lack of voting is in no way for the state of SC. He has been strictly concerned with self since he took the oath. Clements states nothing about improving the economy, education of SC.
I would hope that disenfranchised Democrats would strongly consider Tom Clements who will be on the ballot. No disrespect to Mazie Ferguson who is also a write-in candidate but I do not think she can mount a successful campaign against DeMint and from what I’ve read about Snoad, his is only a “symbolic” campaign and he conceded the race to Demint so why is he even wasting people’s time? Tom Clements is the only logical choice for South Carolina and the Nation. DeMint is a divisive force and must be stop.
This is really great. I’m donating $5 to the campaign.
The Green Party’s Tom Clements is a strong U.S. Senate candidate.
Nation magazine deserves praise for covering the Green Party’s Tom Clements.
Thanks IPR!