Lance Armstrong Eyeing Political Race? Champion Cyclist Hires Political Aides

The Dallas Morning News reports on Lance Armstrong potentially running for office:

Lance Armstrong, fresh from steering state cancer research bonds to passage, is now ready to press the presidential candidates on how they'll help in fighting the disease.

Political professionals, however, are more intrigued by what may lie beyond 2008 for the seven-time Tour de France champion.

Several said the 36-year-old cyclist and cancer survivor has impressive political talent. And, they say, he took noticeable steps this year to make his public appearance more professional and to grow more steeped in public policy. Few find it hard to imagine an Armstrong candidacy. ...

This week, spokeswoman Katherine McLane explained, "For the coming year, his focus is on making cancer a national priority and a front-burner topic in the presidential election. What happens after that, who can say?"

Jeff Danzinger, who recently resigned as California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's speechwriter, penned Mr. Armstrong's election night remarks, a polished 10-minute speech.

"Let us send a message to the federal government," he said to rousing cheers in Austin. "It's time to elevate the priority of cancer in our funding and our national debate on curing life-threatening diseases.

"Let it also send a message to the federal and state governments ... that the reach of our health-care system will determine the worth of our society."

Shortly before the bus tour, the Lance Armstrong Foundation hired as its communications director Ms. McLane, who also worked for Mr. Schwarzenegger.

Read more here.

Comments

[InofTouch]

I just love the labeling going on around here just because he rode along with president bush...which make me wonder how many dems do ride bikes...because the only time I saw Lance ride a bike with, it was John Kerry. at best if people READ through out his life, he going to run for governor of texas and I just laugh that WE keep think he going to run for president.

I'm just having fun here reading the stereotypes and labeling of comment board...and I thought we all liberal and hated the "attacks"

[Meah]

He rode bikes with Bush in Crawford. That's all I need to know. Thumbs down Lance. Riding a bike will not cut it, OK?

[ChezMJ]

Not gonna happen.

[nutty4tahoe]

So....by everyone's reasoning Ronald Reagan should never have been president because he was a celebrity, right? Same for Arnold Schwarzenneger, what on earth made him think he could be governator? By that same reasoning what the heck is Fred Thompson doing in the current race? Who told Al Franken he could run? Somebody better also tell Tim McGraw, Ben Affleck and Brad Pitt that running for office would be "off limits" for them too, simply because their line of work makes them celebrities and therefore they couldn't possibly be qualified. Heck, I was on American Bandstand once. That would disqualify me too, right?

[sinnerjizm]

He sounds like a 'one-ball Ron Paul'

[dnegri]

To drag this back to topic - if Armstrong runs my guess is it would have to be for the House. Which means the right kind of demographics for the district, and in Texas that ain't easy unless you want to bump off an incumbent. And if he think he can run as a Repub with his background, he better find a district that isn't controled by Evangelicals....fat chance. Furthermore, I don't see Armstrong being at all happy as a backbencher (even a famous one) in the House, where it's all about longevity. I'd be surprised if he runs. Of course, if he would like to run as a Repub against Cornyn or Hutchinson for the Senate, getting rid of either of them would be OK with me.

[uheardme]

When are they going to indict this motherfu&cker for using steriods?

[ihavenobias]

With regard to if he's a republican or not, you can be sure he'd have a VERY hard time being elected as a republican considering what he's said about religion/God in the past:

http://atheism.about.com/b/2005/08/08/lance-armstrong-and-god.htm

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Because America needs another egomaniac in the White House?

[situationcritical]

It seems all we have these days are people who are republicans or republican-lite, or I'm a republican who reserves the right to disagree with myself or disagree with someone on my team who makes me look bad.

What ever happened to leaving your party because they no longer represent your ideals?

[Ginzaman]

Now that the pr has been put out there, let's com down to earth. He's yet ANOTHER multi-millionaire that now wants to be, dare we say President? What possible qualifications does he have?:

He's still dogged by questions about doping. At the risk of potentially being sued by his army of attorneys that constantly screen HuffPost, the truth is he never cleared it up. Shall we run thru some other names? Ben Johnson and Marion Jones both lied for a LONG time about steroid use. The press better shut up or I'll sue your ass. Barry Bonds has been indicted and realistically his career is now over. More than one doctor and nurse who deal with treating cancer have publically said there's no way he could come back from that severe a form of cancer to win WITHOUT doping.

He's at the top of the cycling game, is set for life has a beautiful wife and great kids. And they get divorced. Why? Yeah, you can say what the hell do you care? My point is that if he gets into politics this is normal crap that he'll have to deal with. I saw his MSNBC cancer special with Matthews. And if that's how he deals with getting cancer funding from politicians he has a hell of a lot to learn. There's more to life than hanging with your buddy Matt and your hot babe Sheryl in your exclusive Spanish villa while you train.

[average joe]

Some one quits his women starts hanging around a guy, then back to little thing thats ugly. Make up your mind.

[Jacee]

Lets see...he is a divorced, drug addict, cheater, super freak, child molester. I wonder which party he will represent.

[YellowDogInRedCounty]

To all of you who assume he's a Republican, read his entry on Wikipedia. There it says he describes himself as "Left of center, against the war in Iraq, and pro-choice".

[bar1ed]

lets see ---- this is the man who when he first got into riding a bike in racers, was sponsored by the us postal service ---- tax payers money ---- talk about welfare --- maybe that money could have been used for cancer research ---- we don't know for sure if he told the truth about roid use !!!!! maybe he should go out and get a REAL job for a while ---- you know, find out what its really like in the REAL world !!!!!!