Lovable Losers?

WHO-TV’s Dave Price wrote a blog post headlined "Lovable Losers" yesterday, noting several second-place folks had flooded into Iowa.  I’ll amplify on his point.  There are 10 men living today who have been the presidential nominee of one of the two major political parties in the U.S. and three of them were in Iowa yesterday.  John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, campaigned around the state on behalf of Barack Obama.  George McGovern, the 1972 Democratic presidential nominee, and Bob Dole, the 1996 Republican presidential nominee, are both in Des Moines for World Food Prize festivities. Dole & McGovern are recipients of this year’s $250,000 World Food Prize for their collaboration in congress on world hunger issues.

Howard Dean, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee who ran for president in 2004, is in Iowa on a two-day swing, headlining rallies around the state targeting young voters.  Mr. Price also noted that Al Gore, the 2000 Democratic presidential nominee, was in Iowa earlier this month.  Price closed with this:  All we need now is to invite Ernie Banks from the Chicago Cubs and Jim Kelly from the Buffalo Bills. We can have the first annual second place convention.

If Mr. Price intends to organize a "Second Place" convention, he might want to invite Bo Bice and Clay Aiken.  How about Fran Tarkenton or any of the people who’ve lost to Roger Federer at Wimbledon?  Dave, do not invite Suzette Charles, the runner up to Vanessa Williams in the 1984 Miss America contest as you may recall Williams resigned and Charles assumed the duties of Miss America.  Dave, you may invite Halle Berry, though.  Berry finished first runner up in the 1986 MissUSA pageant.