More oh-eight: Nunn back in the news
Posted: Monday, August 20, 2007 9:03 AM by Domenico Montanaro
If they build it, the candidates will come, right? That was the claim by the founders of Unity '08, the group trying to recruit a bipartisan presidential ticket. Well, the first major elder statesman outside of New York City has
acknowledged his interest: former Georgia Democratic Sen. Sam Nunn. But if he runs, he'll do so as an independent. "It's a possibility, not a probability," said Nunn, now the head of a nonprofit organization out to reduce the threat posed by nuclear, biological and chemical weaponry. "My own thinking is, it may be a time for the country to say, 'Timeout. The two-party system has served us well, historically, but it's not serving us now.'"
Nunn said he's not likely to make up his mind until next year, probably after the early rush of presidential primaries have produced de facto nominees for both parties. He said the decision will depend largely on what he hears from the current candidates. The only certainty, he said, is that he won't be anybody's candidate for vice president."
Nunn said he's tempted by running because it would be an opportunity to push his pet issue. "Ultimately, he said, if there's to be any chance of persuading smaller countries to give up nuclear weapons technology — and keep it out of the hands of increasingly sophisticated terrorists — world powers will have to put themselves on a gradual, verifiable path toward total nuclear disarmament. That includes the United States."
New Hampshire's Secretary of State Bill Gardner confirmed to the Union Leader that if Michigan does move its primary to Jan. 15 (as negotiated late last week), then New Hampshire’s primary has to be no later than Jan. 8 -- if the state abides by its law."
