What have you got?
Sorry for the relative dry spell around SSP lately. I just started up a new job this week with rather long-ish hours, but I’m still going to work blogging into my schedule.
Discussion Items:
- MN-06: Dean Barkley, the former interim Senator from Minnesota following the death of Paul Wellstone in 2002, is openly mulling a challenge to wingnut Republican Michele Bachmann. Barkley, a three-time Senatorial candidate under the Independence Party banner, says that he would only want to run in a two-way race as an independent with tacit DFL support. Well, Barkley, who played the spoiler in
two successive Senate contestsMN-06 in 1992 and in the 1994 Senate race, is no Bernie Sanders. His kind words for a Fred Thompson Presidency are not exactly inspiring, either. - TN-Sen: DailyKos diarist R o o k has a great piece up commenting on the news that Mike McWherter, son of the popular former Governor Ned McWherter (1987-1995), is considering a run against Republican Lamar! Alexander next year. I’d like to learn more about a potential McWherter candidacy, but I am heartened to hear that this low-radar race may not be given a pass.
- WY-Sen-B: I don’t know if the phrase “the best of a bad lot” is really appropriate here, because Wyoming’s newest Senator, John Barrasso, seems like just another far-right Coke bottle Republican, fresh from the assembly plant. Still, it’s hard to fault Freudenthal for not picking an Abramoff crony or a bitter rival in Barrasso’s place.
I’d hate to see Bachmann’s most serious challanger be something other than a Democrat. Still, if Barkley’s all that comes up, I’m sure he’s better than crazy Michele.
Barkley was not “the spoiler in two successive Senate contests”.
He was probably a spoiler in the 1992 contest for MN-6, when Rod Grams defeated incumbent Congressman Sikorski by 11% (Barkley took 16%).
In 1994, Grams defeated Ann Wynia by 5% in a U.S. Senate Race, with Barkley taking 5% as well. The notion that Barkley drew all of his votes from would-be Wynia supporters does not hold. Indeed, you have pointed out that Barkley is no Bernie Sanders.
As for 1996, Wellstone won his Senate re-election bid easily. I trust you are not claiming Barkley spoiled for Boschwitz, are you? (Neverminding that fact that Wellstone outpolled Boschwitz & Barkley combined).
Not that I support Barkley, but let’s stick with the facts in criticizing him.
http://www.minnesota…
“Barkley added that he would not run as a DFLer, but might run as an Independence Party candidate if the DFL decided not to field a candidate.”
Yeah Dean, I doubt you’re going to get such a huge opening.
I have the CD correct even if I typoed 36 when it should be CD 38 (you are correct). It is Napolitano and the challenger is an Edward Chavez even if it turns out that the Edward Chavez running is not the Mayor of Stockton.
http://www.herald-ma…
“Former Cumberland (Md.) Mayor Frank Nethken said he was “driven by the Lord” to run for Congress this fall.
“God told me I’m going to be the next congressman,” Nethken said Monday on the steps of Hagerstown City Hall, where he held a press conference to say he is running as a Republican for Congress in Maryland’s 6th District.”
Well, that slogan is a bit long for a sign.
I posted this very late in last weeks WHat races are you interested in and got no feed back so am reposting this week.
Grace Napolitano is perhaps the least impressive, most uninspiring, and the biggest herd follower in the Hispanic Caucus. She is the only female member to back Joe Baca in the recent sexism dust up with Loretta Sanchez. While her record per say does not demand a primary challenge, if one appears it does warrant mulling over the prospect of opposing Napolitano in th primary.
The reason I bring this all up is apparently Stockton Mayor Edward Chavez is eyeing Napolitano’s Congressional seat in a primary challenge.
I do know that for some time now Napolitano has been on my uninspiring lists of Democrats in the House. What I do not have a good grasp of yet is where Edward Chavez fits on an ideological scale.
Anyone know anything about Stockton California Mayor Edward Chavez?
Grace Napolitano is the representative of CA-38… so MAYBE that’s where some of the confusion is coming from also.
The DCCC needs to target this district. Gilcrest is facing a serious primary challenger in st. Sen. Andrew Miller who has the active backing of former Governor Robert Erlich. It is going to be a blood bath.
The Democrats however face a primary of their own it appears as both Frank Kratovil and Chris Robinson are seeking the nomination.
So this district should be high on everyone’s watch list.