National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn met today with Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), and intends on supporting him as the congressman strongly considers a run for the Senate in New York.
“Senator Cornyn believes Peter King would be a very formidable candidate. He believes the seat could be in play, and is prepared to commit the resources to win the seat,” said a senior Republican aide familiar with the meeting.
A source close to King confirmed that the congressman is strongly considering running for the Senate. He is expected to make a final decision whether to run “soon after” Gov. David Paterson appoints a successor for Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat.
As uphill a fight as this might be, I could see King doing this for the same reason guys like Zach Wamp, Adam Putnam, and Pete Hoekstra are all making similar moves: being a House Republican sucks right now, and for the foreseeable future. King also has an additional fire that’s slowly broiling his ass – he’s almost sure to face some unfriendly redistricting in two years’ time.
While I think King would get walloped by almost any Dem, it’s possible a not-ready-for-primetime Caroline Kennedy could be potentially vulnerable. And even she would still be the odds-on favorite. What’s more, this race will cost a fortune, and I really doubt John Cornyn can spare the resources when there are many better targets out there.
Still, it would be fun to watch, and would create a great open-seat race for King’s NY-03 House seat.
He probably thinks his district is going to get removed (New York is losing a House seat, and from what I know, there is a good case [that’s not partisan] that Long Island is the place that should lose the seat).
Just Endangered Republican incumbents already syphoning Cornyn’s moneybags. Burr is going to need help. Bunning is going to need help. If Sebelius runs for KY-Sen he may need to spend money there. Recruitment will probably determine Florida… Ohio, Missouri, etc.
And I pictured something along the lines of Burger King’s mascot in a room with Cornyn.
Somehow, that seemed less ridiculous than I thought.
Caroline by double-digits. Probably a 56-44 type of race.
Beyond that what are their realistic targets? Colorado and Nevada and thats about it unless Hoeven runs in North Dakota.