A Conservative Alternative to Socialist Sanders?

Vermont's conservative announced Friday the formation of an exploratory committee to examine a bid for the seat being vacated by Jumpin Jim Jeffords. Should he enter the race, Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie will face IDX CEO James Tarrant in the Republican primary and, if he survives, socialist Rep. Bernie Sanders in the general election. Dubie won his reelection bid last year with 56% of the vote, as Vermont elects its Governor and Lt. Governor separately. Fairly popular within the state, Dubie has managed to build his reputation on issues of importance in Vermont, especially in the areas of education and healthcare.

The campaign will be a tough one, though, as Tarrant's personal fortune and Sanders' popularity pose two very formidable obstacles. Vermont's liberalism is a third. With the state's at-large House seat open, it is somewhat surprising to see Dubie instead take on one of the most popular politicians in the state. Dubie must have good eyes, because it appears to all the world that there really is not an opening here. Sanders, the House's lone "independent" (read "socialist"), fits Vermont's left-wing loonacy quite well. If Dubie, or Tarrant for that matter, is to win the seat, he will have to succeed in two areas. First, he must convince Green Mountain Staters that he is not an "extremist", Vermont's word for "moderate", the media's word for "conservative". This is no easy task in the state that elected Screaming Deanie. Second, he must make the case that Vermont will be much better off with a member of the majority. Dubie can successfully make this argument if he cites Ellsworth in every speech. Hopefully he'll do so. Even if both of these work, it's still tough to see Vermont sending a good conservative to Washington. Then again, perhaps they will see it as the only way to get rid of him.