Month: May 2008

From Roll Call:

Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), who had been widely rumored to be interested in running for governor in 2010, said at a staff meeting this morning that he plans to seek re-election when his term is up in two years.

Isakson’s spokeswoman Sheridan Watson confirmed this afternoon that the first-term Senator told his staff that he wants to remain in the Senate rather than make his second run at the governor’s mansion.

Somewhat surprising, but I’m not sure that this shakes up the 2010 map much at all — Georgia is becoming an increasingly perilous place for statewide Democratic hopefuls, and there is no obvious frontrunner waiting in the wings to take this race on for Team Blue next cycle.

Here’s a further sign that the House Democratic Caucus is taking this open seat race in Mississippi very seriously.  The Politico has the scoop:

Democrat Travis Childers is not yet an elected member of Congress, but party leaders are already keeping a seat on the Agriculture Committee warm for him should he be successful in the Mississippi special election on Tuesday.

Should Childers beat Republican Greg Davis, the newest member of Congress would come to Washington as lawmakers finish work on a massive farm, a bill loaded with subsidies for farmers across the country – including those in the rural parts of the state Childers needs most to pick up the GOP seat. Lawmakers wrapped up work on that farm bill on Thursday, but Childers could still get some easy headlines if Congress approves it next week. It might even be one of his first votes if he wins. […]

A Democratic leadership aide confirmed Thursday that Childers would be appointed to the Agriculture Committee if he wins next week. That news could give him a boost where he needs it most; the Democrat is trying to play the rural parts of the district against the more suburban communities outside Memphis, where Davis resides. Even Republicans have acknowledged their candidate has come from the “wrong” part of the district.

This would be a great gig for Childers, and certainly a boon for Northeast Mississippi.

On another note, we’re only $35 short of $3000 for Travis Childers on our Actblue page.  Will a hero step forward and put us over the top?

Special election: 5/13.

I’ll be up front when I say that I don’t know much about NYC-area politicos beyond Mayor and Congress, but the NY Daily News is reporting that the DCCC is recruiting Assemblyman Mike Cusick to run for what is likely to be an open NY-13 seat.

Crain’s reported this morning that the DCCC has been calling Assemblyman Mike Cusick in hopes of coaxing him into the race. Certain Senate Democrats, meanwhile, are floating Sen. Diane Savino’s name.

Here is what little I could find about Cusick.

Cusick is the son of late New York State Supreme Court Justice Peter P. Cusick and Miriam Cusick and has been a lifelong resident of Staten Island (he currently lives in Silver Lake, Staten Island). He has two brothers.

Shortly after graduating from Villanova University in 1991, Cusick began his career as a Special Assistant to former President of the City Council Andrew J. Stein. He served as the office representative for the Borough of Staten Island and worked on issues regarding incineration and waste management alternatives.

Prior to his 2002 election, Cusick served as the Chief of Staff to former Staten Island Assemblyman Eric N. Vitaliano, managing staff and overseeing the assemblyman’s Albany and Staten Island offices. He was instrumental in researching and developing statewide legislation, including the law to close the Fresh Kills Landfill. Cusick was also Vitaliano’s representative to local and statewide civic, professional, and union organizations on legislative and community issues.

Cusick then served as Director of Constituent Services for U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer. His duties included serving as Senator Schumer’s liaison to New York State elected officials, as well as various federal agencies. In addition, he managed the day-to-day operation of the senator’s New York City office.

Well, based on his background, I don’t think raising money would be a problem for him. What does everyone think?

From the NY Daily News Blog:

National Republican leaders have “lost all faith” in Rep. Vito Fossella and are poised to begin polling in the 13th CD on potential candidates to take his place on the ballot, despite the fact that he has yet to make a definitive statement about his future political plans.

The poll could start as early as today, according to a Washington GOP source, and will likely include at least two names: Sen. Andrew Lanza and Staten Island DA Dan Donovan.

Another national GOP source said Fossella’s fellow House minority members were “shocked” to learn of his “double life,” and his admission that he fathered a child out of wedlock with retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, Laura Fay.

While the Democratic field for this seat includes Brooklynites Stephen Harrison and Domenic Recchia, national Democrats may be looking for an upgrade:

Crain’s reported this morning that the DCCC has been calling Assemblyman Mike Cusick in hopes of coaxing him into the race. Certain Senate Democrats, meanwhile, are floating Sen. Diane Savino’s name.

Cusick hails from Staten, so he’s probably the best bet here.  Savino’s seat is too precious for Senate Democrats, who need two pick-ups this fall in order to take the majority.

Via the NYT, a statement from Vito Fossella:

I have had a relationship with Laura Fay, with whom I have a three-year-old daughter. My personal failings and imperfections have caused enormous pain to the people I love and I am truly sorry. While I understand that there will be many questions, including those about my political future, making any political decisions right now are furthest from my mind. Over the coming weeks and months, I will to continue to do my job and I will work hard to heal the deep wounds I have caused.

Still no official word yet on whether he will resign or retire, as is widely expected.

On the web: Vino Fossella

Update (James): John Boehner is asking Fossella to make a decision on his political future over the weekend.  Will Fossella bother to follow the hapless Boehner’s timetable?  Remember, Rick Renzi flipped the bird to Boehner when he asked the embattled Arizona incumbent to step down earlier this year.

The NRCC posted an additional expenditure of $21,000 in Mississippi today on direct mail and yet another poll.  All told, the NRCC has spent about $50,000 on polling in this district.  Sure doesn’t bode well for Team Red that they haven’t released any toplines from these polls so far.

The DCCC posted another big investment in Mississippi tonight: $195,000.  The expenditures include: $130,000 in media buys, $1200 on phonebanking, $46,000 on direct mail, $12,000 on media production, and $6000 on field organizing for Travis Childers.

The new expenditures bring the total party expenditures in this district to a whopping $1,618,690 for the DCCC, and $1,052,296 for the NRCC.  I’ve also been told that Freedom’s Crotch Watch has spent an estimated $450,000 in media buys here — and possibly more, since they haven’t been posting their electioneering reports as required by law.

If you want to make a contribution to Travis Childers, tonight is the last best time for your money to make an impact.

Special election: 5/13.

In the wake of a red-hot extramarital scandal, the Washington Post’s Mary Ann Akers picks up the inside buzz that this term will be Staten Island Republican Vito Fossella’s last:

The consensus on Capitol Hill is: Vito is finito.

The clock is ticking on Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) — or “Vino” Fossella, as the New York tabloids have taken to calling him — who is battling not just drunken driving charges but much more personally scandalous allegations that could damage his party’s prospects in the November congressional elections.

GOP political insiders say Fossella, whose blood-alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit when he was busted at 12:15 a.m. last Thursday, stands little chance of running for reelection at this point, and their Democratic counterparts agree. Buzz on the Hill and around town Wednesday was that Fossella would be announcing sooner rather than later that he won’t seek another term in what has quickly become a hotly contested seat for embattled Republicans. Fossella was not voting in the House Wednesday. […]

GOP aides speaking on the condition of anonymity said they expected Fossella would announce imminently that he won’t seek reelection. But Fossella spokesman Craig Donner tells the Sleuth that no announcement or press conference is planned.

The last thing that the GOP needs is an open seat battle in this D+0.8 district.  On both a macro and a micro level, this year is shaping up to be a major disaster for the GOP.

(H/T: RandySF)

The Washington Post blog is running with a report that Vito Fossella will not seek re-election.

GOP aides speaking on the condition of anonymity said they expected Fossella would announce imminently that he won’t seek reelection. But Fossella spokesman Craig Donner tells the Sleuth that no announcement or press conference is planned.

It looks to me like national Republicans are doing what they can to push him out sooner rather than later. In any case, he is damaged goods and they are looking to make a fresh start. We are going to have an open seat on our hands and we better recruit vert quickly.

[crossposted in part at Loaded Orygun, Oregon’s progressive community…]

Not having a second home or Chuck Schumer to rely on, yesterday Steve Novick made one more personal appeal to supporters in the primary, giving the whip to Seabiscuit as it were: help me close strong.

It sure is working; the Novick campaign today announced a quadfecta of eye-raising numbers for the supposed underdog:

• Over $1 million now raised for the cycle
• Just under $139,000 in April, a monthly pace 21% higher than for the three months of Q1 (which itself was 57% higher than Q4 last year)
• A whopping $30,000 raised just since MONDAY.
• Over $500,000 raised so far via ActBlue

From the campaign:

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Steve Novick's campaign announced today that it raised $138,983.98 in April 2008, passing the $1 million mark to raise $1,028,435.94 the election cycle.

"Our fundraising continued to accelerate in April with the vast majority of our support coming from right here in the state of Oregon," said Jake Weigler, Novick campaign manager. "We've proven that a grassroots campaign can attract the other green stuff too."

Novick's contributions continued to come overwhelmingly from Oregon, with $107,819.68 (77.5 percent) coming from within the state. Overall, 963 contributors gave to the campaign in April, 817 from Oregon. Previously, in the first quarter of 2008, Novick outraised primary opponent Jeff Merkley by 42 percent in itemized contributions from Oregon ($187,722.92 to $131,734.16).  

Novick also continues to receive substantial online support from netroots donors. The campaign has raised over $30,000 online since Monday, bringing the total raised through the online Democratic clearinghouse ActBlue to over $500,000. Novick is currently the third highest U.S. Senate candidate in the nation on ActBlue, behind only Mark Warner of Virginia and Rick Noriega of Texas.

"When you look at how far Steve and the campaign have come, it is a rather remarkable journey," said Weigler. "He entered this race as an underdog placeholder. Today he's raised over $1 million and continues to lead in every public poll in the race.  People across Oregon are ready for a principled progressive who isn't afraid to tell the truth about what it will take to turn our country around."

[emph mine]

With fewer than two weeks until ballots are counted, money for advertising and GOTV is crucial. Also valuable as information, is the fundraising appeal power of the candidates with an eye towards the general election. Looks like there’s a late kick going on at the Novick camp.

Mitch over at The Thorn Papers has been kind enough to capture and upload the latest DCCC ads in Mississippi. Check ’em out:

SSP’s Actblue Page

Update: The DCCC has filed yet another complaint with the FEC against Freedom’s Watch:

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is accusing Freedom’s Watch of failing to disclose more than $600,000 worth of television ads in Louisiana and Mississippi special elections.

In a Federal Election Commission complaint filed Wednesday, the DCCC alleges that the outside conservative group “aired multiple electioneering communications without filing reports with the commission,” specifically television spots starting April 22 and April 29 that “clearly identified, and advocated the defeat” of now-Rep. Don Cazayoux (D-La.).

Cazayoux defeated ex-state Rep. Woody Jenkins (R) last Saturday in a special election to replace retired Rep. Richard Baker (R-La.).

The DCCC also alleges a similar misdeed by Freedom’s Watch in neighboring Mississippi, where “on May 2nd, Freedom’s Watch began to air a television advertisement that clearly identified, and advocates the defeat of, Congressional candidate Travis Childers (D).”