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| BLOG ARCHIVE: MAY 16-31, 2008.
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SPEECH ZONE. Saturday's DNC Rules Committee meeting will
decide the fate of the Florida and Michigan delegations to the
national convention ... and likely seal the end of the Clinton
campaign after the final primaries next Tuesday. PREZ CANDIDATES JOINTLY SPEAK OUT TO END DARFUR GENOCIDE; OBAMA GAINS 3 MORE SUPERS; MUSGROVE LEADS IN MS US SEN SPECIAL; SESSIONS SAFE IN ALABAMA..
P2008 - DEMS. Barack Obama picked up another three superdelegates on Thursday: Congressman Alan Mollohan (D-WV), Texas State Democratic Chair Boyd Richie, plus one more Texas super. MISSISSIPPI. A new Rasmussen Reports survey shows former Governor Ronnie Musgrove (D) leading interim US Senator Roger Wicker (R) by a 47% to 46% vote for November's special election. Race rating: Toss-Up. In the state's other US Senate contest, incumbent Thad Cochran (R) holds a comfortable lead of 58% to 35% over State Representative Erik Fleming (D). Race rating: Safe GOP. ALABAMA.
A new Rasmussen Reports poll shows US Senator Jeff Sessions (R)
leading State Senator Vivian Davis Figures (D) by a lopsided 62%
to 29% vote.
Race rating: Safe GOP. OBAMA STOCKPILES SUPERS; CLINTON LEADS IN P.R.; IDAHO PRIMARY RESULTS; NRSC CANDIDATE MISSES MASS. PRIMARY BALLOT; BARR APOLOGIZES FOR DOMA.
IDAHO. Congressman Bill Sali won renomination on Tuesday over Iraq War veteran Matt Salisbury by a 60% to 40% vote. Sali is favored over wealthy former timber executive Walt Minnick (D), but the November contest is expected to be rather competitive because of the bombastic Sali's lengthy history of feuding with his state GOP leaders. In the open US Senate race, Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch (R) and former Congressman Larry LaRocco (D) easily won their respective primaries. Risch -- who easily defeated LaRocco for Lt Gov in 2006 -- is favored in the general election. MASSACHUSETTS. Embarrassing news for the NRSC but their preferred candidate in Massachusetts against US Senator John Kerry (D) may have fallen short of the signatures required to qualify for the primary ballot. State election officials said this week that airline pilot, USAF veteran and '07 Congressional nominee Jim Ogonowski seemingly fell 82 signatures short of the 10,000 requirement. Ogonowski insists there are more signatures his campaign filed with various election offices around the state, which should push him over the mark. However, businessman and former CIA agent Jeff Beatty (R) -- who has already qualified for the primary ballot -- says he plans to challenge Ogonowski's signatures if he scrapes over the 10,000 mark. Beatty alleged many of Ogonowski's signatures are bad and will not survive a legal challenge. LIBERTARIANS:
Former GOP Congressman Bob Barr -- the LP's Prez nominee -- has
changed his views on gay marriage and same-sex civil unions. When
he served in Congress, Barr was the main sponsor of the so-called
Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Barr now calls DOMA "a mistake"
and apologized for having helped write it. Barr now says DOMA
should be repealed because it "clubs down the rights of law
abiding citizens." Barr also went so far as to tell LP delegates
at last weekend's convention that he supports California's decision
to recognize same-sex marriages, saying each state should have
the constitutional right to go its own way on this issue. McCONNELL TRAILS IN KY; MINNESOTA SENATE TOSS-UP; SWEITZER LEADS BIG IN MT; McKINNEY LOCKS UP GREEN PREZ NOMINATIONL; RENDELL UNLIKELY TO CHALLENGE SPECTER. KENTUCKY.
According to a new Rasmussen Reports poll, US Senate Minority
Leader Mitch McConnell (R) is trailing wealthy health care executive
Bruce Lunsford (D) by a vote of 49% to 44%. McConnell disputes
the numbers, saying his internal polling shows him holding a double-digit
lead. MONTANA. Governor Brian Schweitzer (D) holds a wide lead in his re-election contest, according to a new Mason-Dixon poll. The numbers: Schweitzer - 55%, State Senator Roy Brown (R) -30%, businessman Stan Jones (Libertarian) - 2%. (Editorial Note: Although Schweitzer is up for re-election this year, Politics1 thinks Schweitzer -- or Russ Feingold or Mike Bloomberg -- would make a great VP runningmate with Senator Obama.) MINNESOTA. US Senator Norm Coleman (R) leads humorist Al Franken (D) by a 47% to 45% vote, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports poll.
PENNSYLVANIA:
Despite conservative columnist Robert Novak's column claiming
term-limited Governor Ed Rendell (D) is looking at a possible
2010 run against his friend US Senator Arlen Specter (R), could
us among the doubtful. We would remind people that Rendell already
announced his 2006 run was the final campaign of his career. "This
is my 14th election -- enough is enough," said Rendell in
August 2006. ROGER STONE'S "CHARLIE CRIST SEX TAPE" STORY; OBAMA LEADS IN MONTANA, GAINS SIX SUPERS; TROUBLE ON THE RIGHT FOR INDIANA'S GOP GOVERNOR; NRCC RECRUITING PROBLEMS IN NEW YORK. McCAIN
VEEPSTAKES. Politics1 Exclusive. How P2008 - DEMS. A new Mason-Dixon poll of Montana Democrats shows Barack Obama leading Hillary Clinton by a 52-35 vote for the state's June 3 primary. Over the holiday weekend, Obama also won the endorsements of six more superdelegates including Hawaii State Democratic Chair Brian Schatz and former Alaska Governor Tony Knowles. INDIANA: Four-term State Senator John Waterman (R) filed paperwork to launch an Independent exploratory committee to challenge Governor Mitch Daniels (R) in November. Waterman, a former Sullivan County Sheriff, says he's running to give "disgruntled" voters a better conservative choice than the incumbent. He told the Evansville Courier he intends to select "a Christian conservative" as his Lieutenant Governor runningmate by this Wednesday. An independent statewide candidate must collect 33,000 valid petition signatures by June 30 to qualify for the general election ballot. Recent polling -- before Waterman further complicated the race -- showed the vulnerable Daniels already locked in a touch fight against former Congresswoman Jill Long Thompson (D). NEW
YORK. The NRCC's top recruitment choice for retiring GOP Congressman
Vito Fossella's CD-13 seat announced he will pass on the race.
Staten Island District Attorney Dan Donovan (R) released a written
statement Friday explaining: "I am best able to serve the
people of Staten Island in the position to which they re-elected
me by such an overwhelming margin just six months ago, as their
District Attorney." Richmond County Clerk Stephen Fiala (R)
also announced last week he will not run. Physician Jamshad Wyne
is the only announced GOP candidate to date. HBO'S
RECOUNT. If you enjoyed the HBO movie Recount
-- and are a reader who started visiting Politics1 after 2000
-- be sure to check out my insider account
of the recount from an on-the-ground perspective in Broward
County. As for the movie, it was rather entertaining (note: although
HBO took my mom's quote I heard her give in several interviews
-- "I don't mind if people thought I was a lesbian, but I
think I could do better than Carol Roberts if I was" -- and
had Carol instead make the comment in reverse about Mom). MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND NEWS UPDATE. OBAMA
VISITS FLORIDA; BARR WINS LIBERTARIAN PREZ NOMINATION. LIBERTARIANS.
Former GOP Congressman Bob Barr of Georgia captured the Libertarian
Party's Presidential nomination on Sunday . He defeated scientist
and party stalwart Mary Ruwart by a 324-276 vote on the sixth
ballot. Former Democratic US Senator Mike Gravel finished fourth
and was eliminated after the fourth ballot. Wealthy sports handicapper
Wayne Root of Nevada, who was eliminated from the Presidential
race after the fifth ballot, won the VP nomination. Both Barr
and Root were Republicans until switching to the LP within the
past two years. The Barr-Root ticket is likely to appear on the
ballot in at least 48 states in November. P2008 - DEMS. Barack Obama wrapped up a three-day swing through Florida on Friday, with a rally in Broward County -- the largest Democratic base in the state. A crowd of 16,000 braved heavy afternoon rains outside as they lined-up to pass through security checkpoints to attend the rally. wait in line outside cheered Obama, as he praised rival Hillary Clinton for the race she ran for the nomination, frequently distinguished his views from those of John McCain ("a third Bush term"), and vowed to aggressively compete in Florida in the general election with frequent visits. Click here to view my photos of the Obama rally (and, if you're not yet on my Facebook friends list, feel free to add me to your list to get access to the pix). Obama also spoke earlier Friday in Miami to the conservative Cuban-American National Foundation -- a group that was closely aligned with President Reagan and other Republicans over the years -- to discuss Cuban policy. Obama said he was willing as President to meet with Cuban President Raul Castro to discuss improving relations between the two countries coupled with an improvement in human rights in Cuba. He also called for an immediate end to the restrictions on Cuban-Americans traveling to Cuba and sending money home to relatives still living on the island. Obama received several standing ovations from the CANF audience during his remarks. Fidel Castro's own estranged daughter -- a prominent anti-communist leader in Miami's exile community -- warmly praised Obama afterwards. "I believe he is the only candidate who has spoken sincerely about the intentions that he has toward Cuba," she said. CANF supports easing the travel and money restrictions imposed by the Bush Administration. McCain had visited South Florida and spoke to CANF earlier in the week, vowing to continue the current hard-line US policies towards Cuba. "We love Senator McCain and we have been friends with him for a very long period of time, but we think at this juncture of history of the Cuban process we need to try new approaches and new methods. There was nothing in [McCain's] speech that we have not heard before," said CANF President Pepe Hernandez to the Miami Herald. Clinton also spent a day in South Florida last week. In related news, Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) -- a previously announced Clinton supporter -- announced Friday he was switching his superdelegate vote to Obama. LIBERTARIANS.
The Libertarian Party is holding its Presidential nominating
convention this weekend in Denver, Colorado. Leading candidates
for the nomination include former GOP Congressman Bob Barr, college
professor and party stalwart Mary Ruwart, wealthy sports handicapper
Wayne Root, college professor George Phillies and former Democratic
US Senator Mike Gravel. Barr is closely aligned with Congressman
Ron Paul (R-TX), a LP favorite. Ruwart is a leader of the party's
anarcho-libertarian wing. Phillies has been a leader of the more
moderate "reform" movement within the party. ThirdPartyWatch.com
-- which is providing detailed coverage of the convention -- reports
convention attendance this year is significantly lower than it
was for the party's 2004 convention. CHATTING WITH AN UNCOMMITTED SUPER; McCAIN REBUKES HAGEE; NC SEN & GOV POLLS; MO GOV POLLS; KENNEDY WANTS WIFE TO SUCCEED HIM.
McCAIN. John McCain denounced controversial comments by evangelical pastor John Hagee and renounced Hagee's endorsement on Thursday, after a recording surfaces this week which the Jewish community found offensive. Hagee said Adolf Hitler was doing God's work in the Holocaust because it was intended to force Jews to create a state of Israel. Hagee had previously denounced the Catholic Church as a "whore." McCain had originally sought out Hagee's endorsement during the primary season.
MISSOURI. A new set of KSDK-TV/SurveyUSA polls shows the GOP primary in the open gubernatorial race remains very close -- but that either of the two leading Republicans trail Attorney General Jay Nixon (D) by wide margins. The GOP primary numbers: Congressman Kenny Hulshof - 29%, State Treasurer Sarah Steelman - 25%, teacher Scott Long - 10%, retiree Jen Sievers - 4%. In general election match-ups, Nixon leads Hulshof by a 57% to 33% vote ... and leads Steelman by a 58% to 33% vote. Governor Matt Blunt (R) is not seeking a second term. Another SurveyUSA poll of the CD-6 race shows Congressman Sam Graves (R) leading former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes (D) by a 49% to 39% vote. MASSACHUSETTS.
The New York Daily News reported that ailing US Senator
Ted Kennedy (D-MA) is letting his political allies know he wants
his wife Vicki to be appointed to fill his eventual vacancy in
the Senate.
CLINTON WINS KENTUCKY, OBAMA WINS OREGON; FOSSELLA RETIRES; TED KENNEDY HAS BRAIN TUMOR.
Hillary OREGON, KENTUCKY PRIMARY PREVIEWS; OBAMA COLLECTS SENATOR BYRD + MORE SUPERS. P2008
- DEMS. US Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) endorsed Barack Obama
-- as did a few other superdelegates. This now brings Obama to
just 109 delegates shy of the nomination. As for Tuesday's primary,
it remains fairly obvious that Hillary Clinton will win big on
Tuesday in Kentucky, while Obama will win Oregon by a comfortable
margin. Here are some new polls for Tuesday's primary contests
(note: keep in mind that approximately 75% of all likely Oregon
voters cast early mail-in ballots for the primary): OREGON.
Besides the Presidential primary, there are several significant
other races on Tuesday's primary ballot. US SENATE: State
House Speaker Jeff Merkley and attorney KENTUCKY.
There are three races worth watching on this state's primary ballot.
US SENATE: Multimillionaire businessmen Bruce Lunsford
and Greg Fisher lead the seven-candidate Democratic field. A new
SurveyUSA poll shows Lunsford leading Fisher by a vote of 47%
to 26%. Lunsford lost primary races for Governor in 2003 and 2007. MINNESOTA.
A new Minneapolis Star-Tribune poll shows US Senator Norm
Coleman (R) leading challenger Al Franken (D) by a 51% to 44%
vote. Previous polls had shown a closer race, but bad press involving
unpaid taxes Franken owed to various states for speaking engagements
over the years hurt him. In related news, former Governor Jesse
Ventura (Independent) said he expects either he or former US Senator
Dean Barkley (Independent) will jump into the race. Ventura said
he will defer to Barkley -- his former campaign manager and a
veteran third-party activist whom Ventura appointed to a Senate
vacancy in 2002 -- if Barkley decides to run.
Race rating: Toss-Up. PREZ UPDATE; NEVADA FILING CLOSES; US SENATE POLLS FOR NEW MEXICO, MAINE, KANSAS, ALASKA & NEBRASKA. P2008
- DEMS. For those keeping track, Barack Obama inched a bit
closer to the 2,025 delegate total needed to secure the Presidential
nomination. As of Sunday, Obama was just 116 delegates shy of
the nomination. By contrast, Hillary Clinton is 306 short of the
goal. That said, here are some new polls for Tuesday's primary
contests:
NEVADA. Congressional candidate filing closed in Nevada on Friday. CD-1: Seven Republicans filed against Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D), but she's safe for November. CD-2: Freshman Congressman Dean Heller (R) faces a rematch from State University System Regent Jill Derby (D). Race rating: GOP Favored. CD-3: This will be the most hotly contested race in the state. Congressman Jon Porter (R) is a top DCCC pickup target, based upon his poor performance in the last election against an underfunded challenger. Former State Senate Minority Leader and '06 Governor nominee Dina Titus (D) will give Porter a real race this year. Race rating: Leans GOP. Note: Third party candidates filed for all three House seats. MAINE. US Senator Susan Collins (R) continues to lead challenger Congressman Tom Allen (D), according to the new Rasmussen Reports poll. The numbers: Collins - 52%, Allen - 42%. KANSAS.
According to the Rasmussen Reports poll, US Senator Pat Roberts
(R) may not be quite as safe as was initially thought. The numbers:
Roberts - 52%, former Congressman Jim Slattery (D) - 40%. ALASKA. The latest Rasmussen Reports survey shows embattled US Senator Ted Stevens (R) now trails in his race for re-election against Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D). The numbers: Begich - 47%, Stevens - 45%. Stevens has been in electoral trouble ever since the FBI raided his home last year, when it was revealed the long-time Senator is the target of a federal corruption investigation. Stevens and Begich are both heavily favored to win their respective primaries on August 26. NEBRASKA.
Yet another Rasmussen Reports poll, this one on the open US Senate
race to replace retiring incumbent Chuck Hagel (R). Former Governor
Mike Johanns (R) - 55%, rancher Scott Kleeb (D) - 40%. VIEW FROM ABROAD: SIMON HAMILTON, MLA, NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY. NORTHERN
IRELAND (UK): The DUP -- for those of you unfamiliar with the decades of Northern Ireland's political turmoil -- is the staunchly unionist, Protestant, conservative party founded and led by evangelical clergyman Dr. Ian Paisley. For many decades, Paisley was the most vocal Protestant opponent of the IRA/Sinn Fein and Northern Ireland's Catholic community. The DUP is today the largest political party in Northern Ireland, the fourth largest party in the United Kingdom, and the self-proclaimed "undisputed voice of unionism." The DUP's top priority is to "secure, uphold and maintain Northern Ireland as an integral part of the United Kingdom."
Do
you have a connection to a foreign political leader, elected official
or prominent candidate you'd like to have answer these two questions?
Please email Ron
if you know someone you'd like featured here. Click
here to view our other international profiles. SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LEGAL IN CALIFORNIA; OBAMA SCORES 10 MORE DELEGATES; MICHIGAN PRIMARY FILING CLOSES. GAY
MARRIAGE. In a 4-3 decision, the California Supreme Court
overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage. Here is how the
court explained their reasoning: P2008 - DEMS. Just one day after John Edwards endorsed Barack Obama, six Edwards delegates followed suit and announced their support for Obama. On top of those six, Obama picked up four more superdelegates on Thursday: Congressmen Jim McDermott (D-WA), Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Howard Berman (D-CA) and Communications Workers of America President Larry Cohen. The United Steelworkers Union -- which previously backed Edwards -- also endorsed Obama on Thursday. MICHIGAN:
Major party primary filing closed this week in Michigan.
US Senator Carl Levin (D) is safe against State Representative
Jack Hoogendyk (R). Freshman Congressman Tim Walberg (R) will
face a tough challenge from State Senate Minority Leader Mark
Schauer (D) in CD-7. Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R) is a top
Democratic target, and will face former State Lottery Commissioner
Gary Peters (D) in November. The most interesting primary contest
is in CD-13, where Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D)
will face a tough battle against two well-known politicians. State
Senator Martha Scott and former State Representative Mary Waters
are the two challengers, and are likely running because they sense
vulnerability due to the sex scandal involving her embattled son
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Waters also says she is running
as a Barack Obama supporter who is upset with the incumbent for
being so out of touch with the district's voters as to have endorsed
Hillary Clinton. |
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P2008
- DEMS. According to a numerous media sources, Barack Obama
is stockpiling endorsements of superdelegates for a mass announcement
next week. The move is expected to put him over either the 2025
or 2131 number --depending what the DNC decides on Saturday as
to Florida and Michigan. Puerto Rico votes on Sunday, and the
South Dakota and Montana end the primary season next Tuesday.
A new El Vocero/Univision poll in Puerto Rico shows Hillary
Clinton leading Obama by a 51% to 38% vote. The only unknown is
whether Obama will unveil the superdelegate endorsements on Monday/Tuesday
so as to be able to declare himself the nominee on Tuesday night,
or if the supers will be unveiled later in the week. Our guess
is the former.
GREEN
PARTY. 
interested
is Florida Governor Charlie Crist in being John McCain's VP runningmate?
So much so that veteran GOP dirty trickster Roger Stone -- who
coordinated a few dirty stunts in support of Crist during the
2006 gubernatorial campaign -- is quietly peddling a so-called
"Charlie Crist sex tape." That's what Stone called it
during a telephone conversation. And no, it is not a tape of Crist
having sex with a guy. In fact, it isn't even X-rated. The video
was seemingly staged to kill the 
The
announced Democrats for the seat are New York City Councilmen
Dominic Recchia and Vincent Gentile, and attorney Stephen Harrison.
P2008
- DEMS. Politics1 had a chance to catch up in Florida
on Thursday with one of the remaining uncommitted superdelegates.
Broward County Democratic Chair, DNC member and former state party
chair Mitch Ceasar was part of the small group of uncommitted
Florida superdelegates who had an opportunity to meet privately
with Hillary Clinton on Wednesday. Ceasar said he and -- he expects
all of the remaining uncommitted superdelegates -- will announce
Presidential endorsements within a few days following the final
primaries on June 3. Ceasar said it was apparent Clinton "knows
the race is over" and was "realistic" in her private
comments about the nomination math. "We'll have a clear nominee,
and be a unified party behind one candidate by early June,"
he said. Continuing the contest through June 3, he said, appears
to be about "giving her leverage ... [pause] ... for something."
NORTH
CAROLINA: SurveyUSA polls from the Tarheel State show two
competitive statewide races. In the open gubernatorial race, Lieutenant
Governor Bev Perdue (D) leads Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory (R)
by a 52% to 45% vote. Meanwhile, US Senator Elizabeth Dole (R)
leads State Senator Kay Hagan (D) by a vote of 50% to 46%.
Clinton and Barack Obama split Tuesday's two contests. Clinton swept to a big win in Kentucky, defeating Barack Obama by a 65%
to 30% vote. Obama defeated Clinton in Oregon by a 58% to 42% vote. Obama also scored enough pledged delegates Tuesday so as to now have an absolute majority out of all the pledged delegates going to the convention
... Also in Kentucky, wealthy health care executive Bruce Lunsford
(D) easily won his primary and will face US Senator Mitch McConnell
(R) in November ... In Oregon, State House Speaker Jeff Merkley defeated progressive attorney Steve Novick by a 45% to 41% vote to win the Democratic nomination to face US Senator Gordon Smith (R) in November. In the open CD-5 seat, State Senator Kurt Schrader (D) cruised to an easy primary win. On the GOP side, businessman Mike Erickson narrowly edged out former State GOP Chair Kevin Mannix in a very bitter and divisive race ... Congressman Vito Fossella (R-NY) announced
Tuesday he will not seek re-election this year. The decision comes
three weeks after his DUI arrest, and two weeks after he acknowledged
fathering a three-year-old child during a long-term extramarital
affair ... US Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) was diagnosed with a
malignant brain tumor. He remains in the hospital, but is expected
to be released later this week. Kennedy has not decided upon which
treatment options, if any, he will pursue.
Steve
Novick are locked in a tight battle for the Democratic nomination.
Merkley is the DSCC's recruited candidate, but feisty progressive
activist Novick has been leading Merkley in recent polls. Four
other minor Dems are also running. The winner will face US Senator
Gordon Smith (R) in November. Race rating: GOP Favored. CD-5:
Both parties have competitive races for this open seat, as Congresswoman
Darlene Hooley (D) is retiring. On the Democratic side, State
Senator Kurt Schrader holds a sizable lead over former gubernatorial
chief of staff Steve Marks and three others. On the GOP side,
former State GOP Chair Kevin Mannix is locked in a virtual tie
with businessman Mike Erickson. Mannix surprisingly appeared to
be trailing until these closing days, when he blasted the pro-life
Erickson for allegedly impregnating a woman a few years ago and
then paying for her abortion. Mannix now holds a slight edge,
but the early voting may favor Erickson. Also, playing this card
may make Mannix less electable in the November election in this
swing district as it seems to confirm public perception of him
as a candidate focused mainly on a social conservative agenda.
Mannix lost primary races for Governor in 2002 and 2006, and lost
general election contests for Attorney General in 1996 and 2000.
Race rating: Leans DEM.
The winner will face US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
(R). CD-2: State Senator Brett Guthrie (R) is unopposed
for the GOP nomination to replace retiring Congressman Ron Lewis
(R). On the Dem side, State Senator David Boswell and Daviess
County Judge-Executive Reid Haire are competing. Boswell is also
a former State Agriculture Commissioner. Race rating: GOP Favored.
CD-3: Four Republicans are battling for the right to face
freshman Congressman John Yarmuth (D) in November. Former Congresswoman
Anne Northup -- who was ousted in 2006 by Yarmuth, then lost the
GOP primary for Governor last year -- is the Republican frontrunner.
Former pro football player and anti-tax activist Chris Thieneman
is her leading opponent, but he has run a very erratic race. He
filed for the seat, annouced he was quitting the race shortly
after filing closed out of anger with Northup's last-minute entry
at the urging of the NRCC, he then endorsed Yarmuth ... but then
jumped back in the race (and un-endorsed Yarmuth) a month ago
saying he never "officially" quit. Against that bizarre
behavior, Northup should easily win the primary. Race rating:
Leans DEM.
NEW
MEXICO. A new KOB-TV/SurveyUSA poll shows the two GOP candidates
for US Senate locked in a close contest for the June 3 primary.
The primary numbers: conservative Congressman Steve Pearce - 49%,
centrist Congresswoman Heather Wilson - 46%. However, it may not
matter which Republican wins the primary as both trail Congressman
Tom Udall (D) by landslide margins in general election match-ups.
Udall leads Pearce by a vote of 60% to 36%. Udall leads Wilson
by a nearly identical margin: 61% to 35%. US Senator Pete Domenici
(R) is retiring. Race rating: DEM Favored.
"Furthermore,
in contrast to earlier times, our state now recognizes that an
individual’s capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed
relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and
raise children does not depend upon the individual’s sexual orientation,
and, more generally, that an individual’s sexual orientation --
like a person’s race or gender -- does not constitute a legitimate
basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights. We therefore
conclude that in view of the substance and significance of the
fundamental constitutional right to form a family relationship,
the California Constitution properly must be interpreted to guarantee
this basic civil right to all Californians, whether gay or heterosexual,
and to same-sex couples as well as to opposite-sex couples. ...
There can be no doubt that extending the designation of marriage
to same-sex couples, rather than denying it to all couples, is
the equal protection remedy that is most consistent with our state's
general legislative policy and preference." Key proponents
like San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (D) and San Francisco City
Attorney Dennis Herrera (D) -- who argued the case -- celebrated
the ruling. Across the political aisle, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
(R) immediately announced he would also honor the decision: "I
will not support an amendment to the [state] constitution that
would overturn this state Supreme Court ruling." The California
Legislature had previously passed legislation approving same-sex
marriage but Schwarzennegger had vetoed it. Bottom line: same-sex
marriage is now legal in California. Ron's one-sentence editorial:
Hooray for the California Supreme Court!
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