Chris Matthews Senate Run? Report Says He's Staffing Up... UPDATE: Matthews Denies

Update 4:40 PM: Matthews had denied reports that he's hiring staff for a Senate campain in a statement posted on FiveThirtyEight.com, the site that originally reported the news.

"It is absolutely not true," said Matthews, in a statement.

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Update: FiveThirtyEight has dialed back its report on Chris Matthews' potential senate run.

[EDIT -- 8:26 AM. I am changing the reporting and headline slightly to more cautiously reflect what our sources are telling us. Matthews, we have strong reason to believe, is hiring staff for a run at the Senate, although there have certainly been candidates in the past who have staffed up but subsequently elected not to run. -Nate]

For more, check out Jane Hamsher's new piece, "How Matthews Can Beat Specter"

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FiveThirtyEight's original report:

Chris Matthews is in.

FiveThirtyEight has been hearing this for some time, 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 will run for United States Senate in Pennsylvania in 2010. Matthews, 62, will run as a Democrat. Arlen Specter, the aging Republican incumbent, will be 80 if he chooses to run for re-election.

Recent polls suggest that Matthews will have a hard time unseating Sen. Arlen Specter. Quinnipiac gives the Republican incumbent a double-digit lead:

In an early look at the 2010 U.S. Senate race, Republican incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter leads TV commentator Chris Matthews, a possible Democratic challenger, 45 - 33 percent. Sen. Specter leads 72 - 9 percent among Republicans and 45 - 27 percent among independent voters, while Matthews leads 55 - 25 percent among Democrats.

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Specter gets a 62 - 25 percent approval rating and by a 56 - 23 percent margin, voters have a favorable opinion of him.

For Matthews, 60 percent say they don't know enough about him to form an opinion.

The LA Times adds that Matthews will likely face stiff competition for the Democratic nomination.

Leading the pack of prospects -- at least in celebrity -- is Chris Matthews, the MSNBC "Hardball" host and a former Capitol Hill Democratic staffer. The Philadelphia native has been toying with a run for months, and this week he sat down with state Democrats to discuss the prospect of taking on the five-term GOP senator.

Others considered in the mix include Rep. Joe Sestak, who is sitting on $3 million in campaign funds; state Rep. Josh Shapiro; and U.S. Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz, a two-term Philadelphia area lawmaker who has moved up quickly on the Hill and has a Rolodex full of prospective donors from her unsuccessful 2000 Senate run. "We'll see," she said about a repeat bid.

"There are a lot of compelling reasons why serious Democrats would aspire to run in 2010," said Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman T.J. Rooney, who said Matthews had been in Pennsylvania Monday meeting with other Democratic leaders.

Comments

[carolo]

Great news, I think. I like Chris a lot and think he'd do a great job.

[Rendon76]

The feeling he got up his leg was too much, he cannot merely be a bystander now he must be in the Matrix itself!

[bob8788]

I would love to see his personality in the senate, I bet you his using that as a stepping stone for governor or something

http://www.barackobamacans.blogspot.com/

[PFHarlock]

I feel that Chris Matthews is an entertaining and sometimes gutsy television host, but he dosen't seem to be very clear on who he is. Time after time I've seen him caught up in the prevailing opinions of the moment. He lacks of the level of perspective that I would like to see in the senate.

[truthglow]

But he's been much better in the past year, and he even seems to have grown a backbone which is so missing in the rest of the Senate. Arlen Specter is one such Senator lacking a backbone, who talks a good game, but when the time comes to act, always wimps out in the end. Chris would be a vast improvement for PA and for the Democrats in general. His "big mouth" would be a help to us all.

[PFHarlock]

I think he's become "better" because it's now popular to attack George W. Bush and Republicans, in general, and he's jumped on the bandwagon.

Would I rather have Chris Matthews in that seat than Arlen Specter? Absolutely.

[Grunty1]

That's not a bad trait for a news anchor (another thing the right cannot grasp)

[tallcoolone47]

Matthews doesn'y make a pimple on a news anchors butt!!!!!!!!!!

[Taiyo]

Well, if he won a Senate seat, the Dems would always have the perfect speaker for a filibuster. No one can out-talk Chris!

[ChicagoSuz]

Now is your time, Chris. Go for it!!

[Tulka2]

The problem is, Matthews has a record of terrible calls. He is always talking about his "gut feelings" and they have been just plain god-awful for five of the last eight years. Political intinct means a lot when you are not quite bright enough. Dennis Kucinich... just as an example... has turned out to be right on every issue of the last eight years. I can't tell you what gives a person that true gut instinct, but for someone who talks about gut feelings all the time, Matthews better not trust his. Is he smart enough or patient enough to puzzle stuff out....? Maybe. Perhaps he's learned something in the last eight years...?

[dphilip]

Way to go Matthews. You made the fatal mistake that journalist "sometimes" make when they dare turn on their own....The democrats are a zero tolerance policy group.
Your job as a member of the media is to provide material support for democrats. Get out of line with them once and you're done. Besides, Keith Olbermann doesn't like you so his groupies will work to defeat you.

[CVN65]

Yeah, all three of them.

[Grunty1]

The DEMOCRATS are zero tolerance? HAHA!

[SirHenryClinton]

If meat mouth runs, I'll do something I've never done before: donate to a Republican candidate!

[bubbuh]

Rest easy. He has to run in a Democratic Party primary..

[Grunty1]

I don't think donating to a Republican will be a wise investiment for the next several decades.

[ECB]

If I lived in PA. I would vote for him...............but I don't live in PA.

[moda31]

i guess he didn't get the MTP job then.

[CVN65]

Why bother? The DNC should just save the cash and wish Arlen Specter good luck on his next term. The man is not any type of republican; he is a wishy-washy RINO that votes with the dems far too much. He loves big government and grand-standing and only got reelected to help grease the skids for the Bush appointees to the SCOTUS. That ship has sailed. If the GOP tacks to the right, as their base is screaming for them to do, old Arlen won't even get through the primaries and Chris "Tingle Legs" Matthews will face stiff competition from a real fighter. But, who knows, the MSM can cover over just about anything or ignore it completely so Matthews will have a chance anyway.

[Jessegirl]

Remember the 'giggling' Chris, (back when Gore was running against Bush)
Chris just found it so funny that Gore was not your beer-drinking buddy in a bar.
Chris giggled over Kerry too against the fluffed-up chicken-hawks.
Chris was right in there attacking the the "nerdy" candidates.
And when Kerry was seen in a wetsuit on the water....well forget SMARTS, Chris nailed
Kerry to the wall. (AS IF THAT IS WHAT FUCCING MATTERS!!!!!!!)
Chris fell for Bush's FAKE "brush-clearing" instead.
Chris and Noonan swooned over Bushs tough-talking speeches and how he "connected".
Chris giggled with his Repub guests that Kristina Vanden Heuvel seemed so "angry" because she
was so worried and panicked over anothe Bush term. Whenever she spoke back then, Chris and
Pat had a laugh-fest on her...

I could go on....but I won't.
I don't think he has good judgement. And I hope he the good ol KARMA!

[SayLessDoMore]

Said below "I'd vote for him." Hmmm. You're bringing back some memories -- yes, I do recall trying to find one of the cats to throw at the TV back in 2000; even again in 2004. And if you think the blogosphere and YouTubers were tough on Sarah Palin, imagine the hours of video available to rip Matthews. Hmmm. Gotta think more about this one.

[soapington]

He voted for Bush in 2000, invited Ann Coulter on his show to celebrate "Mission Accomplished," and seeks "expert opinion" from Tom Decay. Oh yes, an ideal candidate!

[josephbua]

"Seeks expert opinion from Tom Decay."

Sure, Delay was on the show a couple of times in the runup to election, but I think that's more a function of him being the only person out there who would talk up Rethuglican chances to prevail, and Tweety needed to talk to someone, anyone, on the topic.

He doesn't make all the decisions re show guests.

[timetorevolt]

I agree.. Dems would have another Liebermann on their hands. He not only had Coultergiest on is show, he kissed up to her. He thought it was funny when she called Edwards gay and accussed the widowers of 911 of being happy their husband's died.

[snruB]

Yeah, go Matthews. I like Chris Matthews

[StrategicThinker]

So, you base "STRATEGY" on your "LIKES"?

Gee, that's smart...not.