Gary Hart

Opinion contributor

Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado is one in the large field of candidates for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination for next year’s election. He does not get the attention of others in this contest because he is not one of the “front-runners,” has lower poll numbers and is simply not as nationally well known.

I sympathize with his situation because I was once there myself. But then, something surprising happened. With the help of a hardy band of dedicated people, I won the 1984 New Hampshire primary. It was a big upset over a former vice president, and it launched a 50-state campaign that went all the way to the Democratic convention.

Bennet has proved himself to be highly intelligent, independently minded, thoughtful and experienced in national and international issues. He also has an ability to look over the horizon and anticipate opportunities and dangers others cannot. This is usually shorthanded as “vision.”

Bennet can restore, repair

The next president has two great tasks: First, to repair damage being done to laws and regulations to protect our environment and natural resources, public lands, worker safety, public education and a host of other programs enacted under presidents of both parties; and second, to launch new initiatives at home and abroad to combat the looming danger to our climate, restore fair trade and rebuild democratic coalitions committed to international security.

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Bennet is prepared to restore programs that have worked in recent decades and lead the coalition of democratic nations in building international security protections against coming threats from cybersecurity, mass migrations, pandemics and future dangers.

Which brings us back to New Hampshire and the other early states of Iowa, South Carolina and Nevada. These states’ voters are known for making up their own minds, not following the pundits and the polls. Having visited New Hampshire again recently, I sensed, and others concurred, that the vast majority of New Hampshire Democrats — just like those across the country — are still making up their minds and will probably not do so until next year, even days before the primary.

My experience proves that voters listen carefully, brush aside political background chatter, and seriously weigh who has the talent to govern our great nation. Given that history, it should not surprise anyone, pundits or everyday Americans, that Bennet could end up at least in the top tier of candidates come February.

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Bennet has something that is sometimes called gravitas, what the dictionary calls weight, intensity, seriousness, maturity and a deep sense of what is important. Not every candidate for office, let alone the presidency, has this. Money doesn’t buy this. Polls don’t measure this. Endorsements don’t ensure this.

Iowa and New Hampshire take their first in the nation status seriously. It is a privilege, but it is also a serious responsibility. They rarely ratify insider predictions or hand the prize to the pollsters’ and pundits’ early front-runners.

Consider Sen. Michael Bennet seriously. You will like what you see and hear. He has the capability to put our nation back on track.

Gary Hart, a Democrat, represented Colorado in the U.S. Senate from 1975 to 1987.