See How They Run

JAMES Baker managed George Bush’s campaign for the Senate in 1970—and lost. He managed Gerald Ford’s campaign for President in 1976—and lost. He himself ran for attorney general of Texas in 1978—and lost. In 1980 he managed Bush’s campaign for the Republican presidential nomination—and lost. In 1988 he managed Bush’s general-election campaign and won—on the coattails of Ronald Reagan. Finally, he headed Bush’s 1992 re-election campaign and saw his candidate garner the lowest percentage of the popular vote of any incumbent President since 1912. Baker, in short, is a political loser, adept chiefly at media leaks that help keep the hot air in his crazily overinflated reputation. He is also a legitimate candidate to be Bob Dole’s running-mate.

To be sure, the odds are against Baker, who made his way into the vice-presidential sweepstakes via Bob Woodward’s The Choice. But he is a plausible contender because he meets what will be Dole’s two chief criteria for a running-mate, as related to Woodward. The first is that the VP nominee be a “10,” a figure accorded universal respect (from the media) and already prepared to step into the Presidency. (Dole rates himself as having been only a 7 as a candidate in 1976.) The other criterion is Dole’s own comfort with the running-mate, suggesting a pick who is temperamentally moderate, an experienced Washington hand, and personally on good terms with Dole. Baker passes both tests.

About the Author

Rich Lowry

Rich Lowry is the editor in chief of National Review.

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Presidential Election

JAMES Baker managed George Bush’s campaign for the Senate in 1970—and lost. He managed Gerald Ford’s campaign for President in 1976—and lost. He himself ran for attorney general of Texas in 1978—and lost. In 1980 he managed Bush’s campaign for the Republican presidential nomination—and lost. In 1988 he managed Bush’s general-election campaign and won—on the coattails of Ronald Reagan. Finally, he headed Bush’s 1992 re-election campaign and saw his candidate garner the lowest percentage of the popular vote of any incumbent President since 1912. Baker, in short, is a political loser, adept chiefly at media leaks that help keep the hot air in his crazily overinflated reputation. He is also a legitimate candidate to be Bob Dole’s running-mate.

To be sure, the odds are against Baker, who made his way into the vice-presidential sweepstakes via Bob Woodward’s The Choice. But he is a plausible contender because he meets what will be Dole’s two chief criteria for a running-mate, as related to Woodward. The first is that the VP nominee be a “10,” a figure accorded universal respect (from the media) and already prepared to step into the Presidency. (Dole rates himself as having been only a 7 as a candidate in 1976.) The other criterion is Dole’s own comfort with the running-mate, suggesting a pick who is temperamentally moderate, an experienced Washington hand, and personally on good terms with Dole. Baker passes both tests.