Former Presidential Candidate Senator Gary Hart Visits Salt Lake

Mar 20, 2008 by Elizabeth Ziegler

(KCPW News) Speaking from experience, former presidential candidate and Senator Gary Hart says Democratic candidates Senators Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton need to focus more on the national election and less on the squabble over whether Michigan and Florida delegates will be seated at the national convention.

"The problem of Michigan and Florida, the Republicans love it, because it's preventing us from beginning the national campaign," Hart says. "Now both candidates, both Democrats, are beginning taking on John McCain, and they should do that rather than attacking each other. But both of them together must begin to lay the groundwork for that fall campaign. The general election has to begin right now."

Hart calls himself one of the last veterans of the 1972 Democratic Convention delegate fights. The controversy then was over seating non-reformed delegates or those who followed new rules for including minorities and women, among other changes. In another parallel between Hart's political career and this year's election, super delegates played a crucial role in deciding the 1984 presidential nominee, former Vice President Walter Mondale. The '84 election was the last time Democrats did not have a clear front-runner going into the Convention. Super delegates decided the nomination, he says, voting unanimously against him.

"I summarized it by saying whatever made them super didn't also make them smart," Hart says.

Hart spoke to Salt Lake City Democrats Wednesday at the Alta Club, promoting his latest book, "Under the Eagle's Wing." The book focuses on national security and the Democratic Party. A podcast of Hart's entire presentation is available below.

 

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