• NRSC/NRCC: The NRSC and NRCC announced yesterday that Alaska governor Sarah Palin would headline their fundraising dinner in June, which is a big ‘get’ since she couldn’t be bothered to come out all the way to DC for CPAC. The Anchorage Daily News then reported that Palin wouldn’t be attending after all. Turns out that one hand of PalinCo doesn’t know what the other is doing… the appearance was arranged through SarahPAC, while the actual governor’s office had no idea this was happening. The NRCC and NRSC still say “that to their knowledge” she’s still coming.
• SC-01, SC-02: Linda Ketner is sounding a little iffy about a rematch against Henry Brown, worried about diminished African-American turnout in an off-year election (and also the costs; even wealthy philanthropists get hit by the recession). Former state rep. Mike Barber and state rep. Leon Stavrinakis are possibilities if she demurs. Next door, though, Iraq vet Rob Miller has begun fundraising for a rematch against Joe Wilson.
• OR-04: Peter DeFazio may get his first substantive challenger in ages; the GOP is recruiting Springfield (the district’s 2nd largest city) mayor Joe Quimby Sid Leiken to run. While DeFazio would still be a heavy favorite in such a race, he’s been mentioned frequently as a potential 2010 gubernatorial candidate, and in this D+0 district the GOP could be competitive with an open seat.
• VA-02, VA-05, VA-11: Southern Political Report takes a look at potential challengers to the three new Virginia freshmen. In VA-02, the only Republican in the race so far is Chuck Smith, an African-American, former chair of the Virginia Beach GOP, and an ex-Navy JAG, although moderate state senator Ken Stolle and Virginia Beach mayor Will Sessoms are eyeing the race. In VA-11, wealthy businessman Keith Fimian is interested in a rematch, but so is Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity, who recently narrowly lost the special election to replace Gerry Connolly as chairman of the Fairfax County Board.
• CT-Sen: Robbie Simmons may not have the GOP field to himself in his bid to unseat Chris Dodd: CT GOP Chairman Chris Healy tells The Hill that former Ireland Ambassador Tom Foley and state Sen. Sam Caligiuri will also run in the Republican primary. (J)
• AL-02: Add another name to the retread watch — state Rep. Jay Love says he’s considering challenging frosh Dem Rep. Bobby Bright in a rematch next year. Another name tossed around as a potential candidate for the GOP is none other than George Wallace, Jr., who lost an open seat race in this very same district as a Democrat in 1992 to Terry Everett. (J)
but I thought some of you might be interested. We’re putting up Presidential results for Assembly districts in New York City’s five boroughs if anyone’s interested. Queens is up. I’d be happy to share it with Swing State Project if the editors are interested.
As racist as his father? I mean, his father repented at the end of his life. From Jr.’s Wikipedia article, it doesn’t seem like he has.
I know that Wallace apologised for his segregationism in his old age, but he never lost that association. I can’t help but think that the national Republican Party will not be eager to back a candidate who brings up that many associations that will really not aid their brand.
I obviously have no idea how credible a candidate he’d be, but I don’t think they’ll embrace him with open arms.
Bunch of quotes from Tom Davis but nothing from any Democrat. Anyway…
VA-02: Stolle is only a moderate now that the real moderates in the state Senate left or lost primaries in 2007. He’s also considering a run for Virginia Beach Sheriff now that Paul Lanteigne is retiring. Lanteigne, incidentally, is one to watch — he’s well-respected (except by the wingnut base) and seems to be getting the itch to go somewhere else, as he unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination for an open House of Delegates seat a few months back. I’m skeptical of his ability to win a primary against a well-funded right-winger, though.
VA-11: Tom Davis is deluded if he thinks Northern Virginia is going to magically skip back to the Republican fold. I don’t think Connolly is going to be seriously challenged here on out.
NPR: 42-42
Ras: 41-39 GOP
Both likely voters. Is this 1994 all over again?
In both of these polls, independentd are swinging back to the GOP.
One problem is the AIG crisis, though the latest developments are fully reflected in these polls. We need to give a lot more consideration that the fundementals have swung away from the Democrats, and 2010 will be an unfriendly year.