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Is Chris 'Hardball' Matthews Gearing Up for a Senate Run?

Posted by Steve Benen, Washington Monthly at 9:48 AM on November 28, 2008.


"Chris Matthews, it appears, is in."
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Also in Media and Technology

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The LA Times reported the other day that Chris Matthews, the MSNBC "Hardball" host and a former Capitol Hill Democratic staffer, sat down with Democratic leaders in Pennsylvania earlier this week to "discuss the prospect" of a Senate campaign.

This has been the subject of speculation for months -- Matthews even conceded interest during a "Colbert Report" appearance a few months ago -- and FiveThirtyEight reports that the MSNBC host appears to be increasingly serious about challenging Sen. Arlen Specter (D) in 2010.

Chris Matthews, it appears, is in.

FiveThirtyEight has been hearing for some time that Matthews is serious about running for the United States Senate, but it took a trip to Georgia among the Georgia-runoff-congregated and well-connected Obama organizer throng to confirm.

According to multiple sources, who confirmed the Tip O'Neill staffer-cum-MSNBC host has negotiated with veteran Obama staffers to enlist in his campaign, Chris Matthews is likely to run for United States Senate in Pennsylvania in 2010. Matthews, 62, would run as a Democrat. Arlen Specter, the aging Republican incumbent, will be 80 if he chooses to run for re-election.

If Matthews runs, it's safe to assume he would have some serious competition for the Democratic Party's nomination. Reps. Allyson Schwartz and Joe Sestak, and state Rep. Josh Shapiro, have all expressed interest in the race, and the field may grow given the fact that Specter is considered one of the Republicans' more vulnerable incumbents.

As for Matthews' chances, your guess is as good as mine. I glanced through Media Matters' recent hits on Matthews' on-air comments, and it's safe to assume the MSNBC host would have a lot of explaining to do before Pennsylvania Democrats gave him the nod.


Return to Media and Technology  » Post Tools: email EMAIL print PRINT 19 COMMENTS PERMALINK
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Matthews would fit right in...
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Quannah on Nov 28, 2008 10:55 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
He's an egomaniacal gasbag who loves to hear himself talk, and believes himself to be right all the time.

Sounds like most Senators to me!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Pennsylvania?
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Longdream on Nov 28, 2008 1:46 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
He should run from the State of Silly-Assed Confusion.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

JMM
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Julie M on Nov 28, 2008 8:45 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
...a egomaniacal misogynistic gasbag......I repeat - misogynistic

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

He would be missed on MSNBC.
[Report this comment]
Posted by: countingdaisies on Nov 28, 2008 10:37 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Matthews is one of my favorites on MSNBC. He's intelligent, witty and not afraid to say what others won't. He has an enormous knowledge of what goes on in DC so a good candidate for the Senate.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

A loser
[Report this comment]
Posted by: etown on Nov 29, 2008 5:01 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Matthews is inane and a phony who is full of himself. I would love to see him removed from MSNBC but not via election to the US Senate. Should he become the nominee in PA, Spector would trounce him. I'm not a Spector supporter, but he has a long history in PA and knows how to straddle the center on most issues. I would love to see some of the more liberal/progressive types challenge Spector.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: A loser Posted by: Quannah
» RE: A loser Posted by: Basenjis
» RE: A loser Posted by: Quannah
Matthews, an opportunistic DINO.
[Report this comment]
Posted by: bobtr900 on Nov 29, 2008 5:35 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I, too, would like to see someone more liberal/progressive than Matthews challenge Spector.

Matthews seems to be not a democrat but really a DINO. If he is a Dem we don't need anymore enemies.

Matthews has been leaning left of late. But that is onlu because he would like to run as a democrat when he should really be running as a Repub. Also his left leaning may be more from seeing that the right is now waning than that he is really a true Dem. To my way of thinking we do not need anymore like him in the Dem camp. We do not need any more knives stuck in our back.

He is a babbling blatherskite, to use and Irish expression, who has been kissing the blarney stone all to often. He really should stay among the likes of the other Russert crew members at MSNBC like Joe Scarborough, who also softened his righteous rightism stance in the Fall of 2006.

Were it not for Olbermann and Maddow I would never watch that Telecom bed of corruption, which is but one small step better than Fox/O'Reilly/Hannity. I stopped watching MTP some six years ago when it became clear that it was nothing more than a pimp for the Bush-Cheney administration. They too are another Theo-Fascist Republican corporation that is an integral part of the 'Culture of Death for Profits'.

I think it is safe to say that we lefties need Matthews about as much as we need Lieberman; another Benedict Arnold traitor.

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Thank you, Chris
[Report this comment]
Posted by: godsbreath64 on Nov 29, 2008 7:06 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Didn't he work for Danial Patrick Moynahan?

We miss that kind of courage in our leadership. Recent history reflects this.

Where do I donate, volunteer, or whatever is needed? Go Chris!!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: Thank you, Chris Posted by: Quannah
» RE: Thank you, Chris Posted by: rotorooter
» RE: Thank you, Chris Posted by: Longdream
» FREE CHRIS MATTHEWS!!! Posted by: godsbreath64
He screwed up so much repeating right wing talking points I just assumed
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Raymond Emerson on Nov 29, 2008 1:12 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
he was a republican. If he believes everything I heard him say, he is in the wrong party. I am willing to re-look.

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liberal Chris Matthews
[Report this comment]
Posted by: MobileSucks on Nov 29, 2008 2:33 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Yea it's funny--make that depressing--you get away from liberal/leftwing websites and the posts you read are so terrible you cannot believe it.

It may surprise you to know that Chris Matthews is a liberal. To some a leftwinger! I guess because he didn't cheer for the McCain campaign every time he opened his mouth and he failed to always smear Obama. But that's a real perception out there for you consider.

So I wonder how that would play out in an election. Chris Matthews from the liberal media, MSNBC. Dear God.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: liberal Chris Matthews Posted by: Quannah
A very large grain of salt
[Report this comment]
Posted by: wagnerrocks@gmail.com on Nov 30, 2008 11:45 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
That's what you need to take with anything uttered from the ego-maniacal mouth of Chris Matthews. Although politically knowledgeable, Chris reveals his impolitic ignorance every single night as he talks over, argues with and browbeats most of his guests. Hardball is a pot of softballs stewing in a broth of mostly self serving, right leaning pond water...a candidate for the senate on the democratic side? if so, rack one up for the republicans.

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I would be suprised if he ran
[Report this comment]
Posted by: whealeydj on Dec 1, 2008 3:25 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
since media pundit make more than Senators and it would be taking a chance with the electorate who may not think he is qualified enough. Jerry Springer thought about runnning in 2006 but polliing indicated he would have to leave his current show to even be considered and we in Ohio got Sherrod Brown who is best Senator since Metzenbaum retired. I hope Matthews decides against it and the Democrats can get a chance with a real Democrat at an open seat should Specter retire.

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