Chris Dodd for President

Bumped by Matt BH

Senator Dodd just released the following statement after hearing of Mayor Giuliani's recent conversion:

"Every true Red Sox fan knows that being a fan means more than just rooting for the Red Sox to win, it means also rooting for the Yankees to lose. I am glad to see that Mayor Giuliani has seen the error of his ways and converted to Red Sox Nation, however, if the situation were reversed I would be strongly supporting the National League team over the Yankees."

"A good day is when the Red Sox win; a great day is when the Yankees lose; and a perfect day is when the Red Sox win and the Yankees lose."

As regular readers of the Dodd Blog know, Senator Dodd is a life-long Red Sox fan. Readers of this blog who are really paying attention would also know that I am a life-long Yankees fan, a fact that causes no end of grief for Senator Dodd. Baseball fans know that when it comes to the American League, Yankees and Red Sox fans just don't mix. You're either one or the other -- no half measures.

Apparently Rudy Giuliani never got that message.

Sounds like a baseball flip-flop. Rudy Giuliani, a lifelong New York Yankees fan, said Tuesday he's pulling for their most hated rivals, the Boston Red Sox, to win the World Series over the Colorado Rockies.

"I'm rooting for the Red Sox," the Republican presidential contender said in response to a question, sparking applause at the Boston restaurant where he was picking up a local endorsement.

"I'm an American League fan, and I go with the American League team, maybe with the exception of the Mets," he said. "Maybe that would be the one time I wouldn't because I'm loyal to New York."

You've got to be kidding me. I've seen Mr. Giuliani countless times, sitting with the best seats in Yankee Stadium, in the first row by the Yankee's on deck circle. He wears his Yankee fan credentials literally on his sleeve (or head). But now this? Sorry, Rudy, but as a Yankee's fan I'd hope that you never try to pass yourself off as one again. It's a charade that simply should not go on. Politics might require you to pander to voters in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, where you were today, but it should never, ever cut against where you stand in the Yankees vs. Sox rivalry.

All that said, if Mr. Giuliani really stands with the Red Sox and the Yankees at the same time, I know a certain governor who would make a great vice presidential pick for him. Perhaps the folks at Unity08 will look into that.

Here's the deal on the Red Sox tickets. Ben Smith reports:

Major League Baseball scuttled the plan, Dodd spokesman Hari Sevugan confirms. They'll be offering refunds to contributors who were in it for the baseball, rather than for the face time with Dodd.

"This isn't quite Bucky Dent or Aaron Boone, but we are disappointed nonetheless. Senator Dodd was looking forward to spending a night watching the Red Sox take on the Indians at Fenway Park, but unfortunately Major League Baseball's rules are such that the contest cannot continue. We will still be cheering on the Red Sox every step of the way to the World Series, and look forward to inviting someone to spend a day on the trail with Chris Dodd," Sevugan said in an email.

Earlier today Senator Dodd challenged New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson to a friendly bet about this weekend's Red Sox-Yankees series: Dodd is willing to bet that his Red Sox's will beat the Yankees, the team Governor Richardson had previously said to be a lifelong fan of, wishing to be Mickey Mantle.

But Richardson has refused the friendly wager and now says that he's a Red Sox fan, not a Yankees fan. Say it ain't so, Bill!

But Richardson didn't take the bet -- and denied that he was a Yankees fan. A comment Richardson made about wanting to be Mickey Mantle, the legendary Yankees outfielder, was apparently misconstrued to mean he rooted for the pinstripes.

"Governor Richardson is a devoted Red Sox fan, and has been since his days playing ball in Massachusetts in high school, college, and in the Cape Cod League." Shipley said in a statement.

Funny, that's not what the Governor said before on Meet the Press with Tim Russert. Foon Rhee of the Boston Globe reports:

The Dodd campaign points to an appearance that Richardson made on NBC's "Meet the Press" in May in which he says, "I'm a Red Sox fan," then quickly adds, "I'm also a Yankee fan."

"'Devoted' Red Sox fans wouldn't be caught dead saying that they were "also a Yankee's fan,' " said Bryan DeAngelis, a Dodd campaign spokesman.

Richardson went on to tell Russert, "if I weren’t running for president I would like to be number seven, Mickey Mantle, playing center field for the New York Yankees."

I just spoke to my colleague Bryan DeAngelis, the Dodd campaign's New Hampshire Press Secretary and a lifelong Red Sox fan with the wicked Boston accent to prove it. DeAngelis says:

We thought we'd offer Governor Richardson this wager because we took him at his word when he said he was a Yankees fan on "Meet the Press." We, like Tim Russert, assumed he was joking when he said he was both a Yankees fan and a Red Sox fan. His life long admiration of Mickey Mantle closed the deal for us -- a Red Sox fan would surely have spoke of his admiration for Ted Williams long before Mantle.

So the bet is rejected, sadly. Hopefully in the future Governor Richardson will speak with clarity and conviction about which team he's actually "devoted" to. Every Yankee and Red Sox fan I know takes this stuff seriously. Honestly, as a Yankees fan, I'm insulted that Governor Richardson would say on one day that he wishes he was wearing the Mick's retired number seven in center field of Yankee Stadium and the next say he's a "devoted Red Sox fan."

Amidst the political trials and grueling hours on the campaign trail, there are occasionally moments where the pols can kick back and have some fun. This weekend's Red Sox-Yankees series offers one of them. Today Senator Dodd, a lifelong Red Sox fan, challenged New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and his Yankees to a friendly wager on the outcome of the series.

"Nothing is more exciting than a Red Sox-Yankees series in September," said Dodd. "The Governor and I both dreamed about playing center field for our respective teams as children, and although that didn't happen, I know we will be both be watching this series closely, so why not have a little fun with it? I'm willing to wager some authentic New England Clam Chowder against an equitable wager from Governor Richardson, if he's confident enough in his team to accept my challenge."

Dodd and Richardson are both lifelong baseball fans. In a recent interview on Meet the Press, Richardson said, "...if I weren't running for president I would like to be number seven, Mickey Mantle, playing center field for the New York Yankees."

I'm just looking forward to seeing what sort of delicacy Governor Richardson ponies up against Dodd's New England clam chowder. Perhaps some fresh salsa or chiles?

Full Disclosure: I am a life long Yankees fan, a fact that gives Senator Dodd no small amount of discomfort. While I am obligated to advocate for Senator Dodd on this blog, I will be privately hoping for a Richardson win this weekend, via a Yankee sweep of the BoSox. If necessary, I will claim the Governor's chowder winnings in solidarity with him in his absence.