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Monday, January 23, 2006

Weekly Open Thread: What Races Are You Interested In?

Posted by DavidNYC

I see that a new (big) name has jumped into the AZ-08 Dem primary (this is the race to replace outgoing Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe): TV anchor Patty Weiss, who is apparently well-known in the district. While there are a lot of candidates running, Weiss's entry primarily sets up a showdown between her and state Sen. Gabrielle Giffords, the other major challenger. (Weiss even went so far as to pay for a poll running her & Giffords's name against the main Republican challenger, Randy Graf.)

Anyhow, what else is going on? New announcements, dropouts, what have you?

Posted at 10:00 AM in Open Threads | Technorati

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Comments

NC Robin Hayes.
I'm interested that I'm not hearing much - anything from a person there?

Posted by: chuckles at January 22, 2006 01:25 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I like how Henry Cuellar (TX-28) continues to insist he's a Democrat despite all the evidence to the contrary...

Posted by: Andre Pineda at January 22, 2006 02:01 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

The NV Senate race will be interesting. Jack Carter has a great new op-ed up on his website, and he will announce his official entry into the race on Feb 6.

(Disclaimer: Jack Carter is my Dad.)

Posted by: Sarah R Carter at January 22, 2006 08:03 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

PA-Sen, Casey leads Santorum by 15. This is a slightly greater lead than most recent polls have shown, and on Friday Casey assured supporters via conference call that Santorum's connection the K Street Project would be a focus of this campaign.

Posted by: Craig McLaughlin at January 22, 2006 08:29 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Sarah...are there any Jack Carter Buttons or Bumperstickers available?

Posted by: DFLer22 at January 22, 2006 10:00 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I live in Virginia's 5th CD, where Republican rubber stamp and MZM lackey Virgil Goode has consistently won re-election by 65% of the vote or more. This guy used to be a Democrat, but he switched parties for a seat on the appropriations committee.

Bern Ewert is the newcomer, Al Weed (whom I am helping to build a netroots campaign: any advice is welcome, michael snook gmail com) ran last time. From the first debate of the primary race, it is clear that Bern would move to the center on every issue on the table, while Al is taking a decisive and unapologetic stand for what he (and probably Bern too, to his credit) believes in.

Al wants out of Iraq, universal health care, equal rights for gays, investment in bio-fuels. Bern wants a time-table for Iraq, uses the DLC's phrase "affordable health care", believes marriage is between a man and a woman, and doesn't think biofuels are realistic.

If Bern got the nomination, I have full confidence in his ability (given the current political landscape) to improve 5 points or so on the last time around, but he'd still lose 41-59. Al is playing at that dangerous game of "changing minds," and maybe it won't work, but if it does, he might actually win.

Posted by: mikesnoo at January 22, 2006 10:09 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

No, there aren't any Carter for Nevada buttons or bumperstickers yet -- we'll get them ready pretty soon, though.

Sarah

Posted by: Sarah R Carter at January 22, 2006 10:31 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

It's been a week or two, but one of the two Dems looking to take on Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA) dropped out: Randy Gordon, a Bellevue lawyer. I'm glad about this, because the other candidate, Darcy Burner, a former Microsoft exec from Carnation, is stronger and has raised more money. I'd love to see Gordon run for some other office, however, like state rep or county council. But it's nice for Darcy to be able to focus her attacks on Reichert himself.

Posted by: Lorax at January 22, 2006 10:32 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

"Republican rubber stamp"

I coined 'Rubber stamp Republican' in a sparsely-read diary of mine.

Either one would work.

Posted by: RBH at January 22, 2006 10:49 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

PA-08

“Fighting Dem” Patrick Murphy’s campaign gets a gift as story breaks in local paper about his opponent Mike Fitzpatrick’s ties to the Abramoff scandal.

The front page of The Bucks County Courier Times on Sunday contained a huge front-page photo and three page spread detailing how Fitzpatrick raised over $200,000 from PACs linked to Abramoff. In an attempt to stay clean from the scandal Fitzpatrick has already given around $21,500 of funds received from PACs led by Ney, Cunningham and Delay. However I think the recent revelations of over $200,00 having ties to Abramoff will make the dirty money a little harder to give away. This story is also important because this incumbent has always been a golden boy to the local newspaper. This front cover multi page spread reflects the turning of the tide felt all around the country.

With this scandal growing larger every day the Republicans have tossed up a nice underhand pitch, lets just make sure we hit it out of the park.

Posted by: Buckscountydem at January 22, 2006 10:52 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

That sound you heard was me laughing to myself over that Fitzpatrick story.

If this string of events doesn't make you believe in some sort of karma, what will?

Over here in the Missouri/Kansas area, all seems quiet, except for signs of a close race between McCaskill and Talent.

The lack of overtly stupid things coming from the Republican General Assembly will end soon. I'm sure the Republicans will do something else to really screw up things.

For one thing, they could seriously pass that bill banning the sale of cold beer in grocery stores.

Posted by: RBH at January 22, 2006 11:01 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I'm guessing the big news today will be Pete McCloskey's announcement that he's running in the GOP primary against bucket-o-slime Dick Pombo up in the Stockton area of California. I'm not as fast to dismiss McCloskey's chances of knocking off DeLay clone Pombo as most other prognosticators are. This CD isn't as hard right as people think and it's getting more moderate all the time. People really are embarrassed to have Pombo as a congressman and if McCloskey can put up any kind of a fight, he really could take Pombo out. If not... he'll certainly soften him up for McNerney.

Posted by: DownWithTyranny at January 23, 2006 09:58 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Randy Graf held a press conference last week to highlight endorsements from Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo and over half of the Arizona State Legislature.

I have not heard much of Don Goldwater lately. A few weeks ago there was a major change in the campaign as several members were let go and replaced. Until then I was getting regular updates from the Goldwater people.

I will send off some emails today and get updates if possible though. I know that there is no way the Arizona press will give any more coverage to either of these two than they have to.

Posted by: Rick M at January 23, 2006 12:12 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

We've added a web-exclusive tv ad at Rick Penberthy's (D-05, FL) website. View at RickForCongress.com

Posted by: RickForCongress at January 23, 2006 12:20 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I'm interested in the Rhode Island senate race. I haven't heard of any new polling in a long while and i belive that in order for the Democrats to win back the Majority we must defeat Chafee.

Posted by: D in FL. at January 23, 2006 09:59 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

PA -- Latest poll out today shows Casey's lead slipping down to ten points . . . . this from a high of 18.

Casey has a history of losing big leads and Santorum a history of coming from behind.

The Santorum problem is exacerbated by the shoving of this candidate down the throats of the PA Dems. There is no daylight between Casey and Santorum on key issues (reproductive rights and Iraq to name two). Polls also show that when pro-choice voters (nearly 70% of Casey's support) are informed of his rigid anti-choice stance, Casey loses his lead over Santorum.

The Dems haven't won a regular Senate election in over 40 years. Maybe it's time to stop trying to win on name and money alone. Let's try putting up some candidates who will vigorously promote traditional Democratic values.

Posted by: Tom at January 25, 2006 12:18 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

who do you think harris wofford was? a flaming liberal, lost to santorum in 94

Posted by: yomoma2424 at January 25, 2006 03:58 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Well, that was a thoughtful post yo. But if you recall, 1994 was the midterm debacle when the Ds were roundly outsted. It was also in the last Century. This year we have an election that is winnable -- but not with BCJr, who has already lost half his lead over Santorum.

1994 also confirms that the National Democratic power brokers still haven't a clue how to win a Senate seat in Pennsylvania. In a state where the majority of voters are pro-choice and are without faith in our Iraq policies, it is, at the least, weak-minded to put up a candidate who agrees with Santorum on those and most other hot-button issues.

Posted by: Tom at January 26, 2006 12:36 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

yes but you forget that most pro choice voters arent single issues ones like pro life ones are. Pro choicers often vote for the pro life republican over other issues. Pro lifers rarely do the same. Plus the issue of incumbency with santorum, a D like Barbara Hafer would probably be running neck and neck but lose in the end

Posted by: yomoma2424 at January 26, 2006 03:06 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment