Senator Hardball?

Forget tonight's Pennsylvania primary -- ultimately it's much ado about little -- but think ahead to the Keystone State's 2010 senate race. According to Pennsylvania reporter Jacqueline Policastro, it could include Hardball maestro Chris Matthews:

Chris Matthews, host of Hardball on MSNBC, could be our next U.S. Senator. The PA native was on Comedy Central last night where he said, "I wanted to be a Senator." A few weeks back at a social event here in Washington, Matthews told me face to face that he's seriously considering a run, and that he wants Senator Arlen Specter's seat in 2010. Since it was a private conversation, I didn't report it. But after MSNBC replayed clips of Matthews declaring his desire for the Senate seat, I figured it's certainly safe to talk about.

Now that would be fun. As I note over on Robert Emmet, it wouldn't be Matthews' first attempt at elected office, though of course the first bout was nearly 35 years ago. Matthews of course was, briefly, a speechwriter for Jimmy Carter. And inadvertently he contributed to a Bill Clinton speech in 1995, as I recount in White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters.

Comments

[Joeseo]

The United States Senate would toss this guy out on his rear for his abusive interruptions. That is, of course, if he were nominated in Pennsylvania. He couldn't carry the Philadelphia vote since every street corner had one loudmouth nobody paid attention to

[Rog49Thomas]

Well, I suppose if Incitatus isn't available, he'a a fair substitute.

[zizyphus]

Chris Matthews, Senator? Here is my hunch:

I think he just likes the idea of joining the most exclusive club- the Senate. Tweety better sit tight and just watch unless he has some incredibly brilliant policy up his sleeve. I think he had a big epiphany this year, that gays are really people. I hope they find someone more liberal than old Tweet.

[not one of the sheep]

Great, Senator Chris "Wiffleball" Matthews. Another turd in the toilet.

[ksyellowdog]

Mathews is a latent conservative folks, nothing to see here. Move along.

[TheDoomed]

If he is the dems best hope against Specter than Specter deserves the seat.

[unitron]

Isn't his brother already in politics?

[erykah]

He's an independent, as far as I know.

[yomikey]

I've never really bothered to figure out whether he's a democrat or a republican. Can someone enlighten me? Or would he just flip a coin to decide party affiliation?

[cobblepot]

He always honks on about having been an aide to senator daniel patrick moynihan. Though i can't imagine that he is still a dem...He has some ISSUES, old hardball does.

[MadamBlu]

Matthews' party affiliation has morphed over these last few weeks that the candidates have been concentrating on PA. It seemed to set something off in him, though I'm not sure if it's for the better or worse.