• Committees: Fundraising numbers for the committees for the month of February came out yesterday and today:
The NRSC raised $2.87 million, ending with $1.05 million CoH and $2.7 million in debt (down from $4 million in debt last month).
The DSCC also raised $2.87 million, ending with $3.07 million CoH and $10.9 million in debt.
The NRCC raised $2.03 million, ending with $1.85 million CoH and $6.4 million in debt.
The DCCC won the month, raising $3.5 million, ending with $2.9 million CoH and $15 million in debt.
• MN-Sen: Is there finally a light at the tunnel at the end of the interminable legal battle? Norm Coleman’s attorney said in a radio interview that he’s “done,” and that when the three-judge panel is done reviewing the count, Franken is still likely to be ahead, although he still plans on a “quick appeal.”
• CA-10: More clarity in the field in the upcoming special election: assemblyman Tom Torlakson, who was considered one of the two likely contenders for the seat, won’t run. He was already in the process of running for state superintendent of public instruction, and will continue with that instead. This leaves a clearer path for state senator Mark DeSaulnier, although assemblywoman Joan Buchanan is also interested.
• MI-Gov: Venture capitalist (i.e. rich guy) Rick Snyder is looking to join the crowded GOP field for the 2010 governor’s race. At least six names have been floated for this race or are already running. (D)
• SC-Gov: Inez Tenenbaum, the highest-profile Dem considering the South Carolina governor’s race (she was superintendent of public instruction for two terms and was competitive against Jim DeMint in the 2004 Senate race), has declined to run for governor. State senator Vincent Sheheen is the only Dem in the race so far, although others interested include state house minority leader Harry Ott, state senators Brad Hutto and Robert Ford, and Charleston attorney Mullins McLeod.
• SC-03: Republican state senator Shane Massey is the first to jump into fray to succeed Gresham Barrett, who’s running for the open SC governor’s seat. No Dems have stepped up yet in this dark-red district.
• PA-15: Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan met with Allyson Schwartz in Washington this week to discuss a possible bid against GOP Rep. Charlie Dent. Unfortunately for Democrats, Callahan says he’s “not interested” in the race at this point. And so the search for a viable candidate in this competitive district continues… (J)
I have no doubt in my mind that we are going to have a very good year in 2012 when Obama’s operation is out there, but if anything is going to screw up 2010 for us it is simply Democrats not coming out to vote against Republicans the way they did the past two cycles.
Making Rush Limbaugh a laughingstock helps, but national Democrats need to get serious about telling everyone why we need more Democrats in office. The fact that we seem to barely have control over a Senate split 58-41 is embarrassing.
btw, Dent and Gerlach really need to go. Those districts are fertile ground for good progressive Democrats. Please no more Bobby Brights.
Anybody considering Easton mayor Sal Panto? I lived there 10 years ago in between his two periods as Mayor and knew the guy. He used to work weekends as a disc jockey so he’s pretty good media wise. He’s definitely partisan and pretty smart (IIRC he’s got an MBA from Lehigh).
The DSCC and DCCC are raising respectable but not amazing sums, and their present debts are about four times monthly takings. I’d like to see that number start to be heavily reduced over the next few months, so that they’re flush again before, rather than during, the busiest parts of the cycle.