It is impossible to talk about the 2006 election cycle and the Democrats’ chances without including in the discussion the campaign of Harold Ford Jr. in Tennessee.

If the pendulum swings and things really do happen for the D’s in 2006, then a state like Tennessee will be within our reach. Regardless, if we can stay competitive and give the resources to this critical race then many believe it will be a bellwether for good things to come. From the NYTimes:

“Tennessee could very well make or break whether we take back the Senate,” Mr. Schumer said.

Tennessee Republicans say they are confident their state will hold the line against what they call just another liberal. “He’s a media darling, he’s charismatic, all of the above, but at the end of the day, the guy doesn’t vote right,” said Bob Davis Jr., chairman of the State Republican Party.

Brad Todd, a consultant to former Representative Van Hilleary, a Republican contender for the Senate, said: “This is a federal race, and Tennessee elects bona fide conservatives to federal office. Even when Al Gore first ran for the Senate, he ran as a pro-life, pro-gun conservative. And Harold Ford is not that.”

Before Republicans can mount a full-scale campaign against Mr. Ford, they have a fiercely competitive primary to settle. Three major candidates are vying for the nomination in the Aug. 3 primary: Mr. Hilleary, former Representative Ed Bryant and Bob Corker, a former mayor of Chattanooga. Mr. Bryant and Mr. Corker have run for the Senate before and were defeated in Republican primaries. Much of the debate so far has revolved around who is the true conservative in the race.

One reason for Democratic optimism here is the possibility of a wounded Republican nominee emerging from a bitter (and relatively late) primary. Mr. Ford’s major opponent in the Democrat primary withdrew recently, giving him the luxury of running a general election campaign — raising money and running advertising, most recently on the price of gasoline.

Get involved in this race. Visit Rep. Ford’s website and give give give today!