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| BLOG ARCHIVE: AUGUST 2005
WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE. MASSACHUSETTS.
Count one Republican out and another long-shot one in
the '06 race for Governor -- even though Governor Mitt Romney
(R) still hasn't announced whether or not he will seek a second
term next year. HURRICANE KATRINA: Help the American Red Cross respond to the terrible devastation left in the wake of this deadly storm. Click here to make a donation today ... or call them at 1.800.HELP.NOW (800.435.7669). Here are some more ways you can help. A BLATANT PITCH FOR ADS: Politics1 records over 160,000 page views weekly. Have your Blogad seen by all those political eyes for just $85 for one week. Click here for to learn more about our Blogads opportunities. Here's another special offer (but you gotta order this one directly through us) ... Campaigns and candidates: Place your ads on the one state page you want to target for only $50 per month. Email us for more info. (And, despite my personal politics, I'm a good businessman and believer in freedom of speech ... so I'll sell the space to just about anyone who wants to pay for it.)
MISSOURI: State Auditor Claire McCaskill (D) will announce Tuesday her candidacy next year against US Senator Jim Talent (R). McCaskill defeated incumbent Governor Bob Holden in the '04 Dem primary before narrowly losing the general election. After an extensive recruitment effort by the DSCC, McCaskill decided to make the race. Her announcement will move this hot race into the "Leans GOP" column. The DSCC has reportedly vowed to raise a significant sum of money for McCaskill's challenger campaign. A BLATANT PITCH FOR ADS: Politics1 records over 160,000 page views weekly. Have your Blogad seen by all those political eyes for just $85 for one week. Click here for to learn more about our Blogads opportunities. Here's another special offer (but you gotta order this one directly through us) ... Campaigns and candidates: Place your ads on the one state page you want to target for only $50 per month. Email us for more info. (And, despite my personal politics, I'm a good businessman and believer in freedom of speech ... so I'll sell the space to just about anyone who wants to pay for it.)
PENNSYLVANIA: In recent weeks the Libertarians have seen several of their '06 candidates bolt to the GOP for their next runs. Now the same is happening to the Constitution Party. Retired Pennsylvania Manufacturing Association President Jim Panyard was one of the CP's most touted candidates for 2006. On Monday, however, Panyard said he would instead run as a Republican in the primary against former Lieutenant Governor Bill Scranton, former pro football player Lynn Swann, and State Senator Jeff Piccola. "This is a war for the future of the Republican Party ... the biggest change we need is in the Governor's office, and the best way to do that is run as a Republican," he explained. In other PA news, the Dems lost a major congressional candidate in CD-18. Former Stare Treasurer Barbara Hafer -- a former Republican -- ended her nascent candidacy against Congressman Tim Murphy (R), citing health problems related to her husband. This news moves Murphy off the "toss-up" list and now places him in the "GOP favored" category. IRAQ:
As lots of folks are spinning what the "new Iraq"
will be like and whether or not it will become an Islamic Republic,
I'd simply suggest you check out the language of the draft Iraqi
constitution. Here is a direct quote from Article Two: "Islam
is the official religion of the state and is a basic source of
legislation. No law can be passed that contradicts the undisputed
rules of Islam." What does that mean for the rights and lives
of women? Of gay people (who are being regularly executed in neighboring
Iran)? Of practioners of Christianity and other religions?
MICHIGAN: Republicans continue to unite begind the candidacy of billionaire conservative businessman Dick DeVos in next year's contest against Governor Jennifer Granholm (D). On Saturday, State Representative Jack Hoogendyk -- the first GOP candidate to enter the race seven months ago -- withdrew and endorsed DeVos. "He has a track record of leadership in business and a history of leadership in working to improve education in our state. Furthermore, he is an example of leadership by the way he lives his life and I have great respect for him," said Hoogendyk. State Senator Nancy Cassis is now DeVos' only remaining primary challenger. A BLATANT PITCH FOR ADS: Politics1 records over 160,000 page views weekly. Have your Blogad seen by all those political eyes for just $85 for one week. Click here for to learn more about our Blogads opportunities. Here's another special offer (but you gotta order this one directly through us) ... Campaigns and candidates: Place your ads on the one state page you want to target for only $50 per month. Email us for more info. (And, despite my personal politics, I'm a good businessman and believer in freedom of speech ... so I'll sell the space to just about anyone who wants to pay for it.)
P2008: We've added the profile page for Secretary of State Condi Rice (R-CA) -- who says she isn't running but has a bunch of "Draft Condi" sites out there all touting her as a potential candidate. In other 2008 news, US Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) brought his anti-Iraq War message to California. Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee (R) is visiting New Hampshire. Finally, the buzz in Mississippi is that Governor Haley Barbour (R) -- a former Republican National Chair and high-powered DC lobbyist -- is starting to lay the groundwork for a Presidential exploratory effort. HURRICANE
KATRINA - PART 3: With Katrina now a deadly Category
Five storm and rapidly approaching the Gulf Coast in the vicinity
of New Orleans, all I can suggest is that everyone keep the residents
of that region in your thoughts and prayers today. They're going
to need it. HURRICANE
KATRINA - PART 2. After two days without electricity,
I'm back online (and with air conditioning again -- how did people
ever live in Florida before a/c). Other than the voltage stuff,
Hurricane Katrina knocked down a few of our trees, took off the
top third of our giant avocado tree, and amazingly snapped off
our steel/concrete base basketball hoop pole right at ground level.
I've also become adept with a machete and other cutting tools
for dealing with downed trees and vegetation. Beyond, that all
is well with me -- so I guess I'm lucky. Lots of long lines still
at gas stations, no milk or other dairy products back in stores
yet, most traffic lights still are black, etc., but South Florida
is recovering. In our complacency, most of South Florida never
knew a Category One storm -- albeit a direct hit -- could be surprisingly
so damaging and fatal. I expect I'll be back with a new news posting
for Monday. HURRICANE
KATRINA - PART 1. Hurricane Katrina is barely a Category
One storm -- not even strong enough to merit hammering up the
shutters -- but enough to generate good waves so I spent the afternoon
bodyboarding. Now (4 pm - Thursday), however, our electricity
here in Fort Lauderdale has been flickering on and off for a little
while and I expect we'll likely lose power soon. Thus, no time
to write much of an update for Friday. Fortunately, our website
server is hundreds of miles north of here and will not be impacted
by Katrina. Treat this as an open thread -- talk amongst yourselves
-- until I'm able to post something again. (PS - Check out
our Jobs page ... lots of new listsings.) ONE NO ... AND TWO MAYBES. US Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) -- just elected to the Senate last year -- this week finally and definitively closed the door of running for Governor next year. "I have no intention to run for Governor.. There are other candidates out there who can do a great job as governor of Colorado," said Salazar to the Rocky Mountain News. Meanwhile, the rumor buzz is growing that former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar (R) will soon jump into the race next year against incumbent Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) ... and that Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) is now leaning towards challenging US Senator Robert C. Byrd (D) next year. No official work yet from Edgar or Capito. P2008: Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee (R) will appear this week on Bill Maher's HBO show and make a swing through New Hampshire. US Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R) is now positively touting the virtues of Ethanol -- a costly fuel made in part from corn that is near and dear to Iowa farmers. Speculation is also growing that US Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) -- a Vietnam veteran and sharp critic of the Iraq War -- is actually starting to position himself as a possible Independent candidate for President in 2008. A "Draft Condi Rice for President" group -- Team Condi -- is starting to organize in Iowa. South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford (R) has raised a good amount of money for his '06 re-election campaign from out-of-state donors. However, Sanford said that if those donors are giving to him because they think he'll run for President, then he considers those donors to be "idiots." A BLATANT PITCH FOR ADS: Politics1 records over 160,000 page views weekly. Have your Blogad seen by all those political eyes for just $85 for one week. Click here for to learn more about our Blogads opportunities. Here's another special offer (but you gotta order this one directly through us) ... Campaigns and candidates: Place your ads on the one state page you want to target for only $50 per month. Email us for more info. (And, despite my personal politics, I'm a good businessman and believer in freedom of speech ... so I'll sell the space to just about anyone who wants to pay for it.) NEW JERSEY: Congressman Rob Andrews (D) acknowledged this week he plans to run for US Senate next year if incumbent Jon Corzine (D) is elected Governor this year. "When our good friend, Jon Corzine, is elected as the next governor of our great state, I intend to run for his open US Senate seat," wrote Andrews. Congressman Frank Pallone (D) and State Senator Tom Kean Jr. (R) previously said they will run for Corzine's seat next year -- and Congressman Robert Menendez (D), Bill Pascrell (D) and Assemblyman Joe Pennacchio (R) have also expressed an interest in the seat.
OREGON:
A new independent poll conducted for the Portland
Oregonian shows incumbent Governor Ted Kulongoski (D) is
well-positioned to win re-election next year. Kulongoski leads
former State GOP Chair Kevin Mannix by 15%, and leads former Portland
School Board Member Ron Saxton (R) by 23%. However, if Kulongoski
loses his primary next year to progressive State Senator Vicki
Walker (D), the poll shows Walker could defeat Saxton but would
tied against Mannix. Other likely candidates for Governor next
year include progressive Lane County Commissioiner Pete Sorenson
(D), State Senators Jason Atkinson (R) and Ben Westlund (R), and
former state party chair Tom Cox (Liberatarian). FLORIDA:
A new Strategic Vision poll of CALIFORNIA: A whopping 17 candidates met the Tuesday deadline to file for the CD-48 special election to fill the seat left vacant by former Congressman Chris Cox (R), who resigned three weeks ago to become Securities & Exchange Commission Chair. Those filing included 10 Republicans, 4 Democrats and one candidate apiece from the American Independent, Green and Libertarian parties. At least three potential candidates may be disqualified for purported problems with their candidacy petitions. State Senator John Campbell (R) and former State Assemblywoman Marilyn Brewer (R) are the two frontrunners for the heavily-Republican seat. Campbell is backed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and nine GOP members of California's Congressional delegation. Brewer -- who is pro-choice and pro-stem cell research -- has the endorsement of Senator John McCain. Campbell and Brewer have also each collected over $500,000 apiece to date. Jim Gilchrest (AIP), founder of the Minuteman Project civilian border patrol vigilante group, is also expected to draw a significant number of anti-immigration protest votes. And, despite making lots of noise about running, bombastic former Congressman Bob Dornan (R) did not file for the seat. The primary is October 4. If no candidate among the 17 in the jungle ballot primary garners a majority of the vote, the top vote-getters from each party will advance to a December 6 run-off. Visit our California page to view the complete list of candidates. A BLATANT PITCH FOR ADS: Politics1 records over 160,000 page views weekly. Have your Blogad seen by all those political eyes for just $85 for one week. Click here for to learn more about our Blogads opportunities. Here's another special offer (but you gotta order this one directly through us) ... Campaigns and candidates: Place your ads on the one state page you want to target for only $50 per month. Email us for more info. (And, despite my personal politics, I'm a good businessman and believer in freedom of speech ... so I'll sell the space to just about anyone who wants to pay for it.)
LOUISIANA: New Orleans Dems are definitely smelling the blood of Congressman Bill Jefferson (D) in the water. FBI agents raided Jefferson's homes and offices, seizing cash hidden in his freezer. In less than two weeks since then, lots of Dems are floating their names as possible Jefferson replacements if he goes down in the scandal. Among them: New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, State Public Service Commissioner Lambert Boissiere, Parrish Sheriff Marlin Gusman, and a half dozen state legislators. Since Jefferson is currently down but not out, they're all being careful about how their describe their ambitions. "He's been a good Congressman and a good friend to me personally. But if the seat came open for whatever reason, I'd definitely take a look at it," said one State Senator. 2004
ELECTIONS - THE END (FINALLY): The 2004 elections finally
drew to a close Tuesday as the final, unresolved race was decided.
A nearly tied outcome, plus disputed ballots from one county,
plus lengthy legal actions threw the race for North Carolina Superintendent
of Education into the state legislature. In a rare joint session,
the NC Legislature by a 93-21 vote (with 26 abstentions) elected
June Atkinson (D) as the new Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Atkinson was sworn in shortly after the vote.
A BLATANT PITCH FOR ADS: Politics1 records over 160,000 page views weekly. Have your Blogad seen by all those political eyes for just $85 for one week. Click here for to learn more about our Blogads opportunities. Here's another special offer (but you gotta order this one directly through us) ... Campaigns and candidates: Place your ads on the one state page you want to target for only $50 per month. Email us for more info. (And, despite my personal politics, I'm a good businessman and believer in freedom of speech ... so I'll sell the space to just about anyone who wants to pay for it.) P2008 - DEMOCRATS: Message to US Senator John Kerry (D-MA) from the people who known him the longest: Stay out of the 2008 Presidential race. According to a new UNH Poll of Massachusetts voters, US Senator Hillary Clinton would easily defeat Kerry in his own home state's Prez primary. The numbers: Clinton-31%, Kerry-21%, John Edwards-14%, Joe Biden-11%, and so on. If you cannot even rally support with your base, where are you gonna get do it? In related news, the same poll showed Attorney General Tom Reilly holding a wide lead in the Dem primary for Governor -- and leading Governor Mitt Romney (R) in a head-to-head match-up by a 51%-38% vote. NEW JERSEY: The NJ Right to Life group announced they would not endorse any candidate for Governor this year, as both major party candidates are pro-choice. According to National Journal's Hotline, no pro-life candidate has won a statewide election in NJ in over three decades.
P2008:
US Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) -- a CALIFORNIA: Purely the stuff of the rumor mill, but state Dems are abuzz with speculation that Apple founder Steve Jobs may jump into the race for Governor. Maybe he'll promise free iPods to state residents (or free music downloads). Personally, I'd bet against the computer guru ever running for any political office. NORTH
CAROLINA: The State Board of Elections is expected to
withdraw the "official party" status of the NC Libertarian
Party on Monday, denying them automatic ballot access for 2006.
The NCLP failed to secure the requisite 10% of the vote in either
of last year's Presidential or gubernatorial races, nor has the
party collected the nearly 70,000 signatures required for maintain
ballot status. NCLP leaders vow to take the case to court, as
their party fields numerous candidates in the state every election
year. The NCLP has been on the ballot in the state for nearly
a decade. OPEN
THREAD: Former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld (R) announced
Friday he will run for New York Governor next year ... US Senate
Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) suffered a mild stroke, but
office says there are no complications or any restrictions on
his activities ... State Republican leaders in Ohio are increasing
the pressure on Governor Bob Taft (R) to resign, polling county
GOP chairs to see if they want Taft to quit. SHORT-TAKES:
I'll admit it: I'm tired and need an easy night of writing. Thus,
this is just a few news bites so -- I guess -- consider this an
open thread ... Term-limited Ohio Governor Bob Taft (R) pled no
contest to four misdemeanor criminal ethics violation for accepting
52 illegal gifts and golfing junkets, is found guilty and found
$4K, apologizes to state residents, but says he won't quit. State
GOP leaders are openly hoping that Taft resigns ASAP so he's off
the political stage by next year's elections ... US Senator Chuck
Hagel (R-NE) continues his criticism of the Iraq War, saying the
US "[has] got to get out" ... US Senator Russ Feingold
(D-WI) calls for the US to withdraw from Iraq by the end of 2006
... Congressman Walter Jones Jr (R-NC) announced Thursday he has
at least 50 House co-sponsors now -- including five Republicans
-- for his resolution calling on the US to begin withdrawing from
Iraq ... Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski (D) announced for re-election,
ending speculation he would retire next year ... Congressman Ray
LaHood (R) announced he will seek re-election next year instead
of running for Illinois Governor, even though he had raised $600,000
for the Gov race ... That's 'nuff for today.
P2008: It may be a bit early to start polling on the next Iowa Presidential caucuses, but we've got new numbers anyways. In an independent poll of likely GOP caucus participants conducted for the Quad-City Times, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and US Senator John McCain led the field with 22% apiece. The rest of the pack: former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich - 14%, US Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist - 8%, NY Governor George Pataki - 3%, and MA Governor Mitt Romney and US Senator George Allen - 2% each. When they widened the poll to throw in some more speculative names, US Secretary of State Condi Rice surprisingly jumped to the lead with 30%, knocking McCain down to 16%, Giuliani to 15%, Gingrich to 8%, and seven others with less than 4% each. The pollster attributed Rice's high numbers largely to name recognition. Interestingly, 78% of respondents said they were concerned about illegal immigration problems, 61% said they vote for pro-life candidates, and a majority said they thought it was a bad idea for the federal government to fund stem cell research. Considering these responses, I'd have to agree that the so-called centrist Republicans place at the top of the poll because of name ID.
IRAQ WAR: There were more than 1,000 candlelight vigils around the nation on Wednesday evening to show solidarity for Gold Star mom Cindy Sheehan's ongoing anti-war vigil in Crawford, Texas, outside President Bush's ranch. As for Fort Lauderdale, where Politics1 is based, the crowd outside the federal courthouse appeared to number around a hundred. Like I keep saying: Support our troops -- bring them home now. PENNSYLVANIA: In a plug for one of our regular readers (and a fellow blogger), conservative Chris Lilik's Young Conservatives of Pennsylvania group have launched a campaign to attack the Republican Senate and Democratic House leaders who helped sneak through a massive, eleventh-hour pay hike for themselves with no debate. They pay hike foes launched an online campaign -- InformedPA.com -- to raise money to post billboards and run radio spots to embarrass the leaders of the pay hike into repealing it. SCRANTON
OHIO: Former steel company president John Hritz (R) filed paperwork this week to challenge US Senator Mike DeWine in next year's GOP primary. "All indicators point to the fact that Mike DeWine will lose his Senate seat to almost any Democrat who challenges him ... Senator DeWine, like Governor Taft, is a career politician, and Ohio is starting to see the error in electing people who have experience in nothing other than serving in government positions," explained Hritz. In related news, Congressman Tim Ryan (D) said he'll make a decision on the race by Labor Day.
PHILADELPHIA: Congressman Chaka Fattah (D) has asked the Federal Elections Commission for an advisory opinion that would allow him to set up a mayoral exploratory committee that could raise contributions in an amount above the $2,000 per person limit for federal officeholders -- while also keeping his congressional re-election campaign active. "I'm moving forward [on running for Mayor]," Fattah told the Philadelphia Inquirer. NEW
JERSEY: Both major party candidates vying to be New Jersey's
next Governor don't quite share the financial concerns and debts
of most working families. In tax returns released this week, both
US Senator Jon Corzine (D) and former West Windsor Mayor Doug
Forrester (R) each showed annual incomes of roughly $12 million
apiece. Corzine, however, paid substantially less in income taxes
($2.3 million versus $4.4 million) because he donated much more
to charities ($3.5 million versus $125,000). Corzine -- who earned
$71 million in his last year in the private sector before his
election to the Senate -- is the former CEO of the Goldman Sachs
brokerage company. Forrester is the founder of a successful pharmacy
benefits company. NEW
YORK: A few months ago, the AP reported former two-term
Massachusetts Governor DC:
ILLINOIS: Just an observation but ... Governor Rod Blogojevich (D) has raised over $14 million for his 2006 re-election campaign and yet he doesn't even have a campaign website online. What's with that? Postscript: One reader found the Blagojevich site -- although there isn't much there yet. P2008
HOAX: I've already gotten a bunch of emails about actor
Christopher Walken's purported '08 Presidential campaign
website. Well, folks -- except for a mention here -- I'm not
going to be adding him to our listings. Everything here points
to this simply be a hoax or satire. An elaborate, well-staged
and funny hoax ... but a hoax all the same. Even our far right
counterparts over at WorldNetDaily agree. According to their sources,
"the entire [Walken] campaign, including registration of
multiple Web domain names, is an elaborate hoax being perpetrated
by members of the General Mayhem forums, one of the largest message
boards on the Internet." A visit to the GenMay
boards seems to back this up, as these folks joke about how cool
it would be if people took this seriously. FYI: Walken's publicist also debunks the site. "Mr. Walken has no intentions for public office," she said. P2008: During a Sunday morning talk show appearance, US Senator John McCain (R-AZ) was very coy about his 2008 Presidential plans. Here's what McCain said: "I'm not leaning either way, because I'm not considering it. I really am not -- [because] there's no reason to until after the 2006 elections." LOUISIANA:
The attorney for Congressman
COLORADO:
The GOP contest to replace term-limited Governor Bill Owens (R)
may be entirely reshaped soon if a third major candidate jumps
in. Retired US Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R) told the Rocky
Mountain News he is "seriously thinking about it" and
"will make a decision within a couple of months." Campbell,
72, said he's enjoying "having a life again" since leaving
Congress in January and is earning a "seven-figure"
compensation package in his new job as a lobbyist on behalf of
the Holland & Knight law firm. One moment, Campbell boasts
to the newspaper that unnamed GOP leaders are asking him to run
-- yet, moments later, he says "I've got a great life with
a great future. Why do I need that [candidate] stuff?" Campbell
said he would be the best GOP candidate, if he ran, because the
Republicans need "somebody who can win." Congressman
Bob Beauprez and former university president Marc Holtzman are
announced candidates for the GOP gubernatorial nominaton -- and
former Congressman Scott McInnis (R) is also looking at the race.
Former Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter is the only announced
Dem candidate to date, although several others -- including State
Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald and populist Denver Mayor John
Hickenlooper -- are frequently mentioned. Wealthy businessman
Rutt Bridges (D) withdrew from the contest last week, saying he
realized he enjoys being involved in politics but said he doesn't
have the "skills or the stomach to be an effective politician." SATURDAY NEWS UPDATE. OPEN
THREAD: "Do you have page 10?" If
you haven't yet seen this
clip from prosecutor Jeanine Pirro's candidacy announcement
speech against US Senator Hillary Clinton this past week, then
you've missed one of the more embarrassing campaign launches in
a long time.
MICHIGAN: Oh, now you tell me. One day after Congresswoman Candice Miller (R) announced she would not challenge Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) next year, a new independent poll showed Miller would have been the GOP's strongest candidate. According to the new EPIC/MRA poll, Granholm was narrowly leading Miller by a vote of 47% to 45% in a speculative match-up. By contrast, Granholm leads billionaire conservative businessman Dick DeVos -- the most likely GOP nominee -- by a much wider vote of 56% to 36%. In a GOP primary contest, Miller would have defeated DeVos by a vote of 43% to 29%, with two other announced candidates at just 4% apiece. The poll also showed US Senator Debbie Stabenow (D) holding a wide lead over any of her likely opponents next year. Stabenow led Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land (R) by a 20-point margin. The incumbent also held a 31-point advantage over evangelical minister Keith Butler (R). NEW
YORK: The latest Marist College poll shows US Senator
Hillary Clinton (D) holding a wide lead over Westchester County
District Attorney Jeanine Pirro (R). The numbers: Clinton - 50%,
Pirro - 28%. Clinton has dropped 14% since the same poll in April.
KENTUCKY: Governor Ernie Fletcher (R) has seen several of his top aides indicted recently related to alleged corrupt hiring practices in the state civil service. Fletcher himself has refused to testify under oath before the grand jury, and indicates he would take the fifth if forced to testify. Former Lieutenant Governor Steve Henry (D), a wealthy surgeon and '98 US Senate candidate, indicated this weekend he is thinking of challenging Fletcher in 2007. "I think we have to start looking as though we were going to run for Governor. That decision won't be made for a period of time, but I think we have to prepare our family as though we were running," he said to WAVE-TV. State Auditor Crit Luallen (D) is another possible challenger -- and Fletcher could even draw a serious primary challenge. OHIO:
MICHIGAN: Congresswoman Candice Miller (R) announced Wednesday she would seek re-election next year, ending speculation that she would instead challenge Governor Jennifer Granholm (D). "It would not be fair to [those encouraging me to run] or other potential candidates for other offices to allow speculation to continue," said Miller. NEW
JERSEY: A new Quinnipiac University poll shows US Senator
Jon Corzine (D) continuing to lead businessman Doug Forrester
(R) in the open race for Governor. Corzine leads by a vote of
50% to 40% among likely voters and 45% to 33% among registered
voters. ILLINOIS: Neither in nor out. Former Governor Jim Edgar is clearly the GOP's best -- and possibly only -- hope for regaining control of the Governor's Mansion next year. Although many Republicans are urging him to oppose Governor Rod Blogojevich (D), Edgar still isn't ready to make a decision on the race. Speaking from his vacation home in Colorado, Edgar told the Bloomington Pantagraph that he'll make a decision by the end of summer when he returns to Illinois. Still, most Republicans don't believe he's going to run -- especially as at least a few of the Republicans already in the contest appear unlikely to step aside for the moderate Edgar. Edgar still has $1 million left over in his old campaign account, but incumbent Blogojevich already has over $14 million in his campaign coffers. Blagojevich is viewed as a weak incumbent, but his current GOP challengers are viewed as being even more week in this generally pro-Dem state. With Edgar out of the race, consider this contest as "DEM Favored." If Edgar jumps in, move this one to the "Leans DEM" category. In related news, Congressman Henry Hyde (R) declined to endorsed fellow Congressman Ray LaHood (R) for Governor and instead this week endorsed LaHood's rival and wealthy businessman Ron Gidwitz.
TENNESSEE:
Attorney, former newspaper publisher and gadfly "reformer"
John Jay Hooker (Independent) has been running for Governor and
other offices since 1966. In the In the 1966-74 period Hooker
was a major candidate in races. Since then, the colorful frequent
candidate has become an amusing sideshow in lots of state races.
In 2006, Hooker says he's going to run for Governor ... and for
US Senator. State law allows him to simultaneously seek multiple
offices. NEW
YORK: COLORADO: The Rocky Mountain State is rife with rumors that 70-year-old Congressman Joel Hefley (R) will soon announce his retirement. While Hefley denies the rumors, several prominent Republicans don't seem to believe him and are already positioning themselves to seek the seat. Potential replacements for the safe GOP seat include National Association of Evangelicals President Ted Haggard, State Senator Doug Lamborn, Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera and El Paso County Commissioner Wayne Williams. In other Colorado news, former university president Marc Holtzman shot down rumors he was quitting the open seat race for Governor. A poor choice of words in a publicly released letter from his campaign caused the misperception. Holtzman is "categorically, absolutely, positively ... not dropping out of the race," says his campaign spokesman. Holtzman has nearly twice as much cash-on-hand as Congressman Bob Beauprez -- but Beauprez has won nearly all the GOP establishment endorsements, including that of term-limited Governor Bill Owens. The Democratic contest, by contrast, is more crowded and remains wide open. REPUBLICAN
WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY: NEBRASKA:
Governor Dave Heineman (R), State Agriculture Director Greg Ibach,
leaders of the Nebraska Farm Bureau and the Nebraska Corn Board,
and several of the state's leading agribusinesses are going on
a six-day trade mission to Cuba. They want to promote increased
trade with the isolated island nation. Ibach said it is a top
priority of the state's government to promote corn and soybean
sales to Fidel Castro's government. Under US law, US farmers may
sell -- individually or cooperatively -- their products to Cuba,
but they must be paid in advance and shipment and can't use a
US bank for the transactions. Heineman is locked in tough gubernatorial
primary next year against Congressman Tom Osborne (R), the legendary
former college football coach. In other Nebraska news, Ameritrade
C.O.O. Peter Ricketts -- with a personal net worth of over $200
million -- stepped down from his position last week with the online
stock trading company his father founded. The move is believed
to be a precursor to his eventual entry into the race next year
against US Senator Ben Nelson (D). CALIFORNIA:
OHIO: Iraq War veteran and attorney Paul Hackett (D) -- fresh off his surprisingly narrow loss in the CD-2 special election -- acknowledges that the '06 US Senate race against incumbent Mike DeWine (R) is a possibility. Hackett is also considering a rematch against new Congresswoman Jean Schmidt (R) next year. Hackett captured 48% in the heavily Republican CD-2 race -- a district in which no Democrat had broken the 40% mark in years (Kerry won just 35% there last year). Congressmen Ted Strickland (D) -- the leading Democrat in next year's open gubernatorial contest -- said he would support Hackett if Congressman Sherrod Brown and Tim Ryan both pass on the race.
EROTIC
POLITICS: Attorney Victor Bernace (D) is challenging
a NYC City Council incumbent in the primary -- and is decidedly
an underdog. Thus, since his campaign was having trouble gaining
attention, he found a way to get in the news. How? By sponsoring
a $20/person fundraiser featuring male and female go-go dancers
-- wearing just bikinis or briefs -- at a "Havana Night"
event next month at a nightclub. The invitation promises it will
be "a sexy, erotic show." His campaign
website boasts Bernace has "embraced sexuality/sensuality
as a fundraising technique." Explained the candidate to the
AP: "I'm not running for mayor in a small, old-time religious
town in Utah. I'm running in New York City. I might as well try
to energize a different base." No word on whether or not
attendees will be expected to stuff their $20 bills into Bernace's
underwear. Here's the really cheap touch: he wants to go-go dancers
to work
for free. The Harvard-educated Bernace has previously run
two losing races for the same council seat. SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE. OPEN
THREAD: Yet another open thread. SATURDAY NEWS UPDATE. OPEN
THREAD: Your turn to go at it.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Governor Mark Sanford (R) is cruising to a comfortable re-election, according to the new Rasmussen Reports poll. Sanford holds a lead of nearly 20% over either of his two most likely Democratic opponents: State Senator Tommy Moore and Florence Mayor Frank Willis. SUPREME
COURT: Is Judge John P2008: Talk about way, way too early to start, but 2008 Presidential spots have started airing in Iowa and New Hampshire. New York Governor George Pataki (R) already has a spot running in central Iowa, letting voters know he is thinking of running for President. Meanwhile, in New Hampshire, gadfly frequent Florida candidate and publicity whore Bob Kunst is running an animated anti-Bush TV spot encouraging Hillary Clinton to run. Kunst seems to be promoting Clinton so as to sell more of his homemade "Hillary Now" campaign buttons -- the sale of which appears to be his main source of income.
NEVADA: University of Nevada Chancellor Jim Rogers -- a wealthy media mogul and ally of term-limited Governor Kenny Guinn (R) -- had been moving towards making a run for Governor next year against Congressman Jim Gibbons in the GOP primary. Guinn has been working for months to recruit a strong candidate to block Gibbons, who he views as a loose cannon and too right-wing. Rogers radically changed the look of the race this week, however, when he switched his registration to Independent. If the centrist Rogers soon announces his candidacy as an Indy, he is likely to radically alter the contest. Other announced candidates for Governor include Lieutenant Governor Lorraine Hunt (R), State Senator Bob Beers (R), State Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins (D) and State Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus (D). Reno Mayor Bob Cashell (R) and Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson (D) are also looking at the race. EDITORIAL:
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS ... BY BRINGING THEM HOME. I've changed
my view of what the United States needs to do in Iraq. Until this
week, I was in the "You break it, you bought it" camp.
MICHIGAN: Out x 2. Aging rocker and gun rights activist Ted Nugent (R) wrote on his website this week that he will not be a candidate for Governor next year. He says he will continue to stress his issue concerns and consider running for Governor in 2010. State Senator Valde Garcia (R), who was already an announced candidate for Governor, also announced Tuesday he was quitting the race. He described his prospects in both the primary and the general election as "political suicide." Billionaire businessman Dick DeVos is the frontrunner for the GOP nomination against Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) next year.
|
Signs
are increasingly pointing to Romney not running for re-election
in order to focus on his likely 2008 Presidential campaign. Wealthy
health care executive Charlie Baker -- a former top official in
Governor Bill Weld's administration in the 1990s -- announced
Monday he will not run for Governor next year. The news was a
surprise, as Baker had openly positioning himself to run if Romney
announces his retirement. Baker's move leaves Lieutenant Governor
Kerry Healey -- Romney's designated successor if he doesn't run
again -- as the only major GOP contender. She's already been raising
money for the anticipated race. One Republican, however, got tired
of waiting for Romney to make a decision. Norwood Selectman Gary
Lee (R) announced he was a candidate for Governor, regardless
of anything Romney decides to do. Lee, who has served in the elected
town position for nearly two decades, said that "no man or
woman has a right to hand pick his or her successor or use elective
office to serve his or her political ambition." As for his
views, this self-proclaimed Reagan Republican criticized the federal
Patriot Act and vowed "we need to put God back into our State,
back into our Country and back into our schools and the public
domain if we in Massachusetts want to lead this nation forward."
Independent polls show Attorney General Tom Reilly (D) leading
any likely GOP nominee in general election match-ups.
THIRD
PARTY NEWS. There is a certain amusing synergy to America's
oldest continuous third party running America's oldest candidate
in 2006. Founded in 1869, the party reached the peak of support
in 1892 when Prohibition Presidential nominee John Bidwell captured
over 2% of the national vote. The party has been in a slide ever
since. Retired business consultant 
KENTUCKY.
In a surprising move, embattled Governor Ernie Fletcher
(R) on Monday night called a press conference to announce he was
issuing blanket criminal pardons to nine of his aides. Several
have been indicted on charges of political corruption related
to the state's hiring system. While Fletcher called it "amnesty"
before the cheering partisan crowd of staffers, the state provision
he cited clearly says he was granting pardons to anyone who "might
have violated" or was involved in violating the state's Merit
Hiring System laws. In fact, the only person he didn't -- yet
-- pardon was himself. Despite more than a dozen grand jury indictments
to date, Fletcher dismissed the charges as insignificant. Fletcher
also said he would appear before the grand jury on Tuesday, but
would refuse to answer any questions -- presumably through an
invocation of the fifth amendment. The investigation centers around
allegations that Fletcher and his aides sought to illegally purge
the state's civil service system of Democrats simply because they
were Democrats.
P2008:
The pro-stem cell research folks ran spots in NH targeted
at US Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and -- within days
-- Frist reversed his opposition to expanded stem cell research.
Now the conservative Club for Growth PAC is running a spot in
NH attacking US Senator John McCain (R-AZ) for not supporting
total repeal of the estate tax. The estate tax -- particularly
targeted at the largest inheritances to avoid massive accumulations
of unearned wealth -- is stylishly re-packaged targeted these
days as the "death tax." Will McCain respond ... or
cave? Stay tuned.
OKLAHOMA.
In the aftermath of all the the frequently mentioned
"first tier" GOP candidates for Governor taking a pass
on the race, an unexpected name is emerging: Congressman Ernest
Istook (R). At a town hall meeting this weekend, Istook was asked
if he would consider opposing Governor Brad Henry (D) next year.
In response, Istook said: "I've had a lot of people ask me
to consider it, and I'm listening to them." Istook said he
disagreed with Henry's support for a state lottery -- which was
approved by 60% of the state's voters. "You're not going
to improve the state by taking more money out of it ... You can't
gamble your way to prosperity," he added. State House Speaker
Todd Hiett (R) -- who already has $500,000 in his re-election
campaign account -- also told reporters he is now "seriously
considering" the race for Governor. Few believe either of
the two announced GOP candidates have any realistic shot of defeating
Henry. 
NEW
YORK: A new Rasmussen Reports poll gives some perspective
on the races next year for Governor and US Senate -- and implies
the Dems are on their way to landslide wins in both races. In
the open seat contest to replace retiring Governor George Pataki
(R), Attorney General Eliot Spitzer (D) leads former Massachusetts
Governor Bill Weld (R) by a 55% to 20% vote. US Senator Hillary
Clinton (D), meanwhile, leads challenger Jeanine Pirro (R) by
a vote of 57% to 33%.
NEW
YORK: Retiring Governor George Pataki (R) praised former
Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld (R) as an "outstanding candidate"
to succeed him. However, Pataki also appears to be encouraging
Lieutenant Governor Mary Donohue (R) to jump into the race --
as he told the AP Donohue would be "an excellent candidate."
NY Secretary of State Randy Daniels (R) also told reporters this
week he is moving towards formally entering the race. Attorney
General Eliot Spitzer - who leads all possible GOP rivals in the
polls -- remains unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
Florida
voters gives a good snapshot of the upcoming races for Governor
and US Senator. In the open gubernatorial race, Attorney General
Charlie Crist leads State CFO Tom Gallagher in the GOP primary
by a vote of 47% to 35%. On the Dem side, the race is still wide
open. The numbers: Congressman Jim Davis - 27%, State Senator
Rod Smith - 13%, and former State Democratic Chair Scott Maddox
- 10%. A majority of Dem primary voters -- 55% -- said they would
prefer it if "another candidate" would enter the race.
In general election match-ups, Crist and Gallagher each led Davis
by margins in the 13-14% range -- and led Smith and Maddox by
margins of greater than 20%. In the US Senate race, the results
were more interesting -- and showed why the White House is working
the scuttle the ambitions of Congresswoman Katherine Harris (R).
In GOP primary contests, Harris held a landslide lead of 35+ points
over any possible primary foe (including retired Army General
Tommy Franks). However, in potential general election contests,
the polarizing Harris performed worse against incumbent US Senator
Bill Nelson (D) than any of the possible GOP hopefuls. Nelson
led Harris by 9%; led Congressman Mark Foley by 6%, led Lieutenant
Governor Toni Jennings by 4%; and led Franks by just one point.
Classify this one as "Leans Dem" if Harris is the nominee,
but move it to "Toss-Up" against virtually any other
GOP nominee.
OKLAHOMA:
Former Congressman J.C. Watts (R) announced Tuesday he
will not challenge Governor Brad Henry (D) next year. "I
have determined that the timing for such an adventure is not right
... I cannot in good conscience conclude that 2006 is right for
me and for the family that I love so much," explained Watts.
With both Watts and Lieutenant Governor Mary Fallin out of the
gubernatorial race, the GOP is left with only a few little-known,
second-tier candidates announced against Henry.
VIRGINIA:
Polls show US Senator George Allen (R) could possibly be vulnerable
next year -- but only against the right Democratic opponent. Term-limited
Governor Mark Warner (D) -- immensely popular -- was leading Allen
by a few points in a recent poll. However, Warner has already
indicated he won't be a candidate for Senate next year as he is
instead focused on a possible '08 White House run. Then it looked
like wealthy car dealer and former Lieutenant Governor Don Beyer
(D) would run, but he took a pass. The most recent speculation
centered on former Congressman L.F. Payne (D), a multimillionaire
resort developer, but he now tells the Richmond Times-Dispatch
that the Senate race "is not something I'm looking at or
prepared for." Democrats now seem to be focusing on former
Reagan Administration Navy Secretary James Webb, a vocal critic
of the Iraq War.
P2008
- REPUBLICANS: Former four-term Wisconsin Governor Tommy
Thompson (R) launched a trial balloon this weekend about possibly
entering the 2008 White House contest. Thompson, who served as
President Bush's Secretary of Health & Human Services in 2001-05,
was frequently mentioned as a possible candidate for US Senate
next year. This news seems to end that Senate speculation. In
an interview with the Detroit Free Press, Thompson unexpectedly
volunteered he was thinking about running for President and making
the focus of his campaign on the need to improve health care in
the US. "I can't think of anybody else as vocal on this issue
as I have been," he explained. Thompson flirted for about
a year with entering the 2000 White House primary race, but ended
his exploration when he endorsed George W. Bush in mid-1999. I've
met the guy, heard him speak, and -- trust me on this -- he won't
be setting any crowds on fire. And what's with the 
LATIN
AMERICAN POLICY: Televangelist, Christian Coalition founder
and '88 Presidential candidate Pat Robertson is advocating the
US kill foreign heads of state. Speaking Monday on his 700
Club show, here is what Robertson said about Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez. "I don't know about this doctrine of assassination,
but if [Chavez] thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think
that we really ought to go ahead and do it. It's a whole lot cheaper
than starting a war ... this man is a terrific danger and the
United ... This is in our sphere of influence, so we can't let
this happen ... We have the ability to take him out, and I think
the time has come that we exercise that ability. We don't need
another $200 billion war to get rid of one, you know, strong-arm
dictator. It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives
do the job and then get it over with." Chavez, a leftist
strongman, tweaked the US this week with a visit to his Cuban
ally Fidel Castro. Maybe Robertson should go back and again check
out one of those Ten Commandments monuments he's pushing for public
places, as I don't remember the "Thou shalt not kill (except
for commies)" commandment.
FLORIDA:
The Sunshine State isn't going to become Scarborough Country --
at least not in 2006. So, it's back to the drawing board for Republican
leaders still trying to find a GOP primary opponent against Congresswoman
Katherine Harris in next year's US Senate race. TV talk show host
and former Congressman Joe Scarborough said this weekend he was
not interested in returning to elective politics and would instead
sign a multi-year deal to stay on MSNBC. According to Scarborough,
NRSC Chair Elizabeth Dole and White House political strategist
Karl Rove first approached him three weeks ago -- right after
State House Speaker Allan Bense passed on the contest -- about
entering the race. "I never cared for candidates who had
to be coaxed into a political battle. Either you feel it in your
gut or you don't," he added. GOP strategists fear Harris
will be unable to defeat incumbent Senator Bill Nelson (D).
decorated
Vietnam War veteran -- is clearly positioning himself as the peace
candidate on the Iraq War issue. Appearing Sunday on ABC's This
Week, here is what Hagel said: "Stay the course is not
a policy. Part of the problem that ... we have no measurement
for progress, for success. And so I think, by any standard, when
you analyze two and a half years in Iraq where we have put in
over a third of a trillion dollars, where we have lost over 1,900
Americans, over 14,000 wounded, electricity production [is[ down,
oil production [is] down -- any measurement, any standard you
apply to this -- we're not winning ... The reason that I don't
think more troops is the answer now is ... because we are locked
into a bogged-down problem not dissimilar to where we were in
Vietnam. The longer we stay, the more problems we're going to
have. The more occupying force dynamics flow into this, the more
influence of the outside people, as well as the inside people
are going to hurt this country." Appearing on the show with
Hagel -- but disagreeing with him -- was US Senator George Allen
(R-VA). After the show, Allen went to far as to emphasize thet
the US stay the course in Iraq because our action there "is
like the Normandy invasion" in World War II. Speaking on
NBC's Meet the Press, US Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI)
also Sunday called for a US withdrawal from Iraq. He said setting
a timeline for withdrawal will show the Iraqis we're serious about
leaving, and "take the wind out of the sails of the insurgents"
who are whipping up anti-American sentiments. In other -- unrelated
-- P2008 news, we've filled in the details on all of the 
OHIO:
Things are going from dismal to disastrous for term-limited
Governor Bob Taft (R). Taft already had one of the worst approval
ratings (just 17%) ever recorded for any Governor anywhere --
related to a growing state financial scandal -- and that was before
he was indicted Wednesday on criminal charges. He was charged
with four misdemeanors, punishable by up to six months in jail
per count, for accepting unreported golfing junkets from lobbyists.
Taft is the first sitting Ohio Governor ever to be charged with
a crime. In other -- unrelated -- Ohio news, Congressman Sherrod
Brown (D) announced he will not be a candidate next year against
embattled US Senator Mike DeWine (R).
THE
PREZ: A new SurveyUSA poll shows that President Bush's
approval rating is down yet again. The national numbers: Approve-41%,
DIsapprove-55%. Idaho was the state that most supported Bush,
while Rhode Island was the place where they most disliked the
President. Bush's numbers are so bad that he is above the 50%
approval mark in only nine states -- and at 40% or less in nineteen
states. 
FLOATS
SOME SHOTS OUR WAY: It took a little while -- like two
weeks -- but the '06 gubernatorial campaign of former Pennsylvania
Lieutenant Governor Bill Scranton III (R) finally has found a
way to answer 
P2008:
US Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) is upping the rhetorical
stakes against the Bush Administration as he continues to explore
a possible run for President in 2008. This week Biden accused
the Bush Administration of "incompetence ... that approaches
criminal" in its handling of the Iraq War. He also called
upon the President to "get rid of Rumsfeld," adding
that "Rumsfeld should have been fired a year ago for incompetence."
Biden admits he's finding it tough to gather primary support against
likely candidate Hillary Clinton, but that he plans to keep moving
forward with his possible White House run. "I'm not kidding
myself. Hillary Clinton is well-known, extremely well-respected,
extremely competent, who will have tons of money and if I run
it will be clearly an uphill fight," he told Fox News.
NEVADA:
Term-limited Governor Kenny Guinn's (R) press secretary -- Greg
Bortolin -- is leaving Guinn's staff to join the soon to be announced
gubernatorial campaign team of Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson (D).
Bartolin, a Dem who served as Guinn's spokesman for the past four
years, told the Reno Gazette-Journal that Guinn and Gibson
"share a lot of the same qualities." Nevada political
columnist Jon Ralston went so far as to predict that "Guinn
will embrace the Henderson mayor" against Congressman Jim
Gibbons (R), if that is the general election match-up. Guinn and
Gibbons openly dislike each other, and Guinn has been aggressively
trying to recruit candidates to oppose Gibbons next year.
Bill
Weld (R) sent a confidential memo to his venture capitalist business
partners "flatly denying" the rumors he was interested
in running for New York Governor if George Pataki (R) opted to
retire. Jump ahead three months to the present day and you'll
see Weld is apparently singing a different tune. Weld -- who actually
is a native of New York -- is now actively exploring a run for
the job. State Conservative Party Chair Michael Long confirmed
to the AP that Weld telephones him last week to discuss his potential
candidacy. "I got a sense he wasn't just exploring it; he
was taking a very serious look at it," said Long, who said
he also agreed to meet with Weld to discuss it further. According
to Long, the semi-libertarian Weld described himself as "pro-Second
Amendment ... a conservative on taxes and spending ... [and] rather
liberal on social issues." A spokesman for State GOP Chair
Stephen Minarik confirmed he also "talked" with Weld,
but said he wouldn't provide any details on Minarik's "private
conversation." The NY Republicans are still without a first
tier candidate to oppose Attorney General Eliot Spitzer (D) next
year. In other NY news, Long also told the New York Post
he and other conservatives were taking a second look at Nixon
son-in-law Ed Cox's US Senate candidacy following highly-touted
Jeanine Pirro's announcement fiasco. Long said her 32-second freeze
in front of cameras after realizing she was missing a page of
her speech was an "awesome mistake" and that Pirro "should
[have been] able to ad-lib if you know why you're running against
Hillary." Long went on to add that his group was likely to
reject Pirro -- and back another GOP candidate -- because her
pro-choice social views were "killing any opportunity of
reaching the strong conservative base." Added a prominent
NY Republican legislator: "A lot of people were unhappy with
[Pirro's] boatload of mistakes, and they're starting to take another
look at Ed Cox as a result."
US
Senator Trent Lott (R-MS) gets even with his opponents in his
new kiss-and-tell book 
Bill
Jefferson (D) acknowledges his client appears to be the target
of an FBI corruption sting investigation. According to the Washington
Post, Jefferson has "been the target of an undercover
FBI sting involving public corruption for nearly a year."
According to sources, Jefferson pocketed hundreds of thousands
of dollars as part of an investment scheme. FBI agents last week
raided Jefferson's DC and New Orleans homes -- and reportedly
seized "a large amount of cash" that was hidden in Jefferson's
freezer. Jefferson's lawyer said the Congressman is the target
of "a sting operation on the part of the FBI or some other
law enforcement organization that has been pulling strings behind
the scenes." The lawyer added that Jefferson "did not
pocket any money" -- but he couldn't explain the FBI seizure
of the cash. Jefferson's lawyer is already playing the race card,
accusing the feds of bringing the case in Northern Virginia --
which he called a "primarily white [federal] district"
versus the large black population of New Orleans. Jefferson, an
eight-term Congressman and Harvard-educated attorney, has been
saddled by big personal debts for years.
IRAQ
(AND IRAN): The Washington Post, after new interviews
with senior Bush Administration officials, reported the White
House is rapidly lowering expectations for defining a US "victory"
in Iraq. According to the newspaper, the Bush Administration "no
longer expects to see a model new democracy, a self-supporting
oil industry or a society in which the majority of people are
free from serious security or economic challenges." One senior
advisor admitted that "what we expected to achieve was never
realistic." Another said that the US "set out to establish
a democracy, but we're slowly realizing we will have some form
of Islamic republic." The most recent sign of this lowering
of expectations was President Bush's Saturday radio address, in
which he claimed the US has already achieved many of our now much
more vague pre-war goals. In related news, the White House this
weekend also warned the Iranian government that "all options
are on the table" -- i.e., including the US going to war
with Iran -- if Iran moves forward with a nuclear weapons program.
VIRGINIA:
A new WSLS-TV/SurveyUSA.poll shows former Attorney General Jerry
Kilgore (R) continuing to hold a small lead over Lieutenant Governor
Tim Kaine (D). The numbers: Kilgore - 48%, Kaine - 43%, State
Senator Russ Potts (Independent) - 3%. The race is largely split
down party lines, which would seemingly favor Kilgore. Kilgore
is backed by 88% of the Republicans, 8% of Democrats, and 42%
of Independents. Kaine was supported by 83% of Dems, 5% of GOPers,
and 45% of Indy voters. Potts draws almost equally from both men,
with 2% of Republicans and 3% of Dems (and 6% of Independents)
supporting him.
NEW
HAMPSHIRE: Republicans are still trying to find even
a single candidate to challenge Governor John Lynch (D) next year.
First elected last year, Lynch now has an approval rating hovering
just under the 70% mark. Former State Senator Bruce Keogh (R),
an unsuccessful candidate for the GOP nomination for Governor
in 2002, appears the most likely to run. Some also float the name
of former Governor Craig Benson (R) -- who Lynch ousted in '04
-- but no sign yet that he's seeking a rematch. State Representative
William O'Brien (R) hosted an event in his home this week for
30 conservative activists who are trying to find an opponent for
the incumbent. Keogh attended the event.
The
politically influential NRA and other pro-gun rights groups are
openly considering working for the defeat next year of US Senator
Mike DeWine (R), according to The Hill. One DC gun lobbyist
called DeWine "the most activist, anti-gun Republican in
the Senate" and praised Congressman Tim Ryan (D) -- a potential
DeWine challenger -- as having "a long and consistent record
of pro-gun support." Larry Pratt, head of the more uncompromising
Gun Owners of America, said his group graded DeWine an "F"
rating and Ryan a "B" rating (versus a "D"
grade for Bill Frist and a "C" for Rick Santorum). "Personally,
as an individual and an ardent Republican, I would love to see
anyone run against DeWine, especially Ryan," said Rick Kaleda,
a NRA political organizer for Ohio. DeWine was one of only two
GOP Senators to oppose a bill protecting gun makers from liability
for damages caused by the use of their products. State GOP Political
Director Jason Mauk said he wasn't worried about DeWine being
vulnerable, because the Dems do not yet have an announced candidate
and DeWine "votes with the President 95% of the time."
However, the ongoing scandals swirling around term-limited Governor
Bob Taft (R) -- now holding a dismal 17% approval rating -- are
also causing major electoral concerns for many GOP candidates
in the state.
P2004
PAYBACK: Retired US Senator Zell Miller (D-GA) earned
the enmity of Democrats nationwide when he broke with his party
to endorse President Bush's re-election, give a primetime speech
at the GOP convention, and write book that bashed his own party.
Along the way, Miller even sorta challenged MSNBC show host Chris
Matthews to a duel. After all that, many observers thought Bush
would reward Miller with a cushy Ambassadorship or Cabinet post.
Instead, Miller was rewarded with a seat on the relatively unimportant
American Battle Monuments Commission. The Georgian said he had
expressed an interest in the post after visiting WWII battlefields
last year. "I'm just an old man looking after cemeteries
... It's not so much building more monuments but making sure the
ones we do have are maintained correctly," Miller told the
AP after getting word of his appointment.
Westchester
County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro (R) said Monday that she'll
challenge US Senator Hillary Clinton (D) next year. Pirro was
weighing bids for Governor, US Senate and Attorney General in
recent weeks. While none of those encouraging Pirro the oppose
Clinton -- including the state GOP chair -- believe Pirro has
any real chance of defeating Clinton, they believe she could have
a promising political future in the state or national Republican
party if she can make the race competitive, force Clinton to spend
big bucks defending the seat, and keep Clinton from building her
national political network for an '08 Presidential race. "[Clinton]
wants us to re-elect her even though she won't promise to serve
out her term and wants to use us as a springboard to the Presidency.
She's asking us to become her doormat," complained Pirro.
An independent poll last week, however, showed Pirro trailing
Clinton by nearly 40 points. Before Pirro gets the chance to face-off
against Clinton, she first needs to get past former Yonkers Mayor
John Spencer, President Nixon son-in-law Ed Cox, and attorney
Bill Brenner in the GOP primary. Cox, Spencer and Brenner are
also competing for the NY Conservative Party nomination. Pirro's
pro-choice views, however, will disqualify her for that ballot
line. And -- here's a little history -- for all those who think
the key to Republicans winning the NY seat is running a GOP woman,
I'd float the names of Florence Sullivan and Bernadette Castro.
Who, you ask? They were the GOP nominees for US Senate from New
York in 1982 (34%) and 1994 (42%).
The
fiscally conservative 
Supporters
of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) are worried about a lot
more than his dismal approval ratings, according to Sacramento
Bee columnist Dan Walters. According to Walters, they are
starting to fear that Schwarzenegger won't seek re-election next
year -- leaving the GOP without a first-tier candidate. He has
yet to announce he will seek a second term. Further, two PACs
allied with Schwarzenegger have raised $23 million to qualify
ballot initiatives for this November -- but they've spent nearly
every cent to do so. That means the groups need to raise at least
$20 million more to run the campaign for those ballot propositions
-- plus whatever Schwarzenegger would need to raise for his re-election
bid. By contrast, the "unions [opposing the Schwarzenegger
ballot questions] are on track to at least double and perhaps
triple that amount." If Schwarzenegger doesn't run, Congressman
Darrell Issa and University of California Board of Regents Chair
Gerry Parsky are the two most likely to seek the GOP gubernatorial
nomination. State Treasurer Phil Angelides and State Controller
Steve Westly -- both multimillionaire former businessmen -- are
the leading announced Democratic candidates for Governor. The
San Francisco Chronicle reported Sunday that Congresswoman
Loretta Sanchez (D) is now making calls to test a possible run
for Governor in '06.
TEXAS:
Maybe he just considers it a little detour on his way to the 2008
White House race, but '04 Libertarian Party Presidential nominee
NEW
YORK: The New York Post is reporting that Westchester
County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro (R) has decided against
challenging US Senator Hillary Clinton (D) next year. Instead,
Pirro has purportedly told state GOP leaders she is focusing on
either the open seat races for Governor or Attorney General. A
poll released earlier this week showed Pirro way behind Clinton
in the Senate race by nearly 40 points. A Quinnipiac University
poll released yesterday also showed Pirro trailing Attorney General
Eliot Spitzer (D) by a 38-point margin in the gubernatorial race.
If it is any solace for Pirro, every other potential Republican
candidate -- with the exception of Rudy Giuliani, who already
said he won't run -- also trails Spitzer by equally wide margins.
Roberts
a right-wing extremist or open-minded legal scholar? A believer
in judicial restraint or a would-be judicial activist? A Scalia
or a O'Connor or a Souter? A new story out Thursday casts an interesting
wrinkle that confounds most of the preconceived views on either
side of the Roberts debate. According to the Los Angeles Times,
Roberts provided his legal services for free over the years on
behalf of gay rights advocates, the homeless, and others. Roberts
"worked behind the scenes for gay rights activists, and his
legal expertise helped them persuade the Supreme Court to issue
a landmark 1996 ruling protecting people from discrimination because
of their sexual orientation," reported the Times.
"He was instrumental in reviewing filings and preparing oral
arguments, according to several lawyers intimately involved in
the [Romer v. Evans] case," a case the gay rights
side won by a 6-3 Supreme Court decision. Gay rights attorney
Jean Dubofsky, who argued the case before the Supreme Court, said
Roberts "was just terrifically helpful in meeting with me
and spending some time on the issue ... He seemed to be very fair-minded
and very astute." In the homeless case, Roberts argued on
behalf of class of about 1,000 homeless people who were seeking
a restoration of their welfare and other social service benefits
by the DC city government. Interestingly, Roberts did not include
the Romer case in his Senate questionnaire response to
the question about his past pro bono activities.
FINAL
ACT: The pro-Democratic 527 group Americans Coming Together
(ACT) -- which at its peak last year had nearly 80 field offices
in a dozen swing states and almost 6,000 paid political organizers
-- is essentially shutting down. The group raised over $200 million
last year to promote improved Democratic GOTV results in key states.
The group's largest donor was billionaire financier George Soros,
who poured nearly $20 million into ACT last year. Act is going
into a state of hibernation, cutting back to only a few staffers
and with no set future plans.
I
readily agree Saddam Hussein was a evil tyrant who did really
bad things to his people. Certainly, Iraq is better off with him
out of power. StillI strongly believe the Iraq War was wrong.
We were misled into the war and never should have crossed the
line that turned us into one of the bully nations that unilaterally
starts so-called "pre-emptive" wars. But we did. And,
in the words of the late General Douglas MacArthur, even God is
not so powerful that he can change the past. There is a very thin
line between liberator and occupier -- a line that usually gets
get crossed very soon after the "victory" is declared.
History is replete with examples of this. Likewise, the distinction
today between Iraqi insurgent and Iraqi citizen seems almost non-existent
-- certainly so in the minds of most Iraqis. With more than 1,800
American soldiers and 23,000 Iraqi civilians killed, and over
10,000 American soldiers and countless Iraqi civilians seriously
wounded and maimed, we need to ask ourselves what we are achieving
by staying in Iraq. Frankly, I fear that if we stay in Iraq another
year (or another ten years), the internal situation in Iraq will
remain largely unchanged -- but the horrific body count will be
so much higher. They obviously don't want us there. So let's declare
victory today ("The world is rid of Saddam Hussein..."),
bring our soldiers home, and give them some great parades and
our thanks for their sacrifice. We should wish the Iraqi people
our sincere best for the future as they set their own destiny.
Let Iraq sink-or-swim on its own. We can even send them humanitarian
relief -- if they want it -- to rebuild their crippled infrastructure
destroyed by the war. But let's get out now. No more American
mothers should have to bury sons who died "defending"
a foreign nation that doesn't want us there. Bring 'em home. Every
single American soldier. Starting today. 
KANSAS:
Also out. For the second time this year, Congressman Jerry Moran
(R) crushed the hopes of Republicans who wanted him to challenge
Governor Kathleen Sebelius (