Our friends over at Public Policy Polling are once again opening the floor for you to suggest Democratic candidates to include in their 2010 Senate match-up polls of Missouri (Kit Bond) and Ohio (George Voinovich). PPP has previously tested Robin Carnahan and Susan Montee against Bond in Missouri, so it’ll be interesting to see who they’ll choose next. Former Gov. Roger Wilson or Rep. Russ Carnahan, maybe?
In the 2010 race against Ohio Sen. George Voinovich, PPP has previously tested Betty Sutton, Tim Ryan, Mike Coleman, and Jennifer Brunner — all of whom posted competitive numbers. Who should be next?
If you feel so inclined, please swing by Public Policy Polling and drop them a note with your suggestions.
Senator Gephardt has a nice ring to it.
in Ohio — Marcy Kaptur.
in Missouri — as mentioned, Russ Carnahan. Although maybe William Lacy Clay or Emanuel Cleaver? Any chance an African-American could win statewide in Missouri?
How about the guy who was originally recruited to run against Dewine, Paul Hackett.
Ohio-
Tim Ryan- my top choice
Don Plusquellic- only because I happened to meet him in 2003 at a Conference of Mayors meeting at Hofstra University and found him to be a smart guy.
Zack Space?
Missouri-
Robin Carnahan
Russ Carnahan
Susan Montee
he wins bigin rural areas. And, he’s young, he’d be 36. Him or Hackett, though the the similarity between a Hackett/Brown Senator pair would be eerily similar to Metzenbaum/Glenn. Even in that they have bad feelings between them over a primary, both are solid liberals, but one is an old school populist the other a more general democrat, one’s a military man, the other a long time politician. Eeiry similar.
Lietenant Governor Lee Fisher
Congressman Charlie Wilson
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson?
I’d be surprised if our nominees were not Ryan and Carnahan (Robin). I’d also be kinda surprised if either Voinovich or Bond ran for re-election.
Could we be looking at:
Robin Carnahan v. Emerson in Missouri, and
Ryan v. Portman in Ohio?
what about Pennsylvania .. isn’t Snarlin’ Arlen up then?
Carnahans have very good records with statewide races in Missouri, even when deceased. Jean’s defeat by Jim Talent is the family’s only recent loss. Robin has the ambition, but it would be tough losing her as Secretary of State. She has been a reliable trooper in fighting all the vote suppression nonsense the Republicans are constantly pushing in Missouri.
The House delegation doesn’t have any real contenders aside from Russ. Skelton is pretty old and chair of Armed Services in the House, so he’s probably staying there if he doesn’t retire.
I wouldn’t rule out an African-American winning statewide in Missouri, but it would be hard with Clay and Cleaver, who have not had to polish themselves for a statewide race (unlike McCaskill). Cleaver had hometown Sprint’s back on the FISA votes but otherwise is pretty liberal. He’s a great speaker. I saw him up close with Obama and McCaskill at a McCaskill rally in 2006, and I thought he was far more engaging than Obama. There’s just too much fodder for his opponents, who will make issue of his race, his voting record, being mayor of a major city, and so on. His opponent in 2006 left me a voicemail during the campaign about a lesbian wedding he officiated when he was a minister, so that’s already in play.
Regardless of whether Sam Graves surives his race this year, he would be a likely challenger to Bond or in a primary if Bond retires. Graves is not well liked by Bond and the GOP insiders, and his candidacy would probably divide the party. Graves for Senate 2010!