Ford to Head DLC

Former Congressman Harold Ford Junior is taking the helm of the Democratic Leadership Council, a national moderate democratic group.

The Memphis Congressman narrowly lost the race for US Senate to former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker in November.

Vanderbilt Political Science Professor John Geer says the DLC is a centrist group, and that Ford’s conservative Democratic views fit in well. Geer says the position will give Ford a place to remain in politics, while the DLC gains a masterful speaker.

“I think it’s also a statement of how effective he is as a campaigner, or in this case as a spokesperson. He’s really very good on the stump. He has a way of handling the news media. I mean, he’s somebody who puts a good face on an organization so he does a lot for the organization.”

Ford is only 36 years old and although he’s said he’s not interested in running for Lamar Alexander’s seat in 2008, another race is not out of the question. Ford has also accepted a post as visiting professor at Vanderbilt University.

The DLC was founded in 1985 and its past directors include Senator Joe Lieberman and former President Bill Clinton.