Republicans must find a replacement for Sen. Lamar Alexander, the Tennessean who announced he will retire at the end of 2020. They should start by considering a certain six-foot-five, 230-pound quarterback with a laser, rocket arm.
It is time the GOP front office finally drafts Peyton Manning for higher office. He could be the perfect candidate.
Manning has appeared in four Super Bowls, winning two of those championships. Though he’d be a rookie political candidate, like I noted in January of last year, Manning wouldn’t need much conditioning. His scouting report is solid. Off the field, he’s a devoted dad, a savvy businessman, and an emerging media personality. Of course, his professional football record is second to none.
With his brain and arm, Manning revolutionized the game while reintroducing little Indianapolis to all of the country. He did it all without a hint of suspicion in the NFL and with fully inflated balls.
His longtime wide reciever, Anthony Gonzalez, just pulled off a perfect gameplan running as a Republican and winning a House seat in Ohio’s 16th Congressional District. Number 18 could easily do the same.
This isn’t the first time Manning has been floated, of course. There was widespread speculation that he would take a shot at replacing Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. He has always been a Republican donor and many wanted him to become a Republican politician in 2018. But the excellent Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., got the nod, though she won that seat without a single donor dollar from the normally generous quarterback.
Republicans shouldn’t miss their shot this time. Beloved across the country (except in New England), Manning has a cult following in Tennessee. University of Tennessee fans still remember their all-time passer who threw for 11,201 yards, 89 touchdowns, and 39 wins in 45 games. When Manning decided to play his senior year instead of going pro, fans literally put up billboards thanking their young quarterback.
While Manning’s professional stats are excellent, his political record is non-existent. Other than donating to Republicans and backing former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (Jeb!) in 2016, we don’t know much about his political ideology. But put him through the combine anyway. Let Manning compete and make a campaign.
We have been sending doctors and trial lawyers and trust fund kids to Congress only to get the same result. Let’s try a quarterback for once, and see if leadership on the field translates into success in the Senate.
