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Full Name: Birch Evans Bayh III
Current Office: U.S. Senator from Indiana, elected 1994 (second term)Born: Shirkieville, Indiana, on December 26, 1955Education: Graduate of Indiana University (1978) and University of Virginia Law School (1981)Family: Married to Susan; they have twin sons, Beau and NicholasSignificant Career Experience: U.S. Senator, 1999-presentGovernor of Indiana, 1989-1997Secretary of State of Indiana, 1987-1989Publications: From Father to Son: A Private Life in the Public Eye, 2003Like his legendary father Birch Bayh, Evan Bayh would launch his campaign for President as a Senator from Indiana. Unlike his father, however, Bayh would bring a more conservative voting record and eight years of executive experience from serving two full terms as Governor of Indiana.Bayh is one of the darlings of the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), having served as chair of the organization. Known for its “Third Way” centrist positions and for rebuking of both hard-line conservative and liberal policies, the DLC has drawn ire from more liberal elements of the party who label their policies “Republican-Lite.” Still, the ranks of former DLC chairs include a relatively unknown governor from Arkansas named Bill Clinton, who used the platform to build a national network of donors and supporters, as well as a coherent platform. While the DLC today may not be the same as in 1992, it has allowed Bayh to spread his base beyond his home state, as well as given him a much larger national Rolodex to flip through for 2008.Unlike some other candidates who can choose to tack right or left come election time, Bayh’s affiliation with the DLC leaves him with very few options: centrist or something further to the right. His leadership record to date emphasizes this position. As Governor, Bayh gained a reputation for hard-nosed fiscal conservatism, while in the Senate he positions himself solidly to the right of his more liberal Democratic colleagues.2008 wouldn't be Evan Bayh’s first flirtation with national politics. In 1996, he earned the prized Keynote Speaker honor at the Democratic National Convention, a spot reserved for rising stars, including Bill Clinton. But just like Clinton, Bayh’s big speech ran long on words and short on interest, and he ended up lulling a primetime audience to sleep. Bayh landed on Al Gore’s short list for Vice President in 2000, making it through the vetting process, but ultimately losing out to fellow Senator Joe Lieberman.To win the nomination, Bayh will have to find a way to present his DLC credentials to primary voters. In the 2004 presidential primaries, it seemed like the farther left the voter, the more hostility they harbored towards the DLC, which they viewed as steering the party away from it’s liberal roots and ideals. While Bayh can’t hide who he is—a moderate, fiscal conservative—he also can’t speak to primary voters like he spoke to audiences while chair of the DLC. Whether he can pull off that hat trick in a convincing fashion will determine much of the success of his bid.Bayh has more cash in his account than nearly any other contender, having saved much of his Senate re-elect money from 2004 and from fundraising events around the country. Bayh would also be the closest thing to a “prairie populist” (save perhaps a bid from former Iowa Governor Tom VIlsack), so look for Bayh to use that in the Iowa Caucus.
Current Office: U.S. Senator from Indiana, elected 1994 (second term)Born: Shirkieville, Indiana, on December 26, 1955Education: Graduate of Indiana University (1978) and University of Virginia Law School (1981)Family: Married to Susan; they have twin sons, Beau and NicholasSignificant Career Experience: U.S. Senator, 1999-presentGovernor of Indiana, 1989-1997Secretary of State of Indiana, 1987-1989Publications: From Father to Son: A Private Life in the Public Eye, 2003Like his legendary father Birch Bayh, Evan Bayh would launch his campaign for President as a Senator from Indiana. Unlike his father, however, Bayh would bring a more conservative voting record and eight years of executive experience from serving two full terms as Governor of Indiana.Bayh is one of the darlings of the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), having served as chair of the organization. Known for its “Third Way” centrist positions and for rebuking of both hard-line conservative and liberal policies, the DLC has drawn ire from more liberal elements of the party who label their policies “Republican-Lite.” Still, the ranks of former DLC chairs include a relatively unknown governor from Arkansas named Bill Clinton, who used the platform to build a national network of donors and supporters, as well as a coherent platform. While the DLC today may not be the same as in 1992, it has allowed Bayh to spread his base beyond his home state, as well as given him a much larger national Rolodex to flip through for 2008.Unlike some other candidates who can choose to tack right or left come election time, Bayh’s affiliation with the DLC leaves him with very few options: centrist or something further to the right. His leadership record to date emphasizes this position. As Governor, Bayh gained a reputation for hard-nosed fiscal conservatism, while in the Senate he positions himself solidly to the right of his more liberal Democratic colleagues.2008 wouldn't be Evan Bayh’s first flirtation with national politics. In 1996, he earned the prized Keynote Speaker honor at the Democratic National Convention, a spot reserved for rising stars, including Bill Clinton. But just like Clinton, Bayh’s big speech ran long on words and short on interest, and he ended up lulling a primetime audience to sleep. Bayh landed on Al Gore’s short list for Vice President in 2000, making it through the vetting process, but ultimately losing out to fellow Senator Joe Lieberman.To win the nomination, Bayh will have to find a way to present his DLC credentials to primary voters. In the 2004 presidential primaries, it seemed like the farther left the voter, the more hostility they harbored towards the DLC, which they viewed as steering the party away from it’s liberal roots and ideals. While Bayh can’t hide who he is—a moderate, fiscal conservative—he also can’t speak to primary voters like he spoke to audiences while chair of the DLC. Whether he can pull off that hat trick in a convincing fashion will determine much of the success of his bid.Bayh has more cash in his account than nearly any other contender, having saved much of his Senate re-elect money from 2004 and from fundraising events around the country. Bayh would also be the closest thing to a “prairie populist” (save perhaps a bid from former Iowa Governor Tom VIlsack), so look for Bayh to use that in the Iowa Caucus.
