The 2008 Campaign has begun

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Is Schumer a viable presidential candidate?

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He's got tons and tons of money, and then more on top of that. Like Sen. Clinton, the benefits of being a Senator from New York mean seemingly limitless fund-raising capabilities.

But as questions of race surround the viability of an Obama candidacy (is America ready for a black President?) and questions of gender surround the viability of a Clinton candidacy (is America ready for a woman President?), so would questions of religion surround a Schumer candidacy (is America ready for a Jewish President?). It's hard enough for Christian northeastern liberals to stay viable in national elections.

You could say the same concerns will haunt a Feingold bid for the nomination, but at least he's: 1) from the Midwest and 2) a populist. The same for Joe Lieberman -- despite being Jewish and from the northeast, he's moderate enough to entertain thoughts of a practicable national campaign. I'm skeptical Schumer could accomplish the same.

As it stands now, he's shown absolutely no interest in running and it's getting late in the game to start an '08 run.