Hart says it’s GOP that may rupture

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BY DON WALTON / Lincoln Journal Star

This year’s long and contentious Democratic presidential battle will end with Barack Obama and a healed party, former Colorado Sen. Gary Hart said Saturday night.

In fact, he suggested, it actually may be the Republican Party that splinters before the November election.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain “seems to have a free ride” for now, Hart said in a Lincoln interview.

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Gary Hart

Gary Hart

“But there’s a real struggle for the soul of the Republican Party under way.”

That clash pits a party tied to the religious right, personal social issues, neoconservative foreign policy and libertarian taxpayers against a traditional GOP that embraced balanced budgets, caution in foreign policy and a philosophy of keeping government out of private lives, Hart said.

“Sooner or later, the very, very deep division in the Republican Party is going to come out.”

And, the result, he said, may be “a lot of Republicans staying home” in November or choosing the independent course of abandoning their nominee.

Hart, who sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, was featured speaker at the Nebraska Democratic Party’s annual Morrison-Exon dinner. 

A crowd of 450 contributors attended the event held three days before Democrats choose their 2008 Senate nominee.

Scott Kleeb, the party’s 2006 congressional nominee in the 3rd District, and Tony Raimondo, chairman of Behlen Manufacturing Co., are locked in what is viewed as an unpredictable struggle.

“I don’t have a clue who will win,” State Chairman Steve Achelpohl of Omaha said prior to the dinner. 

“I think it’s anybody’s guess what might happen.”

Sen. Ben Nelson said “it’s always hard to know” when the campaign largely has been waged through 30-second TV ads.

The winner has a decent shot at defeating Mike Johanns, the prohibitive favorite in the Republican primary election, Nelson said.

“Johanns’ support is a lot softer in many places than people may be aware,” the senator said.

“The key will be to demonstrate a bipartisan message and commitment,” he said, along with “an independent-minded approach.”

Both Kleeb and Raimondo claim momentum is on their side.

“Over 2,500 people are now involved in our campaign,” Kleeb said.  “We’re going to do well.”

Raimondo said he sees evidence of “very positive progress, with more and more people coming aboard.”

Hart said he believes Obama’s nomination would be good for the party and the country.

“What Hillary Clinton offers is a return to the ’90s, while Obama would take us into the 21st century,” he said.

It’s largely a generational contest, Hart said, with few major policy differences at stake.

“I believe we do need a generational change with a fresh new leader with new supporters offering revolutionary change.”

The election of Obama would “send a powerful signal around the world,” Hart said. 

“Election of a mixed-race, young leader who is a product of internationalism would resonate in Latin America, Africa, Asia and elsewhere, particularly among young people.”

A  general election showdown with McCain would be “a dramatic generational contest,” Hart said.

“I hope to be 74 too someday, but I do not believe I should be president then.”

Both McCain and Hart will turn 72 later this year.  McCain would be 74 in the middle of his term.

What Obama and Democrats need to recognize, Hart said, is that this election actually could be decided during the summer months leading to the national nominating conventions rather than this autumn.

Once the GOP convention has ended in September, only eight weeks will remain before the election, he said.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.