A MAN AFTER HIS TIME. I think Badler's belief that Vilsack dropped out because he couldn't fund up is only half the story. If Schwarzenegger could run, he'd have no problems fundraising. Romney, who is running, has no problem fundraising. Hell, even Huckabee's pulling in some dough. So while it's of course true that candidates who can't fundraise can't survive, the question at hand is why experienced, moderate governors like Vilsack are proving so financially hapless. And on that question, the roster of candidates who've already dropped out is instructive. Mark Warner and Evan Bayh, two deeply credible, DLC-type moderates, exited early into the race, and not for lack of funds. Rather, they realized this wasn't a year that could support moderate technocrats. Democratic voters are looking for progressive vision and assertiveness, not small promises and managerial acumen. Vilsack, I'd bet, realized the same thing. Five years ago, if a candidate had broached Social Security price indexing, the punditocracy would've put a checkmark next to "fiscal responsibility." This time, progressives roared in outrage, and Vilsack had to rapidly walk it back. It's just not an environment he's suited for. Add in that there are three hugely credible candidates sucking up media and financial oxygen, two of whom are leftier than he, and there just wasn't room. Vilsack may have dropped out because he had no money, but he had no money because he's ideologically and temperamentally unsuited to the moment. --Ezra Klein
