Harold Ford Jr., a former Democratic Congressman from Tennessee, is considering challenging Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) for her seat. But the Manhattan newcomer may not be ready to face New York voters. In an interview with the New York Times, an edited transcript of which was published today, he gave some questionable answers.
Q. What are her [Gillibrand’s] challenges?
A. There are some differences that I have with the senator on a few fronts — as it relates to the city and as it relates to the state, and to national issues. One, I am a firm believer on the economy and national security.
He went on to say he would be more “aggressive” about job creation than Gillibrand and wants to pass “a huge tax cut bill for business people.”
Q. … Have you traveled all five boroughs?
A. I will tell you what I did. I was able to do it. Kelly had a — Chief Kelly, [NYPD] Commissioner Kelly — invited, I guess, business people in the city, including Sir. Harold Evans, in my group. We spent the afternoon with the special operations force, and so I had the chance to helicopter to various areas in the boroughs. The only place I have not spent considerable time is Staten Island.
Q. Have you been to Staten Island?
A. I landed there in the helicopter, so I can say yes.
Admitting that he’s only been to the boroughs during a private helicopter tour may not endear him to New Yorkers, especially those feeling the blows of high unemployment and a bad economy.
Relatedly:
Q. Do you commute by subway or car?
A. Normally I commute, it’s easier, in the morning, because I spend time at MSNBC, generally [Ford is a pundit for the channel] — I don’t really take the subway very often unless it’s wintertime and I can’t get a taxi on Fifth, because I stumble out. I normally take a taxi now on Fifth. My office is at 42nd and Fifth. I walk a lot. In the morning, I am going to the office, it takes me four or five minutes. I am on at 6 a.m. NBC will sometimes, if not all the time, send a car, and I shoot right up Sixth Avenue. The two corridors are easy to get back and forth to.
Ouch. Though he doesn’t mention whether his other employer, Merrill Lynch, sends a car.
He also tries to explain several apparent changes from moderate views to more liberal ones, on gay marriage, abortion and gun rights.
Q. Guns. Let’s talk about this issue.
A: I never got an A rating, like my opponent — would-be opponent — has enjoyed. I don’t own them. I do shoot them, and I shoot them at things that can’t shoot back. And will continue to do that. And by that, I want to be clear, I don’t mean children. I have done a little bird hunting in my day.
Ford doesn’t shoot children. We’ll go ahead and put that in the plus column.
Also, questioned about donating $1,000 to Gillibrand last year, Ford claims he made that just two days after she took office. But, as pointed out by the New York Daily News, Gillibrand was sworn in Jan. 27. And Ford’s donation came on June 5.
The whole transcript is worth a read, if just to show how far Ford has to go before he’ll be taken seriously in New York.
