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In N.H., make room for Buddy Roemer

EDITORIAL | Editorial

THIS STORY APPEARED IN

December 27, 2011

BUDDY ROEMER is a four-term congressman and one-term governor of Louisiana, with notable accomplishments in both jobs. He helped lead the conservative “Boll Weevil’’ Democrats who provided the decisive margin for Ronald Reagan’s economic plans in the early ’80s. Then, as Louisiana’s chief executive, he pressed for fiscal reforms and pushed through anti-corruption measures that helped clean up a state widely known as an ethical swamp - even if the backlash doomed his reelection campaign.

Now, at 68, he’s mounting a long-shot, underfunded run for the Republican presidential nomination, and deserves a chance to make his case. The constantly shifting formulas for which candidates get included in the debates have so far left him off the stage, live-blogging as his rivals get camera time. But he’s making a dedicated effort in New Hampshire, where he polled ahead of Texas Governor Rick Perry in one recent survey, and should be included in the Granite State debates on Jan. 7 and 8.

Roemer is capable of bringing fresh energy to the long-running GOP show: It’s even possible to imagine him catching fire for at least a moment, the way the tag team of Trump-Bachmann-Perry-Cain-Gingrich have all taken turns as Mitt Romney’s sparring partner. Roemer is running on both John McCain-style campaign finance reform and a promise, as president, to break the logjam in Congress by imposing his own legislative agenda. On both counts, he could gain some traction, if given a chance to make his case.

Debate organizers have a difficult job, and have tried using poll numbers, fundraising totals, and evidence of national reach to separate the debate participants from the fringe contenders. This is a necessary task, but the unusual roster of candidates this year - some heavily credentialed but inert, others capable of juicing up a crowd but poorly prepared to be president - has made it especially difficult.

There’s no magical formula, but by dint of background, freshness of approach, and commitment to New Hampshire, Roemer should make the cut.