CONGRESS:
NEY TO PLEAD GUILTY ON ABRAMOFF CORRUPTION CHARGES.
The Cleveland Plain-Dealer reported Thursday night that
Congressman Bob Ney
(R-OH) -- former Chair of the House Administration Committee --
reached a plea bargain deal with federal prosecutors in which
he will plead guilty to at least one felony corruption charge.
Expect Ney's resignation to immediately follow the guilty plea.
Corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff and three other lobbyists -- including
Ney’s former chief-of-staff -- already pled guilty to criminal
charges in the case. Ney's guilty plea is imminent, possibly coming
as soon as Friday. In fact, the newspaper reported Ney canceled
a plan for him to plead guilty on Thursday because he feared it
would have interfered with the special GOP primary election to
select a replacement nominee for him. State Senator Joy Padgett,
Ney's endorsed candidate, won Thursday's primary (see below).
Ney skipped all House floor votes on Wednesday and Thursday, reportedly
because he was tied-up in making the plea deal. With all these
guilty pleas from Abramoff and his corrupt cadre of political
associates, other Abramoff "friends" like Tom
DeLay, John
Doolittle and Conrad
Burns must be getting very nervous. Frankly, I'm slightly
surprised by the timing of this news, as I expected "cold
cash" Congressman Bill
Jefferson to get indicted before Ney.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.15.06 | Permalink
|
BY
THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. FLORIDA
- GOVERNOR: Attorney General Charlie Crist (R) - 49%,
Congressman Jim Davis (D) - 41%, Others - 1%. (WFLA-TV/SurveyUSA). FLORIDA - US SENATE: US Senator Bill Nelson (D)
- 53%, Congresswoman Katherine Harris (R) - 38%. (WFLA-TV/SurveyUSA). INDIANA - CD-7: Congresswoman Julia Carson (D)
- 55%, auto dealer Eric Dickerson (R) - 35%. (WISH-TV/Research
2000). INDIANA - CD-8: Vanderburgh County Sheriff Brad
Ellsworth (D) - 44%, Congressman John Hostettler (R) - 40%. (WISH-TV/Research
2000). IOWA - CD-3: Congressman Leonard Boswell (D)
- 52%, State Senate President Jeff Lamberti (R) - 41%. (KCCI-TV/Research
2000). KANSAS - GOVERNOR: Governor Kathleen Sebelius
(D) - 58%, State Senator Jim Barnett (R) - 38%, frequent candidate
Carl Kramer (Libertarian) - 1%, physician assistant Richard Ranzau
(Reform) - 1%. (KCTV-TV/SurveyUSA). MASSACHUSETTS - GOVERNOR - DEM PRIMARY: Former
US Assistant Attorney General Deval Patrick - 36%, venture capitalist
Chris Gabrieli - 26%, Attorney General Tom Reilly - 19%. (State
House News Service). MICHIGAN - GOVERNOR: Governor Jennifer Granholm
(D) - 50%, businesswoman Dick DeVos (R) - 42%. (Detroit News/EPIC/MRA). MICHIGAN - US SENATE: US Senator Debbie Stabenow
(D) - 53%, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard (R) - 34%. (Detroit
News/EPIC/MRA). MISSOURI
- US SENATE: State Auditor Claire McCaskill (D) - 45%,
US Senator Jim Talent (R) - 42%. (Rasmussen Reports). MISSOURI - US SENATE: McCaskill (D) - 48%, Talent
(R) - 47%, Frank Gilmour (Libertarian) - 1%. (KCTV-TV/SurveyUSA). MONTANA - US SENATE: State Senate President Jon
Tester (D) - 52%, US Senator Conrad Burns (R) - 43%. (Rasmussen
Reports). TEXAS - GOVERNOR: Governor Rick Perry (R) - 33%,
State Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn (Independent) - 22%,
Congressman Chris Bell (D) - 18%, musician/author Kinky Friedman
(Independent) - 16%. (Rasmussen Reports). TEXAS - US SENATE: US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
(R) - 58%, attorney Barbara Ann Radnofsky (D) - 32%. (Rasmussen
Reports). WASHINGTON - US SENATE: US Senator Maria Cantwell
(D) - 52%, insurance executive Mike McGavick (R) - 35%. (Rasmussen
Reports). VIRGINIA - US SENATE: US Senator George Allen
(R) - 50%, former Navy Secretary Jim Webb (D) - 43%. (Rasmussen
Reports).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.15.06 | Permalink
|
OHIO:
PADGETT WINS CD-18 SPECIAL GOP PRIMARY.
There was no surprise in Thursday's special Republican primary
in Ohio's CD-18, as State Senator Joy Padgett handily won the
nomination with around 50% versus her four minor opponents. Padgett
replaces scandal-tainted incumbent Congressman Bob Ney (R), who
quit the race last month.
She was Ney's hand-picked successor and was endorsed in the primary
by US House Majority Leader John Boehner and others. Padgett next
faces liberal Dover Law Director Zach Space (D) in November. The
district is heavily Republican, so the Padgett-Space contest must
be rated Leans GOP. Then again this is Ohio, incumbent Governor
Bob Taft (R) has among the lowest approval ratings ever recorded
in polling history, and Padgett is a former Taft Administration
official. In related news, Democrats vote Friday in a special
primary in CD-3 to replace a nominee who quit after both she and
her husband were arrested last month on spousal abuse charges
after a fight.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.15.06 | Permalink
|
CONGRESS:
SENATE COMMITTEE ACTS TO BLOCK TORTURE, PROTECT PRISONER RIGHTS.
I don't often praise Republicans, but kudos to US Senators John
McCain, Lindsey Graham, and John Warner of the Armed Services
Committee for drafting a terrorism tribunal bill to protect the
rights of "War on Terror" detainees.
The bill -- which passed the committee Thursday by a 15-9 vote
over loud objections from the White House -- would block the Bush
Administration's repeated attempts to weaken the legal protections
guaranteed all prisoners of war under Article III of the Geneva
Convention. Article III prohibits all forms of torture on prisoners
of war. The committee's bill would also permit terror suspects
to view the classified evidence prosecutors plan to use against
them in trial, something the White House strongly opposes. Former
Bush Administration Secretary of State Colin Powell unexpectedly
waded into the controversy Thursday morning by sending McCain
a letter endorsing his efforts. "The world is beginning to
doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism. To redefine
Common Article III would add to those doubts. Furthermore, it
would put our own troops at risk," wrote Powell, who is also
a retired four-star Army General. President Bush, Vice President
Cheney and Bush political guru Karl Rove all traveled to Capitol
Hill on Thursday to personally lobby against the McCain-Graham-Warner
bill. One Bush ally, US Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, hinted
to reporters he may simply ignore the committee's vote and instead
bring the Bush Administration's version to the floor for a vote.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.15.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Here's some political news of the bizarre: frequent candidate
C.C. Reed, an independent candidate for Florida Governor, filed
paperwork with the Secretary of State's office indicating a Miami
man named only "Mr. T" is his runningmate for Lieutenant
Governor.
So ... what else is going on in politics today?
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.15.06 | Permalink
|
SEND
A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
Here's my open offer
for every campaign (and campaign supporter): send me a button
or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional, Statewide
Office, etc., campaign you are involved in -- feel free to add
a sticker and brochure -- and I'll place a link to official campaign
site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you" note.
My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33301. OUR THANKS TODAY GO OUT TO: Constitution Party
activist Glenn Brown of Michigan, who sent us pins for
Congressman Tom
Tancredo for President, and from the anti-immigration
American
Patrol group.
WANNA
TRADE?
I'm interested in building up my collection of Canadian campaign
buttons. If you've got Canadian political buttons to
trade, I'm interesting in swapping with you for some great US
pins. Please drop me
a note!
BY
THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. INDIANA
- CD-9: Former Congressman Baron Hill (D) - 46%, Congressman
Mike Sodrel (R) - 40%. (Fort Wayne News/Research 2000). NEVADA - CD-2: Secretary of State Dean Heller
(R) - 45%, University Regent Jill Derby (D) - 37%. (Reno Gazette-Journal/Research
2000). VIRGINIA - US SENATE: US Senator George Allen
(R) - 48%, former Navy Secretary Jim Webb (D) - 45%, businesswoman
Gail Parker (Indep. Green) - 3%. (WUSA-TV/SurveyUSA).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.14.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Colorful former Texas Governor Ann Richards (D) died in Wednesday
at age 73 ... and the liberal Air America radio network announced
plans to file for bankruptcy protection.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.14.06 | Permalink
|
WEDNESDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
RHODE
ISLAND: CHAFEE SURVIVES CHALLENGE FROM THE RIGHT.
In a Republican primary that saw a heavy turnout, GOP centrists
helped
US Senator Lincoln Chafee survive a bruising primary challenge
from populist arch-conservative Cranston Mayor Steve Laffey. Chafee
-- virtually a poster child for the right-wing epithet of "RINO"
-- is one of the most liberal Republicans in Congress. From flirting
with switching parties a few years ago to announcing in 2004 he
did not vote for President Bush, Chafee is a regular annoyance
to the Bush Administration. Despite this, the NRSC invested heavily
in saving Chafee in the primary because polls showed Chafee was
the only Republican who had any chance of winning in November.
The anti-tax Club for Growth spent liberally in support of Laffey,
but in the end it wasn't enough. Chafee defeated Laffey by a 54%
to 46% vote. Former Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse won the
Dem nomination in a landslide and will face Chafee in November.
Chafee-Whitehouse race rating: Toss-Up. In CD-2, pro-life Congressman
Jim Langevin (D) easily deflected a primary challenge from liberal
college professor Jennifer Lawless by a 24-point margin.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.13.06 | Permalink
|
MARYLAND:
CARDIN DEFEATS MFUME, SARBANES LEADS IN CD-3, WYNN SEEMINGLY WINS.
Due to various primary day glitches, Maryland
results were slowly trickling in on on election night. With
two-thirds of the votes counted, Congressman Ben Cardin moved
over to a solid lead over former NAACP President Kweisi Mfume
in the Democratic primary to replace retiring US Senator Paul
Sarbanes (D). Cardin had 47% to Mfume's 37%. Lieutenant Governor
Michael Steele won the GOP primary for US Senate, capturing 87%
against nine opponents. Cardin-Steele race rating: Leans Dem.
Cardin's open CD-3 was another crowded race. With 63% of the vote
counted, attorney/congressional scion John Sarbanes appeared to
be winning with 32%, versus Baltimore Health Commissioner Peter
Beilenson at 25% and State Senator Paula Hollinger at 22%. The
CD-3 seat is safely Dem. In CD-4, progressive challenger Donna
Edwards was trailing pro-business Congressman Al Wynn by 12-points,
with 53% of the vote tabulated.
82-year-old State Comptroller (and former Governor) Don Schaefer
was in last place in his Dem renomination primary, trailing by
a few points, but the race was still too close to call at 1:00
am.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.13.06 | Permalink
|
MINNESOTA:
ELLISON WINS OPEN CD-5 CONTEST, TO BE FIRST MUSLIM IN CONGRESS.
In the race for retiring Congressman Martin Olav Sabo's open CD-5
seat, State Representative Keith
Ellison won the crowded seven-candidate DFL primary with 41%,
followed by former Sabo chief of staff Mike Erlandson at 31% and
former State Senator Ember Reichgott Junge third with 21%. Ellison
overcame attacks about his former -- and later abandoned -- affiliation
with the Nation of Islam (before Ellison became a more mainstream
Muslim). As a candidate, Ellison positioned himself as a progressive
who is staunchly anti-Iraq War, pro-choice, pro-gay rights, and
pro-universal health care. The district is solidly Democratic,
so Ellison is assured of becoming the first African-American elected
to Congress from Minnesota and the first Muslim-American to ever
serve in Congress. Meanwhile, there were no surprises in the statewide
contests. Governor Tim Pawlenty (R), Attorney General Mike Hatch
(DFL) and former State Finance Commissioner Peter Hutchinson (Independence)
each won lopsided victories in their respective gubernatorial
primaries.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.13.06 | Permalink
|
ARIZONA:
GIFFORDS, GRAF WIN CD-8 RACES; MUNSIL WINS GOP GUV PRIMARY.
In a mild surprise, attorney and Religious Right activist Len
Munsil won the GOP primary for the right to face popular Governor
Janet Napolitano (D) in November. Financial consultant Don Goldwater
-- nephew of the late US Senator Barry Goldwater -- lead in the
polls for months, largely on the strength of his family name.
Munsil defeated Goldwater by a 50% to 40% vote. The most
watched Arizona races were the very competitive primaries for
retiring Congressman Jim Kolbe's open CD-8 seat. With over 90%
of the vote counted, hardcore conservative former State Representative
Randy Graf apparently defeated centrist State Representative Steve
Huffman by a vote of 43-37 in the GOP primary. Graf is an ally
of anti-immigration Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO). The NRCC
and Kolbe both endorsed Huffman as the most electable GOP candidate
in this swing district, arguing Graf was far too conservative
to win in November. Other centrists in the primary split Huffman's
base, allowing Graf to edge into the lead. On the Democratic side,
former State Senator Gabrielle Giffords won 55% of the vote against
five opponents. Her closest opponent -- retired local TV news
anchor Patty Weiss -- lagged 24-points behind. If Graf's lead
holds, move the Graf-Giffords race into the Leans Dem category.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.13.06 | Permalink
|
NEW
YORK: SPITZER, HILLARY, SPENCER, CUOMO, TOWNS, CLARKE WIN.
Attorney General Eliot Spitzer (D) scored a landslide victory
in the Democratic primary for New York Governor,
defeating Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi by a vote of 81%
to 19%. Spitzer is a safe bet to defeat former State House Minority
Leader John Faso (R) in November. Former Clinton Administration
HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo won the Democratic primary for Attorney
General, capturing 53% of the vote against three opponents. In
the US Senate race, incumbent Hillary Clinton rolled over peace
candidate Jonathan Tasini by a lopsided vote of 83% to 17% in
the Dem primary. Former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer captured 60%
of the vote in the GOP primary for US Senate. With most of the
vote counted in CD-10, Congressman Ed Towns (D) appears to have
captured 45% of the vote, versus 39% for NYC Councilman Charles
Barron and 16% for State Assemblyman Roger Green. Towns previously
announced his next term will be his last in Washington. That will
leave Barron and Green immediately free to launch their '08 runs
for the seat. The open CD-11 race was a hotly contested battle
for the seat of retiring Congressman Major Owens (D). With nearly
all votes counted, NYC Councilwoman Yvette Clarke seemingly won
with 31%, NYC Councilman David Yassky was second with 27%, State
Senator Carl Andrews had 22%, and Congressman Owens' son Chris
Owens was last with 20%. Clarke was an unsuccessful primary challenger
against the incumbent two years ago.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.13.06 | Permalink
|
WISCONSIN:
LAUTENSCHLAGER TRAILING; GARD & KAGEN WIN IN CD-8.
With more than 80% of the vote counted, Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager
(D) was trailing in her primary for renomination. Dane County
Executive Kathleen Falk was leading the incumbent by a 53% to
47% vote. Lautenschlager was arrested last year and quickly pled
guilty to DUI charges. In the open CD-8 race for the swing seat
being vacated by gubernatorial candidate Congressman Mark Green
(R), State Assembly Speaker John Gard scored a landslide 71-29
victory over State Assemblywoman Terri McCormick in the GOP primary.
On the Dem side, wealthy physician Steve Kagen spent over $1.5
million from his own pocket to win a convincing victory. The vote:
Kagen - 47%, business consultant Jamie Wall - 29%, former Brown
County Executive Nancy Nusbaum - 24%. We'd rate the Gard-Kagen
match-up as Leans GOP.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.13.06 | Permalink
|
OTHER
SIGNIFICANT TUESDAY PRIMARY RESULTS. DELAWARE: Law professor Jan Ting -- the GOP endorsed candidate
for US Senate -- barely won his primary. Ting defeated airline
pilot and frequent candidate Mike Protack by a margin of less
than 300 votes. In the Democratic Congressional primary, attorney
and party endorsed candidate Dennis Spivack easily won by a 20-point
margin. Turnout was below 8%. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: As expected, energetic young City
Councilman Adrian Fenty won the Democratic primary for Mayor over
DC Council President Linda Cropp. Fenty captured 57%, Cropp had
31%, and five others trailed far behind. Mayor Anthony Williams
(D) is retiring. NEW HAMPSHIRE: CD-1 Congressman Jeb Bradley
(R) and CD-2 Congressman Charlie Bass (R) each cruised to landslide
primary victories. In CD-1, Democratic activist and peace candidate
Carol Shea-Porter defeated State House Minority Leader Jim Craig
by a margin of 18-points in an upset. VERMONT: Socialist Congressman Bernie Sanders (Independent)
-- with the direct collusion of the Vermont Democratic Party and
the DSCC -- ensured Tuesday he will face no Democratic opposition
on the November ballot. Sanders vowed he would decline the nomination
if he won the primary, thus enabling him to appear on the November
ballot only as an Independent with no real obstacles to winning
the general election. Sanders captured the Democratic nomination
with an amazing 94% of the vote over four candidates who actively
sought the Dem nomination. Sanders has vowed to caucus with the
Senate Democrats when he is elected -- just as does retiring US
Senator Jim Jeffords (I-VT). In the GOP primary, wealthy software
executive Rich Tarrant won the US Senate primary by a 2-to-1 margin
over conservative military veteran Greg Parke.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.13.06 | Permalink
|
BY
THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. ALABAMA
- GOVERNOR: Governor Bob Riley (R) - 55%, Lieutenant
Governor Lucy Baxley (D) - 34%. (Birmingham News). ARKANSAS - GOVERNOR: Attorney General Mike Beebe
(D) - 49%, former Congressman Asa Hutchinson (R) - 38%. (Rasmussen
Reports). CALIFORNIA - GOVERNOR: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
(R) - 47%, State Treasurer Phil Angelides (D) - 33%. (Rasmussen
Reports). CONNECTICUT - US SENATE: US Senator Joe
Lieberman (Independent) - 51%, businessman Ned Lamont (D) - 38%,
former State Representative Alan Schlesinger (R) - 7%, Others
- 1%. (WABC-TV/SurveyUSA). ILLINOIS - GOVERNOR: Governor Rod Blagojevich
(D) - 45%, State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka (R) - 39%, attorney
Rich Whitney (Green) - 6%. (WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune). MASSACHUSETTS - GOVERNOR - DEM PRIMARY: Former
US Assistant Attorney General Deval Patrick - 45%, venture capitalist
Chris Gabrieli - 29%, Attorney General Tom Reilly - 21%. (WBZ-TV/SurveyUSA). NEW MEXICO - GOVERNOR: Governor Bill Richardson
(D) - 57%, former State GOP Chair John Dendahl (R) - 38%. (Albuquerque
Journal). SOUTH CAROLINA - GOVERNOR: Governor Mark Sanford
(R) - 51%, State Senator Tommy Moore (D) - 38%. (Rasmussen Reports). TENNESSEE - GOVERNOR: Governor Phil Bredesen
(D) - 63%, State Senator Jim Bryson (R) - 30%, Others - 1%. (WBIR-TV/SurveyUSA). TENNESSEE - US SENATE: Congressman Harold Ford
Jr. (D) - 48%, former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker (R) - 45%,
Others - 1%. (WBIR-TV/SurveyUSA). WASHINGTON - US SENATE: US Senator Maria Cantwell
(D) - 52%, insurance executive Mike McGavick (R) - 35%. (Rasmussen
Reports). WEST VIRGINIA - US SENATE: US Senator Robert
C. Byrd (D) - 63%, former State GOP Chair John Raese (R) - 30%.
(Rasmussen Reports).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.13.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Go.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.13.06 | Permalink
|
SEND
A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
Here's my open offer
for every campaign (and campaign supporter): send me a button
or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional, Statewide
Office, etc., campaign you are involved in -- feel free to add
a sticker and brochure -- and I'll place a link to official campaign
site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you" note.
My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33301. OUR THANKS TODAY GO OUT TO: State party chairman
and computer consultant Chris
Hansen, Independent American nominee for Nevada Governor.
WANNA
TRADE?
I'm interested in building up my collection of Canadian campaign
buttons. If you've got Canadian political buttons to
trade, I'm interesting in swapping with you for some great US
pins. Please drop me
a note!
RHODE
ISLAND: PRIMARY PREVIEW.
The marquee race of Tuesday
is moderate US Senator Lincoln Chafee's hot GOP primary battle
for renomination against arch-conservative Cranston Mayor Steve
Laffey. Chafee could not possibly have done more to annoy his
party's conservative base: he announced in 2004 he would not vote
for President Bush, he frequently defies the Bush Administration,
he supports gay marriage, he initially supported censoring Bush
over the unwarranted domestic surveillance program, and just last
week helped block the Senate confirmation of Acting UN Ambassador
John Bolton. The Club for Growth is heavily backing Laffey, while
the NRSC is solidly behind Chafee. In fact, the NRSC has run harsh
attack spots against Laffey -- and they've made it clear they
will not help Laffey if he ousts Chafee because they view Laffey
as unelectable in November. Although Dems (yours truly, included)
are hoping for Chafee to get Lieberman'ed, I don't see it happening.
Look for Chafee to score a tepid victory. Former Attorney General
Sheldon Whitehouse faces an earnest -- but minor -- challenge
from USMC veteran and peace activist Carl Sheeler and one other
in the Democratic primary for US Senate. Also, pro-life Congressman
Jim Langevin (D) should easily deflect an energetic primary challenge
in CD-2 from liberal college professor Jennifer Lawless. Other
races to watch: competitive primaries for Lieutenant Governor
and Secretary of State.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.12.06 | Permalink
|
NEW
YORK: PRIMARY PREVIEW.
In the race to succeed retiring Governor George Pataki (R), Attorney
General Eliot Spitzer will cruise to a landslide victory in the
Democratic primary. Former State House Minority Leader John Faso
is unopposed for the GOP nomination. Former Clinton Administration
HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo is well positioned to win the Democratic
primary for Attorney General. In the US Senate race, incumbent
Hillary Clinton -- despite her votes for going to war with Iraq
and her rather ambiguous current views on the war -- will smash
peace candidate Jonathan Tasini by a gigantic margin. Former Yonkers
Mayor John Spencer is expected to handily defeat former Defense
Department official K.T. McFarland in the GOP primary, winning
the right to face Clinton in November. Spencer and McFarland,
however, both hold third party ballot lines for November regardless
of who wins the GOP contest. In CD-10, Congressman Ed Towns should
be able to hold off a tough primary challenge from NYC Councilman
Charles Barron and State Assemblyman Roger Green -- winning what
Towns promises will be his final term in Washington. That will
leave Barron and Green immediately free to launch their '08 runs
for the seat. The open CD-11 primary is a wild fight in which
any of the four Dems could reasonably win retiring Congressman
Major Owens' (D) seat. The last independent poll showed a four-way
tie between NYC Councilmembers Yvette Clarke and David Yassky,
State Senator Carl Andrews and health care executive Chris Owens.
Candidate Owens is the son of the outgoing incumbent. Yassky,
the only white candidate running in this minority district, could
score an upset victory with the sizable black vote split by the
other three hopefuls. The Dem primary in CD-19 is also worth watching.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.12.06 | Permalink
|
MARYLAND:
PRIMARY PREVIEW.
Several good contests on tap for Tuesday. Eighteen
Democrats and ten Republicans are running for retiring US Senator
Paul Sarbanes' (D) seat. Congressman Ben Cardin and former NAACP
President Kweisi Mfume agree on most issues, so the Dem fight
is largely one of personalities and GOTV organizational skills.
Polls have shown the lead swinging back and forth in recent weeks,
but Cardin seems to have the momentum in these final days needed
to win. Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele (R) will have no problem
in his primary. Cardin's open CD-3 is another crowded race, with
attorney/congressional scion John Sarbanes, Baltimore Health Commissioner
Peter Beilenson, State Senator Paula Hollinger and former TV news
reporter Andy Barth as the leading contenders. My guess for the
winner: Sarbanes. Meanwhile, the sleeper race of the day is progressive
challenger Donna Edwards' surprisingly strong Dem challenge to
pro-business Congressman Al Wynn in CD-4. Edwards is endorsed
by the Washington Post, the Sierra Club, the Teamsters,
MoveOn, Democracy for America, ACORN, and several prominent national
liberal leaders. Edwards attacked Wynn for supporting the Bush
Administration on some key votes and having few accomplishments
to show for his time spent inside the Beltway. She has momentum
and vitality, and has drawn close to Wynn in the final days, but
it is hard to gauge if she will be able to score what would be
an incredible upset.
One other race of note: look for current State Comptroller and
former Governor Don Schaefer (D) to lose his primary. His campaign
has consisted of a trail of gaffes that make the aging Schaefer
look like a cranky old man who more belongs sitting on a park
bench spouting his sexist and offensive remarks.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.12.06 | Permalink
|
MINNESOTA:
PRIMARY PREVIEW.
Governor Tim Pawlenty
(R),
Attorney General Mike Hatch (DFL) and former State Finance Commissioner
Peter Hutchinson (Independence) will cruise to easy victories
in their respective gubernatorial primaries. Ditto for Congressman
Mark Kennedy (R) and Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar (DFL)
in the US Senate primaries. In the race for retiring Congressman
Martin Olav Sabo's open CD-5 seat, the winner of the DFL primary
will win this safe Dem seat. Eight Democrats are competing in
the CD-5 primary, but only three of them have a shot at winning:
State Representative Keith Ellison, former State Senator Ember
Reichgott Junge and former Sabo Chief of Staff Mike Erlandson.
Ellison, the DFL-endorsed candidate, would be the first Muslim
elected to Congress if he wins. ERJ, a '98 candidate for Attorney
General, is the only woman in the crowded field. Erlandson, the
former DFL State Chairman, is Sabo's endorsed candidate. Just
a hunch, but I'd peg Erlandson to win the primary.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.12.06 | Permalink
|
BY
THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. DC
- MAYOR - DEM PRIMARY: Councilman Adrian Fenty - 52%,
City Council Chair Linda Cropp - 28%, Verizon CEO Marie Johns
- 9%, Councilman Vincent Orange - 4%, Others - 4%. (WUSA-TV/SurveyUSA). MARYLAND - US SENATE - DEM PRIMARY: Congressman
Ben Cardin - 47%, former NAACP President Kweisi Mfume - 38%, developer
Josh Rales - 7%, Others - 1%. (WMAR-TV/SurveyUSA). MINNESOTA - GOVERNOR - DEM PRIMARY: Attorney
General Mike Hatch - 77%, State Senator Becky Lourey - 19%. (KSTP-TV/SurveyUSA).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.12.06 | Permalink
|
NEW
HAMPSHIRE: PRIMARY PREVIEW.
The races worth noting Tuesday are the Dem primary in CD-1 and
the GOP primary in CD-2. In CD-1, State House Minority Leader
Jim Craig, Democratic activist Carol Shea-Porter and two others
are fighting for the right to take on heavily favored Congressman
Jeb Bradley (R) in November. Establishment candidate Craig is
expected to win the primary. In CD-2, moderate Congressman Charlie
Bass (R) faces a challenge from Berlin Mayor Bob Danderson and
one other -- but Bass should easily win.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.12.06 | Permalink
|
WISCONSIN:
PRIMARY PREVIEW.
Only two races really merit much attention in Wisconsin on Tuesday.
Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager (D) was arrested last year
and quickly pled guilty to DUI charges. She accepted responsibility,
apologized, and tried to put the incident behind her. However,
Dane County Executive and 2002 gubernatorial candidate Kathleen
Falk is challenging Lautenschlager in the primary. The incumbent
looked more vulnerable a few months ago, but recent polls show
her surviving. In the open CD-8 race for the swing seat being
vacated by gubernatorial candidate Congressman Mark Green (R),
both parties are seeing important races. State Assembly Speaker
John Gard and State Assemblywoman Terri McCormick are seeking
the GOP nod. Gard, backed by Green and other GOP leaders, should
comfortably win the primary. On the Dem side, the candidates are
spending millions in the primary. Former Brown County Executive
Nancy Nusbaum, wealthy physician Steve Kagen and business consultant
Jamie Wall are fighting for the Dem nomination. Nusbaum is backed
by EMILY's List and has raised over $1 million. Kagen is spending
over $1.5 million from his own pocket. Wall is solidly backed
by the labor unions and neighboring Congressman Dave Obey (D),
and has raised over $650,000. Any of the three Dems could prevail.
This district went 55% for Bush in 2004, so the GOP nominee will
be a slight favorite in November.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.12.06 | Permalink
|
MASSACHUSETTS:
PRIMARY PREVIEW.
Let's knock out this September 19 preview early. As independent
polls show that Lieutenant Governor Kerry
Healey (R) is unlikely to defeat any of the Democrats running
for Governor, the Democratic primary will likely decide who will
succeed outgoing Governor Mitt Romney (R). Attorney General Tom
Reilly started the race as the solid frontrunner, but his inept
campaign was able to largely squander Reilly's early advantage
over the past few months. Former US Assistant Attorney General
Deval Patrick -- the most liberal candidate in the race -- won
the party's endorsement at the state convention a few months ago.
Venture capitalist Chris Gabrieli jumped into the contest late
after he became annoyed with how Reilly publicly toyed with selecting
him as a runningmate before tapping someone else. Polls show Patrick
and Gabrieli both running ahead of Reilly -- and have Gabrieli
performing best against Healey in November -- but look for Patrick
to win the primary with the help of an energized liberal base.
Wealthy businessman Christy Mihos (Independent) and others are
also running for Governor. Dems will also see a competitive primary
for Lieutenant Governor. Republicans have an inconsequential two-man
primary for US Senator, as seven-term incumbent Ted Kennedy (D)
is safe.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.12.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Any other races you want to discuss today?
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.12.06 | Permalink
|
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P2008:
GORE CRACKS OPEN THE DOOR A LITTLE BIT. Former
Vice President Al Gore (D) on
Sunday seemed to slightly reverse his previous statements expressing
total disinterest in running for President in 2008, slightly opening
the door to making a third White House. While on On a trip to
Australia to promote his environmental film An Inconvenient
Truth, Gore said "I haven't completely ruled out running
for President again in the future, but I don't expect to ... I
offer the explanation not as an effort to be coy or clever. It's
just the internal shifting of gears after being in politics almost
30 years." Those words are certainly going to encourage the
folks who believe Gore is the only Democrat capable of defeating
US Senator Hillary Clinton for the 2008 Democratic Presidential
nomination.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.11.06 | Permalink
|
ARIZONA:
PRIMARY PREVIEW.
While popular Governor Janet Napolitano (D) is unopposed for renomination,
four Republicans are essentially competing on Tuesday for the
right to lose to her in November. Of the four, financial consultant
Don Goldwater -- nephew of the late US Senator Barry Goldwater
-- will likely ride the family name to victory in the GOP gubernatorial
primary. There are no primaries in the US Senate race between
incumbent Jon Kyl (R) and former
State Democratic Chair Jim Pedersen -- and Kyl remains favored
in November. The hottest Arizona races of the day are the very
competitive primaries for retiring Congressman Jim Kolbe's open
CD-8 seat. On the GOP side, former State Representative Randy
Graf -- a social conservative who never stopped running after
losing to Kolbe in the 2004 primary -- remains the frontrunner
for the nomination. State Representative Steve Huffman -- a GOP
centrist -- is backed by Kolbe and the NRCC. However, former State
GOP Chair Mike Hellon is also running, and splitting the large
moderate base with Huffman. The NRCC endorsement of Huffman also
created some bad blood, in the Graf, Hellon and the two other
minor hopefuls called a press conference last week to denounce
the NRCC as "idiots" for meddling in an open seat primary.
In the end, the centrist split should enable Graf to score an
unimpressive plurality win in the five-candidate primary. On the
Democratic side, former State Senator Gabrielle Giffords will
cruise to a wide victory over retired local TV news anchor Patty
Weiss and four others. If Graf is the GOP nominee against Giffords,
we'd rate this swing seat Leans Dem. However, if Huffman can edge
past Graf on Tuesday, then we'd rate a Giffords-Huffman general
election contest a toss-up.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.11.06 | Permalink
|
BY
THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. PRESIDENT
- 2008 - DEM: US Senator Hillary Clinton - 37%, former
Vice President Al Gore - 20%, US Senator John Kerry - 11%. former
US Senator John Edwards - 11%, US Senator Russ Feingold - 3%,
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson - 3%, former Virginia Governor
Mark Warner - 3%, US Senator Evan Bayh - 2%, US Senator Joe Biden
- 2%, Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack - 1%. (CNN/Opinion Research ). PRESIDENT - 2008 - GOP: Former NYC Mayor Rudy
Giuliani - 31%, US Senator John McCain - 20%, former US House
Speaker Newt Gingrich - 12%, US Senator George Allen - 7%, US
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist - 5%, Massachusetts Governor
Mitt Romney - 5%, New York Governor George Pataki - 4%, US Senator
Sam Brownback - 1%. (CNN/Opinion Research ). ALASKA - GOVERNOR: Former Wasilla Mayor Sarah
Palin (R) - 52%, former Governor Tony Knowles (D) - 38%. (Rasmussen
Reports). NEW YORK - GOVERNOR - DEM PRIMARY: Attorney General
Elliot Spitzer - 79%, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi - 14%.
(WNBC/Marist College). NEW YORK - GOVERNOR - DEM PRIMARY: Spitzer -
75%, Suozzi - 15%. (Sienna College). NEW YORK - US SENATE - DEM PRIMARY:US
Senator Hillary Clinton - 88%, peace activist Jonathan Tasini
- 10%. (WNBC/Marist College). NEW YORK - US SENATE - DEM PRIMARY: Clinton -
78%, Tasini - 16%. (Sienna College). NEW YORK - US SENATE - GOP PRIMARY: Former Yonkers
Mayor John Spencer - 39%, former Defense Department official K.T.
McFarland - 16%. (WNBC/Marist College). NEW YORK - CD-11 - DEM PRIMARY: NYC Councilwoman
Yvette Clarke - 20%, NYC Councilman David Yassky - 20%, State
Senator Carl Andrews - 19%, health care executive Chris Owens
- 19%. (Martilla & Kiley-D). NEW YORK - ATTORNEY GENERAL - DEM PRIMARY: Former
HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo - 52%, former NYC Public Advocate Mark
Green - 30%. (WNBC/Marist College). NEW YORK - ATTORNEY GENERAL - DEM PRIMARY: Cuomo
- 47%, Green - 27%. (Sienna College). TENNESSEE - GOVERNOR: Governor Phil Bredesen
(D) - 58%, State Senator Jim Bryson (R) - 31%. (Rasmussen Reports). TENNESSEE - US SENATE: Former Chattanooga Mayor
Bob Corker (R) - 45%, Congressman Harold Ford Jr. (D) - 44%. (Rasmussen
Reports). VIRGINIA - US SENATE: US Senator George Allen
(R) - 46%, former Navy Secretary Jim Webb (D) - 42%. (Roanoke
Times/Mason-Dixon).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.11.06 | Permalink
|
9/11:
FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY.
A bit of editorializing on this fifth anniversary of the 9/11
attacks. I have some questions for you to ponder. Has Osama Bin
Laden been captured yet? Are the Taliban and their war lord allies
in Afghanistan again resurgent? Does the US-backed, Afghan government
of President Hamid Karzai effectively control anything outside
the Kabul region? Is Iraq more stable and less of a threat to
western interests now versus five years ago? Is Iran closer to
being a nuclear threat now versus five years ago? Are US relations,
in general, with foreign nations better or worse than five years
ago? As Americans, have our civil liberties been incrementally
reduced over the past five years? So ... is all of this the new
definition of "we're winning" the War on Terrorism?
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.11.06 | Permalink
|
DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA: PRIMARY PREVIEW.
Mayor Anthony Williams (D) is not seeking re-election, setting
off a crowded contest to replace him. Seven Dems are seeking the
mayoral nomination, including City Council Chair Linda Cropp,
Councilmen Adrian Fenty and Vincent Orange, and former Verizon
CEO Marie Johns. Fenty -- an attorney and former congressional
aide with a record of populist community activist -- moved out
to a huge lead a few months ago. While Cropp has worked in recent
weeks to rapidly narrow the gap, Fenty's lead appears to be holding.
Look for Fenty to win the primary. Two Democratic City Council
members -- Kathy Patterson and Vincent Gray -- are seeking to
replace Cropp as the city's elected Council Chair.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.11.06 | Permalink
|
VERMONT:
PRIMARY PREVIEW.
Self-proclaimed socialist Congressman Bernie
Sanders (Independent) is a near lock to win the Green Mountain
State's open US Senate seat in November. On Tuesday he is expected
to win the Democratic nomination -- something he doesn't want
-- over four Democrats who actually want to be the Dem nominee.
The State Democratic Party and the DSCC are both backing Sanders,
who promised to caucus with the Senate Democrats if he wins. To
help Sanders in November, they convinced him to run in the primary,
just so he can renounce the nomination after winning it. That
means there will be no Democrat on the ballot against him in the
general election. Wealthy software executive and GOP centrist
Rich Tarrant is the heavy favorite to win the US Senate nomination
over conservative USAF veteran Greg Parke and marijuana legalization
activist Cris Ericson. In the race for Sanders' open House seat,
State Adjutant General Martha Rainville will easily dispatch a
primary challenge from State Senator Mark Shepard. Senate President
Pro Tem Peter Welch is unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.11.06 | Permalink
|
DELAWARE:
PRIMARY PREVIEW.
The two federal primaries on Tuesday are largely meaningless,
as the incumbents in both races are very safe in November. Three
Republicans are seeking the nomination against US Senator Tom
Carper (D). Former INS Assistant Commissioner and law school professor
Jan Ting is the Delaware Republican Party's officially endorsed
candidate in the race, but he's facing a challenge from airline
pilot Mike Protack and Religious Right activist Christine O'Donnell.
In the
race for the state's lone US House seat, Congressman Mike Castle
(R) faces no primary opposition. Attorney Dennis Spivack and children's
rights advocate Karen Hartley-Nagle are competing for the Democratic
nomination. Spivack is endorsed by the party. Hartley-Nagle, meanwhile,
is guaranteed a spot on the November ballot because she is also
the nominee of the Independent Party of Delaware -- a liberal
group that backed Nader for President in 2004.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.11.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
According to Orwellian comments Vice President Dick Cheney made
on NBC's Meet the Press, US allies in Afghanistan and Iraq
"have doubts [America will finish the job there] and those
doubts are encouraged, obviously, when they see the kind of debate
that we've had in the United States. Suggestions, for example,
that we should withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq simply feed into
that whole notion, validates the strategy of the terrorists."
Forget the first amendment, the executive-legislative-judicial
balance of powers, and all of those other pesky parts of the constitution.
Yup, if you insist on exercising your constitutional rights, then
the terrorists will win.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.11.06 | Permalink
|
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My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
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Wassup, Dog?
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.09.06 | Permalink
|
SEND
A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
Here's my open offer for every campaign (and campaign supporter):
send me a button or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional,
Statewide Office, etc., campaign you are involved in -- feel free
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campaign site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you"
note. My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33301. OUR THANKS TODAY GO OUT TO: Two more Arizonans
to thank today ... Teacher recruiting organization executive director
Jason
Williams, Democrat for Arizona Superintendent of Public
Instruction; and retired Army civilian employee and community
activist Pat Fleming,
Democrat for Arizona House LD-25..
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BY
THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. ARIZONA
- CD-8 - DEM PRIMARY: Former State Senator Gabrielle
Giffords - 46%, retired TV news anchor Patty Weiss - 29%, airline
pilot Jeff Latas - 5%, Three Others - 4%. (Arizona Daily Star). ARIZONA - CD-8 - GOP PRIMARY: Former State Representative
Randy Graf - 33%, State Representative Steve Huffman - 25%, former
State GOP Chair Mike Hellon - 10%, Two Others - 4%. (Arizona
Daily Star). MICHIGAN - GOVERNOR: Businessman Dick DeVos (R)
- 48%, Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) - 46%. (Rasmussen Reports). MICHIGAN - US SENATE: US Senator Debbie Stabenow
(D) - 51%, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard (R) - 43%. (Rasmussen
Reports). WISCONSIN - GOVERNOR: Governor Jim Doyle (D)
- 49%, Congressman Mark Green (R) - 40%, community activist Nelson
Eidman (Green) - 1%. (WISC-TV/Research 2000).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.08.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Yeah, I know, only brief a posting today: but I'll post some reader-submitted
articles over the weekend ... Also, the Nickelodeon cable network
would like to speak with any of our regular bloggers who are currently
in the 13-17 age range, for a news program they produce. If you
fall in this age group, please
drop me a note.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.08.06 | Permalink
|
SEND
A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
Here's my open offer for every campaign (and campaign supporter):
send me a button or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional,
Statewide Office, etc., campaign you are involved in -- feel free
to add a sticker and brochure -- and I'll place a link to official
campaign site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you"
note. My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33301. OUR THANKS TODAY GO OUT TO: Former State Democratic
Chair and businessman Jim
Pederson, Democrat for US Senate in Arizona; and former
Congressional aide and retired federal employee Francine
Shacter, Democrat for Congress in Arizona's CD-8.
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CONGRESS
#1 : FBI LOBBYING PROBE LOOKS AT "NO-SHOW JOB" FOR DeLAY'S
WIFE.
According to
the Wall Street Journal, FBI agents are investigation if
the wife of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) was
paid $115,000 for a purportedly "no-show" job with a
DC lobbying firm. The firm -- Alexander Strategies -- was run
by former DeLay aide Tony Rudy, who already pled guilty to felony
corruption charges tied to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Rudy,
who is now cooperating with federal agents, admitted in court
he accepted bribes while he worked for DeLay and later conspired
to bribe other congressmen when he was a lobbyist. According to
the newspaper, "investigators also asked about $144,000 that
Mrs. DeLay received from one of Mr. DeLay's fund-raising committees,
the Americans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee,
which was housed at the lobbying firm's offices." Mrs. DeLay
was a "key adviser to her husband and her employment at Armpac
and Alexander Strategy was real and valuable," explained
a DeLay family spokesman.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.07.06 | Permalink
|
CONGRESS
#2: GOP INCUMBENTS WANT MORE DEBATES. Traditionally,
it is challengers who insist upon holding debates with incumbents
and the incumbents who try to dodge debates. The theory is a debate
give a challenger free attention. This year the concept is out
the window. The Hotline reports that Congressman Chris
Shays (R-CT) agreed to debate challenger Diane Farrell (D-CT)
a whopping 11 times
over the next month. Yup, eleven debates! Congresswoman Thelma
Drake (R-VA) started challenging her opponent to debates back
in June. Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and his challenger
Patrick Murphy -- an Iraq War veteran -- already debated four
times. Now comes the news Fitzpatrick is insisting Murphy agree
to a series of additional debates. Most amusingly was the recent
debate between Congressman Mike Sodrel (R-IN) and former Congressman
Baron Hill (D-IN). The two argued about holding more debates during
their first debate, with the challenger saying he would not agree
to additional meetings unless Sodrel would agree that each debate
would focus in detail on separate and specific issues. By contrast,
Congressman Leonard Boswell (D-IA) has not agreed to any debates
against State Senate President Jeff Lamberti (R-IA). For now,
Boswell is non-committal about participated in a single televised
October debate.
In Illinois, Congresswoman Melissa Bean (D) already held the fourth
and final agreed debate with wealthy challenger David McSweeney
(R) this week -- held in the summer before most voters even started
paying attention to the race -- and with no debates during the
remaining two months.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.07.06 | Permalink
|
CHICAGO:
CONGRESSMAN JACKSON JUMPS INTO '07 RACE AGAINST MAYOR DALEY. Congressman
Jesse Jackson Jr. (D) on Wednesday launched his run against five-term
incumbent Chicago Mayor Rich Daley in 2007 by forming an exploratory
committee. Jackson also kicked-off a "listening tour"
of the city. Daley (D) is expected to seek reelection next year,
but has yet to make a formal announcement. Cook County Clerk of
Courts Dorothy Brown (D) and former mayoral aide Bill "Dock"
Walls (D) were already announced candidates against Daley in the
non-partisan February 2007 primary. Daley has cruised to landslide
wins in most his runs. He scored a 3-to-1 victory in 1999, for
example, over Congressman Bobby Rush (D).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.07.06 | Permalink
|
BY
THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. NEW
MEXICO - CD-2: Congressman Steve Pearce (R) - 54%, minister
Al Kissling (D) - 29%. (Albuquerque Journal). NEW MEXICO - CD-3: Congressman Tom Udall (D)
- 71%, engineer Ron Dolin (R) - 18%. (Albuquerque Journal). OKLAHOMA - GOVERNOR: Governor Brad Henry (D)
- 54%, Congressman Ernest Istook (R) - 33%. (Rasmussen Reports).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.07.06 | Permalink
|
FLORIDA:
REPUBLICANS NOT RALLYING AROUND HARRIS. If
this is any indicator, Congresswoman Katherine Harris' victory
in Tuesday's GOP primary for US Senator is not going to put an
end to the attacks on Harris from her own party. The
latest example is the post-primary statement issued Wednesday
by primary candidate, wealthy developer and former GHW Bush Administration
official Peter Monroe. Here are just a few excerpts from his written
statement: "Yesterday, Florida Republicans selected Katherine
Harris as their nominee to take on Senator Bill Nelson this November.
Name recognition, no matter how unfavorable, trumped substance
and character ... To date, I have supported all Republican nominees.
I fully and enthusiastically support [Governor nominee] Charlie
Crist, [Attorney General nominee] Bill McCollum and [State CFO
nominee] Tom Lee. However, I cannot support Katherine Harris as
the Republican Party's nominee. Her anti-Semitic statements made
to the Florida Baptist Witness were the last straw in a string
of misdeeds during our race. They are indicative of a person who
is unfit to serve in public office ... She is an embarrassment
to Florida, the Republican Party, our nation, and herself."
It goes on, but that gives you the flavor of it. By contrast --
despite the bitter nature of the GOP gubernatorial contest --
primary loser Tom Gallagher plans to campaign with winner Charlie
Crist on Friday. No such public rapprochement yet from the Democratic
gubernatorial candidates.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.07.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
The other stuff.
Posted
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|
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FL 33301.
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FLORIDA:
CRIST CRUSHES GALLAGHER; DAVIS, HARRIS, BUCHANAN, CASTOR WIN.
There were no major surprises in Tuesday's Florida primary. In
GOP race for Governor, Attorney General Charlie Crist cruised
to a landslide victory over State CFO Tom Gallagher. The numbers:
Crist - 64%, Gallagher - 34%. Gallagher's
repeated social conservative attacks on Crist for purportedly
being a moderate never inflicted any significant damage on the
frontrunner. Instead, the attacks probably made Crist stronger
going into the general election by bolstering his credentials
as a centrist. The Democratic slugfest was equally nasty, although
the punches were more personal in nature by impugning each other's
political integrity. The vote was also much closer than the Republican
contest, with Congressman Jim Davis defeating State Senator Rod
Smith by a vote of 47% to 41%. GOP primary turnout also outpaced
the Democratic total. Both nominees must now designate Lieutenant
Governor runningmates, decisions that could nominally influence
the outcome in a close race.
In
the GOP race for US Senate, Congresswoman Katherine Harris won
the nomination with 49% -- leading her nearest opponent by nearly
20-points. Republicans -- from Governor Jeb Bush to NRSC officials
-- have already openly distanced themselves from Harris. US Senator
Bill Nelson is safe in his November race against Harris.
In
the Democratic primary for Davis's open CD-11 seat, Hillsborough
County Commissioner Kathy Castor easily won with 53% against her
four opponents. The district is solidly Democratic, so Castor
is assured of victory in November. In CD-13 -- the race for Harris'
open seat -- wealthy auto dealer Vern Buchanan (R) raised a record-breaking
$4.1 million in the primary (much from his own deep pockets) and
won with 32%. State Representative Nancy Detert -- who by contrast
only raised around $250,000 -- was second with 26%. Wealthy banker
Christine Jennings won a 2-to-1 victory in the Democratic primary
and will face Buchanan in the general election. CD-13 Race Rating:
Leans GOP. Congressman
Ric Keller (R) easily turned back an aggressive primary foe in
CD-8, winning in a 3-to-1 landslide. Business consultant Charlie
Stuart won the Dem primary in CD-8, but Keller will be favored
in November. State Representative Gus Bilirakis scored an easy
win in the CD-9 GOP primary -- but will face a fairly competitive
challenge from former Hillsborough County Commissioner Phyllis
Busansky (D). FYI: The hottest US House race in the state in November
was not even on the primary ballot: the CD-22 fight between 13-term
Congressman Clay Shaw (R) and State Senator Ron Klein (D). To
date, Shaw raised $3.4 million and Klein raised $2.8 million --
making Klein the best financed challenger in the nation. Shaw
continues to make the pitch to voters he needs to be reelected
because he's going to be the next Ways & Means Committee Chair,
even though House insiders unanimously agree Congressman Jim McCrery
(R-LA) is a lock to win the powerful gavel.
One
primary race that drew some national attention was Randall Terry's
GOP primary run against centrist State Senator Jim King. Terry
-- founder of the 1990's pro-life Operation Rescue group and spokesman
last year for the parents of Terri Schiavo -- handily lost by
a 2-to-1 margin. Also, centrist State Senator Alex Villalobos
(R) narrowly survived a bitter primary challenge from a GOP conservative
who was actively backed by Governor Jeb Bush. The Miami Herald
called the contest "Florida's meanest and most expensive
State Senate race." Bush targeted the incumbent for defeat
when Villalobos broke with the Republican Senate Leadership a
few months ago and helped derail Bush's attempt to repeal a voter-approved
class size reduction amendment to the state constitution. Click
here to view all of the Florida nominees.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.06.06 | Permalink
|
BY
THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. FLORIDA
- GOVERNOR: Attorney General Charlie Crist (R) - 45%,
Congressman Jim Davis (D) - 41%. (Rasmussen Reports). FLORIDA
- US SENATE: US Senator Bill Nelson (D) - 57%, Congresswoman
Katherine Harris (R) - 34%. (Rasmussen Reports). NEW JERSEY - US SENATE: State Senator Tom Kean
Jr. (R) - 44%, US Senator Bob Menendez (D) - 39%. (Rasmussen Reports). NEW MEXICO - CD-1: Congresswoman Heather Wilson
(R) - 45%, Attorney General Patricia Madrid (D) - 42%. (Albuquerque
Journal). RHODE ISLAND - GOVERNOR: Lieutenant Governor
Charlie Fogarty (D) - 46%, Governor Don Carcieri (R) - 41%. (Rasmussen
Reports). RHODE ISLAND - US SENATE: Former Attorney General
Sheldon Whitehouse (D) - 44%, US Senator Lincoln Chafee (R) -
42%. (Rasmussen Reports). RHODE ISLAND - US SENATE: Whitehouse (D) - 58%,
Cranston Mayor Steve Laffey (R) - 31%. (Rasmussen Reports).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.06.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Fill in the other news of the day.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.06.06 | Permalink
|
SEND
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campaign site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you"
note. My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33301. TODAY'S THANKS GO TO: Computer consultant &
'04 Presidential nominee Michael
Badnarik, Libertarian for Congress in Texas CD-10.
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FLORIDA:
PRIMARY PREVIEW.
Voters go to the polls in Florida on to cast primary ballots in
several competitive races. In the contest to replace term-limited
Governor Jeb Bush (R), both parties have hot races. On the GOP
side, Attorney General Charlie Crist grabbed a surprisingly early
lead over State CFO Tom Gallagher and never looked back. The GOP
affair largely consisted of Gallagher repeatedly attacking Crist
as "pro-choice ... for amnesty for illegal aliens ... for
civil unions for gays ... [and] for tax hikes." Crist
-- who does in fact support civil unions, "a path to citizenship"
for many illegal aliens, and opposes overturning Roe v. Wade
-- has countered with TV spots describing himself as a "NRA-endorsed,
positive, pro-life, Ronald Reagan Republican." Crist also
hit Gallagher as a former pro-choice GOP centrist who entirely
reinvented himself for his third primary run for Governor. Although
Gallagher picked up endorsements from lots of prominent Religious
Right activists, look for Crist to win by at least 10 points.
By contrast, the Democratic primary was a nearly invisible affair
until the last few weeks. That's when State Senator Rod Smith
-- with nearly $2 million in TV assistance from 527-groups controlled
by the "Big Sugar" Everglades polluters -- started blasting
away at Congressman Jim Davis. Smith attacked Davis for missing
key votes, failing to show up in July to cast a vote for a House
resolution condemning Hezbollah, and for voting against a restitution
package for two black men who had been railroaded and sent to
death row on murder charges before being released and vindicated
many years later. Polls show a close race, but Davis seems able
to fend off the barrage and win by several points. Governor Race
Rating: Leans GOP. In the GOP race for US Senate, Congresswoman
Katherine Harris will win the nomination despite possibly setting
an all-time record for most gaffes committed in a single campaign.
Democrats will rejoice, because it places US Senator Bill Nelson
in the "Safe DEM" category and places Harris as the
top name on all November ballots statewide. The Democratic primary
for Davis's open CD-11 seat will largely decide the November winner,
as the seat skews heavily Dem. Hillsborough County Commissioner
Kathy Castor -- the daughter of 2004 US Senate nominee Betty Castor
(D) -- appears to hold a commanding lead in CD-11 over her four
primary opponents. In CD-13 -- the race for Harris' House seat
-- wealthy auto dealer Vern Buchanan (R) is breaking records by
spending over $4.1 million in the primary. Banker Tramm Hudson
isn't exactly a pauper, either, as he's spent over $1.1 million
thus far in the GOP primary. State Representatives Donna Clarke
and Nancy Detert and former State Representative Mark Flanagan
are also competing in the primary. Buchanan's obscene level of
spending should help him secure a plurality victory. Two Democrats
-- banker Christine Jennings and attorney Jan Schneider -- are
also in a hot primary fight in CD-13. Other races to watch include
the Dem primary in CD-8 and the GOP primary in CD-9 (where State
Representative Gus Bilirakis moves one step closer to his Dad's
open seat).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.05.06 | Permalink
|
CONGRESS:
LATEST GOP WAR CRITIC IS A SURPRISE.
You can add another Republican Member of Congress to the pool
of those who have parted ways with the Bush Administration on
the Iraq War -- and we're not talking about another GOP centrist
like Chris Shays or Nancy
Johnson running in a swing district. The latest critic is a longtime
Bush ally from a generally Republican district: Congressman Pat
Tiberi (R-OH). Here is what Tiberi said to the Columbus Dispatch:
"I can’t defend how the President laid out the need
for [going to war in Iraq]. I don’t support Rumsfeld ...
If I were President, he would not be the Defense Secretary."
However, he does not support setting a firm timeline for a US
withdrawal. Tiberi also said he now believe the Bush Administration's
secret domestic eavesdropping program "might have" been
illegal. Another Ohio incumbent in a tough race -- Congresswoman
Deb Pryce (R) -- is also distancing herself from the President.
Last year she was an ardent supporter of Bush's plan to create
private investment accounts as part of Social Security. According
to the Dispatch, Pryce has totally reversed her position
and describes her former support for privatization as "ancient
history." The important question to ponder about all these
candidates: How much of this purported newly discovered "independence"
from the Administration will last beyond the November elections?
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.05.06 | Permalink
|
PITTSBURGH:
MAYOR BOB O'CONNOR DIES AFTER BRIEF ILLNESS.
Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor (D), 61, lost his two-month battle
with brain cancer on Friday. His death came only nine months into
his four-year mayoral term. O'Connor was credited with starting
to turn around a city which has been on the brink of financial
collapse. O'Connor was elected Mayor in 2005, on his third run
for the job. He was a member of the Pittsburgh City Council from
1992-2003 and was Council President in 1998-2003. City Council
President Luke Ravenstahl was sworn in as Mayor on Saturday. At
age 26, Ravenstahl will be Pittsburgh's youngest mayor ever --
and also one of the youngest mayors of any large US city. Ravenstahl
has pledged to continue O'Connor policies and goals during his
term. There is little doubt that a legal fight will break out
over the length of Ravensthal's term. The city's Legal Department
issued an opinion that Ravensthal may hold office for the rest
of the four-year term until 2009. Others argue a special election
must be held in 2007 for final two years of the term..
Writers:
Bradley Minoski and Mike Baker - 09.05.06 | Permalink
|
GUAM:
GOV & A.G. PRIMARY RESULTS.
Guam Governor Felix Camacho easily turned back a GOP primary challenge
on Saturday from his own 2002 runningmate. Camacho defeated Lieutenant
Governor Kaleo Moylan by a vote of 64% to 36%. In the Democratic
primary, former US Congressman Robert Underwood defeated former
Governor Carl Gutierrez by a vote of 53% to 47%. Interestingly,
there were a total of just 7,700 votes cast in the GOP primary
versus 25,000 in the Democratic contest. The primary results set
up a rematch of the close Camacho-Underwood gubernatorial race
from 2002. (And, FYI, check out the Underwood
and Camacho
campaign websites, as both are unexpectedly better than many sites
from major mainland candidates with lots more money to spend.)
In the non-partisan race for Attorney General, incumbent Douglas
Moylan placed third and was eliminated from the November run-off
by Acting Chief Prosecutor Alicia Limtiaco and Civil Service Commission
Executive Director Vern Perez.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.05.06 | Permalink
|
CONGRESS:
CAMPAIGN SHORT TAKES. TEXAS:Make up your friggin' mind, already. Former
Congressman Ciro Rodriguez launched his campaign just over a week
ago against Congressman Henry Bonilla (R) for the newly redrawn
CD-23 special election in November. Then he quit the race last
Wednesday "for personal reasons." Then, on Friday afternoon,
Rodriguez ... umm ... un-quit and said he's still running because
people "rallied" behind him. NEVADA: After a one day hearing, State District Judge Bill
Maddox "said there was no evidence election officials in
Washoe County committed malfeasance when some voting locations
opened late because polling workers didn't show up," the
AP reported. With that, the judge denied State Assemblywoman Sharron
Angle's (R) bid for a re-vote in the open CD-2 contest. Thus,
Secretary of State Dean Heller -- who defeated Angle by 421 votes
two weeks ago -- is now the undisputed GOP nominee.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.05.06 | Permalink
|
BY
THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. IOWA
- GOVERNOR: Secretary of State Chet Culver (D) - 42%,
Congressman Jim Nussle (R) - 40%. (Rasmussen Reports). MICHIGAN - GOVERNOR: Governor Jennifer Granholm
(D) - 46%, businessman Dick DeVos (R) - 44%. (Detroit Free
Press /Selzer).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.05.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Whatever.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.05.06 | Permalink
|
SEND
A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
Here's my open offer for every campaign (and campaign supporter):
send me a button or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional,
Statewide Office, etc., campaign you are involved in -- feel free
to add a sticker and brochure -- and I'll place a link to official
campaign site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you"
note. My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33301. TODAY'S THANKS GO TO: 18-year-old Politics1 blogger
and Santorum campaign activist Julian Stolz, who sent a
pin from his recent run in Pennsylvania for GOP State Committeeman.
WANNA
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BY
THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. FLORIDA - GOVERNOR - DEM PRIMARY: Congressman
Jim Davis - 34%, State Senator Rod Smith - 29%, retired teacher
Carol Castagnero - 5%, businessman Glenn Burkett - 3%, attorney
John Crotty - 2%. (Miami Herald/Zogby). FLORIDA - GOVERNOR - GOP PRIMARY: Attorney General
Charlie Crist - 59%, State CFO Tom Gallagher - 30%. (Miami
Herald/Zogby). FLORIDA - US SENATE - GOP PRIMARY: Congresswoman
Katherine Harris - 39%, attorney Will McBride - 23%, retired Navy
Admiral LeRoy Collins Jr. - 13%, developer Peter Monroe - 6%.
(Miami Herald/Zogby). ILLINOIS
- GOVERNOR: Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) - 47%, State
Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka (R) - 39%, attorney Rich Whitney (Green)
- 2%. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch/Research 2000).
KANSAS
- GOVERNOR: Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D) - 48%, State
Senator Jim Barnett (R) - 37%. (Rasmussen Reports). MINNESOTA - GOVERNOR: Governor Tim Pawlenty (R)
- 46%, Attorney General Mike Hatch (D) - 36%. (Rasmussen Reports). MINNESOTA - US SENATE: Hennepin County Attorney
Amy Klobuchar (D) - 47%, Congressman Mark Kennedy (R) - 40%. (Rasmussen
Reports). MISSOURI - US SENATE: State Auditor Claire McCaskill
(D) - 47%, US Senator Jim Talent (R) - 46%. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch/Research
2000).
OHIO - US SENATE: Congressman Sherrod Brown (D) - 46%,
US Senator Mike DeWine (R) - 40%. (USA Today/Gallup).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.04.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
You know what to do.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.04.06 | Permalink
|
SEND
A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
Here's my open offer for every campaign (and campaign supporter):
send me a button or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional,
Statewide Office, etc., campaign you are involved in -- feel free
to add a sticker and brochure -- and I'll place a link to official
campaign site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you"
note. My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33301. TODAY'S THANKS GO TO: State Auditor Claire
McCaskill, Democratic US Senate in Missouri.
WANNA
TRADE?
Apropos of nothing above, I'm interested in building up my collection
of Canadian campaign buttons. If you've got Canadian political
buttons to
trade, I'm interesting in swapping with you for some great US
pins. Please drop me
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FREE
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You know what to do.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.02.06 | Permalink
|
SEND
A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
Here's my open offer for every campaign (and campaign supporter):
send me a button or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional,
Statewide Office, etc., campaign you are involved in -- feel free
to add a sticker and brochure -- and I'll place a link to official
campaign site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you"
note. My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33301. TODAY'S THANKS GO TO: One of our regular bloggers,
Rusty Hemminger, who sent an assortment of Ohio items -- and he's
working for the campaign of Secretary of State Ken
Blackwell, Republican for Ohio Governor.
WANNA
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Apropos of nothing above, I'm interested in building up my collection
of Canadian campaign buttons. If you've got Canadian political
buttons to
trade, I'm interesting in swapping with you for some great US
pins. Please drop me
a note!
ILLINOIS:
GREENS SURVIVE CHALLENGE, WIN SPOT ON STATE BALLOT.
The Illinois State Board of Elections ruled unanimously on Thursday
to place the Green Party state slate, led by civil rights attorney
Rich Whitney in the gubernatorial race, on the ballot this November.
The slate also includes Illinois' first openly gay candidate for
statewide office -- Congregationalist Minister Dan Rodiguez-Schlorff
-- who is running for State Treasurer. To get on the ballot, the
Green Party collected more than 39,000 signatures in an all volunteer
effort over a 90-day period following the March primary. Democrats
had filed a legal challenge to the Green petitions and objected
to signatures, seemingly at random. Case in point, the Dems even
challenged gubernatorial candidate Whitney's own signature. The
Democrats failed in the challenge but succeeded in draining Green
campaign money, as the legal challenge dragged on for nearly two
months. A GOP challenge earlier this summer succeeded in knocking
the Constitution Party's nominee off the state ballot, although
the CP gubernatorial nominee is continuing as a write-in candidate.
Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) is being challenged by State Treasurer
Judy Baar Topinka (R).
Writer:
Patrick Kelly - 09.01.06 | Permalink
|
BY
THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. ARIZONA - GOVERNOR: Governor Janet
Napolitano (D) - 55%, financial consultant Don Goldwater (R) -
32%. (Rasmussen Reports). ARIZONA - GOVERNOR: Napolitano (D) - 52%, Religious
Right activist Len Munsil (R) - 33%. (Rasmussen Reports). ARIZONA - US SENATE: US Senator Jon Kyl (R) -
52%, former State Democratic Chair Jim Pederson (D) - 35%. (Rasmussen
Reports). ARKANSAS - GOVERNOR: Attorney General Mike Beebe
(D) - 55%, former Congressman Asa Hutchinson (R) - 38%. (KTHV-TV/SurveyUSA). ARKANSAS - LT. GOVERNOR: Former Social Security
Commissioner Bill Halter (D) - 50%, State Senator Jim Holt (R)
- 41%. (KTHV-TV/SurveyUSA). CALIFORNIA - GOVERNOR: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
(R) - 45%, State Treasurer Phil Angelides (D) - 32%. (Public Policy
Institutite). CALIFORNIA - GOVERNOR: Schwarzenegger (R) - 48%,
Angelides (D) - 42%. (Rasmussen Reports). CALIFORNIA - US SENATE: US Senator Dianne Feinstein
(D) - 56%, former State Senator Dick Mountjoy (R) - 34%. (Rasmussen
Reports). FLORIDA - GOVERNOR - DEM PRIMARY: Congressman
Jim Davis - 43%, State Senator Rod Smith - 32%. (Quinnipiac
University). FLORIDA - GOVERNOR - GOP PRIMARY: Attorney General
Charlie Crist - 57%, State CFO Tom Gallagher - 32%. (Quinnipiac
University). FLORIDA - US SENATE - GOP PRIMARY: Congresswoman
Katherine Harris - 38%, attorney Will McBride - 22%, retired Navy
Admiral LeRoy Collins Jr. - 11%, developer Peter Monroe - 3%.
(Quinnipiac University). MARYLAND - US SENATE - DEM PRIMARY: Former Congressman
Kweisi Mfume - 42%, Congressman Ben Cardin - 38%, developer Josh
Rales - 7%, Others - 1%. (WUSA-TV/SurveyUSA). MARYLAND - STATE COMPTROLLER - DEM PRIMARY: Anne
Arundel County Executive Janet Owens - 42%, State Comptroller
DOn Schaefer - 35%, State Delegate Peter Franchot - 15%. (WUSA-TV/SurveyUSA).
RHODE ISLAND - US SENATE - GOP PRIMARY: Cranston
Mayor Steve Laffey - 51%, US Senator Linc Chafee - 34%. (Rhode
Island College). WASHINGTON - CD-2: Congressman Rick Larsen (D)
- 58%, businessman Doug Roulstone (R) - 35%. (WUSA-TV/SurveyUSA).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.01.06 | Permalink
|
TEXAS:
CIRO RODRIGUEZ QUITTING CD-23 RACE ... OR MAYBE NOT.
Former Congressman Ciro Rodriguez (D) lost a primary earlier this
year to Congressman Henry Cuellar in CD-28, and his campaign still
had an $80,000 debt. Now, with the court-ordered redrawn lines
of several districts, Rodriguez filed earlier this month to run
in CD-23 against Congressman Henry Bonilla (R). To Rodriguez's
surprise, other Dems did not hand him a clear shot at Bonilla.
Instead, five other Dems also filed to run against Bonilla in
the November special election. Speaking to the AFL-CIO on Wednesday
night, Rodriguez "I'm not going to be running and that's
my decision based on family and personal reasons" Then, on
Thursday, Rodriguez's spokeswoman said Rodriguez was "only
considering his options and has not dropped out of the race,"
reported CQPolitics.com. She said people had pledged money to
the campaign and reduced his debt to just $7,000. "I think
it makes him look very indecisive and I have to wonder what kind
of leadership he's trying to convey," said a spokesman for
Bonilla. Rodriguez promises to make a final decision by the end
of this week.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.01.06 | Permalink
|
ALASKA:
FBI RAIDS SIX STATE LEGISLATIVE OFFICES IN CORRUPTION PROBE.
The FBI on Thursday raided the offices of at least six state legislators
as part of an ongoing corruption probe. According to the AP, the
federal agents executed the warrants searching for evidence of
unlawful gifts and others ties "between the legislators and
[VECO], a large oil field services company." The six legislators:
State Senate President Ben Stevens (R), Senate Rules Committee
Chair John Cowdery (R), State Senator Donald Olson (D), State
Representative Bruce Weyhrauch (R), State Representative Vic Kohring
(R) and State Representative Pete Kott (R). "This morning,
investigators from the FBI interviewed me in my office regarding
an investigation of VECO," said Kohring, who said he is fully
cooperating and believes he is not a target. The other five declined
to comment. Stevens is the son of US Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK).
The AP reports the FBI agents were seen leaving the various offices
carrying boxes of seized items.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.01.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
TGIF!
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 09.01.06 | Permalink
|
WANNA
TRADE?
Apropos of nothing above, I'm interested in building up my collection
of Canadian campaign buttons. If you've got Canadian political
buttons to
trade, I'm interesting in swapping with you for some great US
pins. Please drop me
a note!
SEND
A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
Here's my open offer for every campaign (and campaign supporter):
send me a button or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional,
Statewide Office, etc., campaign you are involved in -- feel free
to add a sticker and brochure -- and I'll place a link to official
campaign site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you"
note. My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33301.
Ney
(R-OH) -- former Chair of the House Administration Committee --
reached a plea bargain deal with federal prosecutors in which
he will plead guilty to at least one felony corruption charge.
Expect Ney's resignation to immediately follow the guilty plea.
Corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff and three other lobbyists -- including
Ney’s former chief-of-staff -- already pled guilty to criminal
charges in the case. Ney's guilty plea is imminent, possibly coming
as soon as Friday. In fact, the newspaper reported Ney canceled
a plan for him to plead guilty on Thursday because he feared it
would have interfered with the special GOP primary election to
select a replacement nominee for him. State Senator Joy Padgett,
Ney's endorsed candidate, won Thursday's primary (see below).
Ney skipped all House floor votes on Wednesday and Thursday, reportedly
because he was tied-up in making the plea deal. With all these
guilty pleas from Abramoff and his corrupt cadre of political
associates, other Abramoff "friends" like 
MISSOURI
- US SENATE: State Auditor Claire McCaskill (D) - 45%,
US Senator Jim Talent (R) - 42%. (Rasmussen Reports).
John
McCain, Lindsey Graham, and John Warner of the Armed Services
Committee for drafting a terrorism tribunal bill to protect the
rights of "War on Terror" detainees.
The bill -- which passed the committee Thursday by a 15-9 vote
over loud objections from the White House -- would block the Bush
Administration's repeated attempts to weaken the legal protections
guaranteed all prisoners of war under Article III of the Geneva
Convention. Article III prohibits all forms of torture on prisoners
of war. The committee's bill would also permit terror suspects
to view the classified evidence prosecutors plan to use against
them in trial, something the White House strongly opposes. Former
Bush Administration Secretary of State Colin Powell unexpectedly
waded into the controversy Thursday morning by sending McCain
a letter endorsing his efforts. "The world is beginning to
doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism. To redefine
Common Article III would add to those doubts. Furthermore, it
would put our own troops at risk," wrote Powell, who is also
a retired four-star Army General. President Bush, Vice President
Cheney and Bush political guru Karl Rove all traveled to Capitol
Hill on Thursday to personally lobby against the McCain-Graham-Warner
bill. One Bush ally, US Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, hinted
to reporters he may simply ignore the committee's vote and instead
bring the Bush Administration's version to the floor for a vote.
offer
for every campaign (and campaign supporter): send me a button
or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional, Statewide
Office, etc., campaign you are involved in -- feel free to add
a sticker and brochure -- and I'll place a link to official campaign
site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you" note.
My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33301. OUR THANKS TODAY GO OUT TO: Constitution Party
activist Glenn Brown of Michigan, who sent us pins for
Congressman 
US Senator Lincoln Chafee survive a bruising primary challenge
from populist arch-conservative Cranston Mayor Steve Laffey. Chafee
-- virtually a poster child for the right-wing epithet of "RINO"
-- is one of the most liberal Republicans in Congress. From flirting
with switching parties a few years ago to announcing in 2004 he
did not vote for President Bush, Chafee is a regular annoyance
to the Bush Administration. Despite this, the NRSC invested heavily
in saving Chafee in the primary because polls showed Chafee was
the only Republican who had any chance of winning in November.
The anti-tax Club for Growth spent liberally in support of Laffey,
but in the end it wasn't enough. Chafee defeated Laffey by a 54%
to 46% vote. Former Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse won the
Dem nomination in a landslide and will face Chafee in November.
Chafee-Whitehouse race rating: Toss-Up. In CD-2, pro-life Congressman
Jim Langevin (D) easily deflected a primary challenge from liberal
college professor Jennifer Lawless by a 24-point margin.
With
two-thirds of the votes counted, Congressman Ben Cardin moved
over to a solid lead over former NAACP President Kweisi Mfume
in the Democratic primary to replace retiring US Senator Paul
Sarbanes (D). Cardin had 47% to Mfume's 37%. Lieutenant Governor
Michael Steele won the GOP primary for US Senate, capturing 87%
against nine opponents. Cardin-Steele race rating: Leans Dem.
Cardin's open CD-3 was another crowded race. With 63% of the vote
counted, attorney/congressional scion John Sarbanes appeared to
be winning with 32%, versus Baltimore Health Commissioner Peter
Beilenson at 25% and State Senator Paula Hollinger at 22%. The
CD-3 seat is safely Dem. In CD-4, progressive challenger Donna
Edwards was trailing pro-business Congressman Al Wynn by 12-points,
with 53% of the vote tabulated.
82-year-old State Comptroller (and former Governor) Don Schaefer
was in last place in his Dem renomination primary, trailing by
a few points, but the race was still too close to call at 1:00
am.
Keith
Ellison won the crowded seven-candidate DFL primary with 41%,
followed by former Sabo chief of staff Mike Erlandson at 31% and
former State Senator Ember Reichgott Junge third with 21%. Ellison
overcame attacks about his former -- and later abandoned -- affiliation
with the Nation of Islam (before Ellison became a more mainstream
Muslim). As a candidate, Ellison positioned himself as a progressive
who is staunchly anti-Iraq War, pro-choice, pro-gay rights, and
pro-universal health care. The district is solidly Democratic,
so Ellison is assured of becoming the first African-American elected
to Congress from Minnesota and the first Muslim-American to ever
serve in Congress. Meanwhile, there were no surprises in the statewide
contests. Governor Tim Pawlenty (R), Attorney General Mike Hatch
(DFL) and former State Finance Commissioner Peter Hutchinson (Independence)
each won lopsided victories in their respective gubernatorial
primaries.
most
watched Arizona races were the very competitive primaries for
retiring Congressman Jim Kolbe's open CD-8 seat. With over 90%
of the vote counted, hardcore conservative former State Representative
Randy Graf apparently defeated centrist State Representative Steve
Huffman by a vote of 43-37 in the GOP primary. Graf is an ally
of anti-immigration Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO). The NRCC
and Kolbe both endorsed Huffman as the most electable GOP candidate
in this swing district, arguing Graf was far too conservative
to win in November. Other centrists in the primary split Huffman's
base, allowing Graf to edge into the lead. On the Democratic side,
former State Senator Gabrielle Giffords won 55% of the vote against
five opponents. Her closest opponent -- retired local TV news
anchor Patty Weiss -- lagged 24-points behind. If Graf's lead
holds, move the Graf-Giffords race into the Leans Dem category.
Bradley
(R) and CD-2 Congressman Charlie Bass (R) each cruised to landslide
primary victories. In CD-1, Democratic activist and peace candidate
Carol Shea-Porter defeated State House Minority Leader Jim Craig
by a margin of 18-points in an upset.
Joe
Lieberman (Independent) - 51%, businessman Ned Lamont (D) - 38%,
former State Representative Alan Schlesinger (R) - 7%, Others
- 1%. (WABC-TV/SurveyUSA).
Pawlenty
(R),
Attorney General Mike Hatch (DFL) and former State Finance Commissioner
Peter Hutchinson (Independence) will cruise to easy victories
in their respective gubernatorial primaries. Ditto for Congressman
Mark Kennedy (R) and Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar (DFL)
in the US Senate primaries. In the race for retiring Congressman
Martin Olav Sabo's open CD-5 seat, the winner of the DFL primary
will win this safe Dem seat. Eight Democrats are competing in
the CD-5 primary, but only three of them have a shot at winning:
State Representative Keith Ellison, former State Senator Ember
Reichgott Junge and former Sabo Chief of Staff Mike Erlandson.
Ellison, the DFL-endorsed candidate, would be the first Muslim
elected to Congress if he wins. ERJ, a '98 candidate for Attorney
General, is the only woman in the crowded field. Erlandson, the
former DFL State Chairman, is Sabo's endorsed candidate. Just
a hunch, but I'd peg Erlandson to win the primary.
Kerry
Healey (R) is unlikely to defeat any of the Democrats running
for Governor, the Democratic primary will likely decide who will
succeed outgoing Governor Mitt Romney (R). Attorney General Tom
Reilly started the race as the solid frontrunner, but his inept
campaign was able to largely squander Reilly's early advantage
over the past few months. Former US Assistant Attorney General
Deval Patrick -- the most liberal candidate in the race -- won
the party's endorsement at the state convention a few months ago.
Venture capitalist Chris Gabrieli jumped into the contest late
after he became annoyed with how Reilly publicly toyed with selecting
him as a runningmate before tapping someone else. Polls show Patrick
and Gabrieli both running ahead of Reilly -- and have Gabrieli
performing best against Healey in November -- but look for Patrick
to win the primary with the help of an energized liberal base.
Wealthy businessman Christy Mihos (Independent) and others are
also running for Governor. Dems will also see a competitive primary
for Lieutenant Governor. Republicans have an inconsequential two-man
primary for US Senator, as seven-term incumbent Ted Kennedy (D)
is safe.
Former
Vice President Al Gore (D) on
Sunday seemed to slightly reverse his previous statements expressing
total disinterest in running for President in 2008, slightly opening
the door to making a third White House. While on On a trip to
Australia to promote his environmental film An Inconvenient
Truth, Gore said "I haven't completely ruled out running
for President again in the future, but I don't expect to ... I
offer the explanation not as an effort to be coy or clever. It's
just the internal shifting of gears after being in politics almost
30 years." Those words are certainly going to encourage the
folks who believe Gore is the only Democrat capable of defeating
US Senator Hillary Clinton for the 2008 Democratic Presidential
nomination.
US
Senator Hillary Clinton - 88%, peace activist Jonathan Tasini
- 10%. (WNBC/Marist College).
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to
the Wall Street Journal, FBI agents are investigation if
the wife of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) was
paid $115,000 for a purportedly "no-show" job with a
DC lobbying firm. The firm -- Alexander Strategies -- was run
by former DeLay aide Tony Rudy, who already pled guilty to felony
corruption charges tied to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Rudy,
who is now cooperating with federal agents, admitted in court
he accepted bribes while he worked for DeLay and later conspired
to bribe other congressmen when he was a lobbyist. According to
the newspaper, "investigators also asked about $144,000 that
Mrs. DeLay received from one of Mr. DeLay's fund-raising committees,
the Americans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee,
which was housed at the lobbying firm's offices." Mrs. DeLay
was a "key adviser to her husband and her employment at Armpac
and Alexander Strategy was real and valuable," explained
a DeLay family spokesman.
times
over the next month. Yup, eleven debates! Congresswoman Thelma
Drake (R-VA) started challenging her opponent to debates back
in June. Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and his challenger
Patrick Murphy -- an Iraq War veteran -- already debated four
times. Now comes the news Fitzpatrick is insisting Murphy agree
to a series of additional debates. Most amusingly was the recent
debate between Congressman Mike Sodrel (R-IN) and former Congressman
Baron Hill (D-IN). The two argued about holding more debates during
their first debate, with the challenger saying he would not agree
to additional meetings unless Sodrel would agree that each debate
would focus in detail on separate and specific issues. By contrast,
Congressman Leonard Boswell (D-IA) has not agreed to any debates
against State Senate President Jeff Lamberti (R-IA). For now,
Boswell is non-committal about participated in a single televised
October debate.
In Illinois, Congresswoman Melissa Bean (D) already held the fourth
and final agreed debate with wealthy challenger David McSweeney
(R) this week -- held in the summer before most voters even started
paying attention to the race -- and with no debates during the
remaining two months.
The
latest example is the post-primary statement issued Wednesday
by primary candidate, wealthy developer and former GHW Bush Administration
official Peter Monroe. Here are just a few excerpts from his written
statement: "Yesterday, Florida Republicans selected Katherine
Harris as their nominee to take on Senator Bill Nelson this November.
Name recognition, no matter how unfavorable, trumped substance
and character ... To date, I have supported all Republican nominees.
I fully and enthusiastically support [Governor nominee] Charlie
Crist, [Attorney General nominee] Bill McCollum and [State CFO
nominee] Tom Lee. However, I cannot support Katherine Harris as
the Republican Party's nominee. Her anti-Semitic statements made
to the Florida Baptist Witness were the last straw in a string
of misdeeds during our race. They are indicative of a person who
is unfit to serve in public office ... She is an embarrassment
to Florida, the Republican Party, our nation, and herself."
It goes on, but that gives you the flavor of it. By contrast --
despite the bitter nature of the GOP gubernatorial contest --
primary loser Tom Gallagher plans to campaign with winner Charlie
Crist on Friday. No such public rapprochement yet from the Democratic
gubernatorial candidates.
Gallagher's
repeated social conservative attacks on Crist for purportedly
being a moderate never inflicted any significant damage on the
frontrunner. Instead, the attacks probably made Crist stronger
going into the general election by bolstering his credentials
as a centrist. The Democratic slugfest was equally nasty, although
the punches were more personal in nature by impugning each other's
political integrity. The vote was also much closer than the Republican
contest, with Congressman Jim Davis defeating State Senator Rod
Smith by a vote of 47% to 41%. GOP primary turnout also outpaced
the Democratic total. Both nominees must now designate Lieutenant
Governor runningmates, decisions that could nominally influence
the outcome in a close race. 
Congressman
Ric Keller (R) easily turned back an aggressive primary foe in
CD-8, winning in a 3-to-1 landslide. Business consultant Charlie
Stuart won the Dem primary in CD-8, but Keller will be favored
in November. State Representative Gus Bilirakis scored an easy
win in the CD-9 GOP primary -- but will face a fairly competitive
challenge from former Hillsborough County Commissioner Phyllis
Busansky (D). FYI: The hottest US House race in the state in November
was not even on the primary ballot: the CD-22 fight between 13-term
Congressman Clay Shaw (R) and State Senator Ron Klein (D). To
date, Shaw raised $3.4 million and Klein raised $2.8 million --
making Klein the best financed challenger in the nation. Shaw
continues to make the pitch to voters he needs to be reelected
because he's going to be the next Ways & Means Committee Chair,
even though House insiders unanimously agree Congressman Jim McCrery
(R-LA) is a lock to win the powerful gavel. 
FLORIDA
- US SENATE: US Senator Bill Nelson (D) - 57%, Congresswoman
Katherine Harris (R) - 34%. (Rasmussen Reports).
Crist
-- who does in fact support civil unions, "a path to citizenship"
for many illegal aliens, and opposes overturning Roe v. Wade
-- has countered with TV spots describing himself as a "NRA-endorsed,
positive, pro-life, Ronald Reagan Republican." Crist also
hit Gallagher as a former pro-choice GOP centrist who entirely
reinvented himself for his third primary run for Governor. Although
Gallagher picked up endorsements from lots of prominent Religious
Right activists, look for Crist to win by at least 10 points.
By contrast, the Democratic primary was a nearly invisible affair
until the last few weeks. That's when State Senator Rod Smith
-- with nearly $2 million in TV assistance from 527-groups controlled
by the "Big Sugar" Everglades polluters -- started blasting
away at Congressman Jim Davis. Smith attacked Davis for missing
key votes, failing to show up in July to cast a vote for a House
resolution condemning Hezbollah, and for voting against a restitution
package for two black men who had been railroaded and sent to
death row on murder charges before being released and vindicated
many years later. Polls show a close race, but Davis seems able
to fend off the barrage and win by several points. Governor Race
Rating: Leans GOP. In the GOP race for US Senate, Congresswoman
Katherine Harris will win the nomination despite possibly setting
an all-time record for most gaffes committed in a single campaign.
Democrats will rejoice, because it places US Senator Bill Nelson
in the "Safe DEM" category and places Harris as the
top name on all November ballots statewide. The Democratic primary
for Davis's open CD-11 seat will largely decide the November winner,
as the seat skews heavily Dem. Hillsborough County Commissioner
Kathy Castor -- the daughter of 2004 US Senate nominee Betty Castor
(D) -- appears to hold a commanding lead in CD-11 over her four
primary opponents. In CD-13 -- the race for Harris' House seat
-- wealthy auto dealer Vern Buchanan (R) is breaking records by
spending over $4.1 million in the primary. Banker Tramm Hudson
isn't exactly a pauper, either, as he's spent over $1.1 million
thus far in the GOP primary. State Representatives Donna Clarke
and Nancy Detert and former State Representative Mark Flanagan
are also competing in the primary. Buchanan's obscene level of
spending should help him secure a plurality victory. Two Democrats
-- banker Christine Jennings and attorney Jan Schneider -- are
also in a hot primary fight in CD-13. Other races to watch include
the Dem primary in CD-8 and the GOP primary in CD-9 (where State
Representative Gus Bilirakis moves one step closer to his Dad's
open seat).
ILLINOIS
- GOVERNOR: Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) - 47%, State
Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka (R) - 39%, attorney Rich Whitney (Green)
- 2%. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch/Research 2000).
