October 2008 – Page 36 – Swing State Project

GA-Sen: Still Close

SurveyUSA (10/11-12, likely voters, 9/28-29 in parens):

Jim Martin (D): 43 (44)

Saxby Chambliss (R-inc): 46 (46)

Allen Buckley (L): 6 (5)

(MoE: ±3.8%)

Hot damn! Things are still awfully close in Georgia. Ladies and gentlemen, if you were thinking of donating to Jim Martin but haven’t done so yet, today’s your last chance to double your money. DavidNYC will be matching up to $500 in donations made on SSP’s Actblue page, and we still have a ways to go before we make SSP’s Blogfather pony up every cent.

Let’s help Jim Martin close the gap.

Bonus finding: McCain leads Obama by 51-43 according to the same poll.

(H/T: RandySF)

UPDATE: We only need another $200 or so before DavidNYC kicks in with his match. Who will put us over the top?

NC-Sen: Hagan Leads by 5 in New Internal Poll

Anzalone Liszt for Kay Hagan (10/5-9, likely voters, 9/21 in parens):

Kay Hagan (D): 44 (43)

Elizabeth Dole (R-inc): 39 (38)

Chris Cole (L): 5

Undecided: 12

(MoE: ±3.6%)

Hagan is weathering a barrage of hits from the GOP lately, but her numbers are holding. And check this out:

The narratives that have taken hold in this race are ominous for Dole. By almost a 2:1 margin, voters say that Dole doesn’t spend enough time in North Carolina (50% agree / 27% disagree). And just 46% agree that Dole is effective, while 44% disagree.

A pair of other polls were released in recent days from this race: WSOC-TV gave Hagan a bare 44-43 lead, while Civitas had Hagan ahead by 45-42 — the first time that Hagan has ever posted a lead from that pollster.

The full polling memo is available below the fold.

NC-SEN: Dole Now Spending Own Money

Either Liddy DOle is running out of money or she is just getting outgunned. Either way, she has now resorted to spending her own money, according to the Charlotte News and Observor.

Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole says she is spending some of her own money on her first reelection bid, trying to offset millions of dollars in negative spending Democrats have used to make the race one of the closest in the country.

Dole and her campaign declined to say how much she has pledged to her campaign, but the commitment came recently enough that it won’t appear in campaign finance reports due this week.

“You get such a lot coming at you and spending a great deal of time raising money — there just comes a point when you feel like you need to put some skin in the game,” Dole said.

A spokesman for Dole’s campaign, Dan McLagan, said Sunday that Dole has raised more than $3 million in the quarter ending Sept. 30. He declined to provide a number for cash-on-hand. The campaign of Dole’s Democratic challenger, state Sen. Kay Hagan, also declined Sunday to provide details of her financial resources.

Yeah, I think this one’s over.

GA-Sen: Money Where My Mouth Is

Enough talking the talk – time to walk the walk. Here’s the deal, folks: I am going to donate $500 to Jim Martin’s campaign today. The catch is that this is a match – if SSP readers pony up $500 of your own today, then you’ll get double your value, since I’ll come in on top of that with $500 from my own checkbook.

Because I have faith in you guys, we’re gonna up the goal one last time, to $4600 – the equivalent of a very generous patron giving a double-max donation to the Martin campaign. Martin undoubtedly didn’t get too many double-maxes, seeing as he didn’t get much buzz until very recently. But we can make up that gap.

So please – give today. Your money will go twice as far, and Jim Martin needs every penny he can get.

AK-Sen, MN-Sen: SSP Moves Both Races to “Tossup”

A few days ago, SSP changed its ratings of the Alaska and Minnesota Senate contests, but we didn’t get the chance to write about these moves until now. Let’s take a look.

Alaska (Stevens): Lean Democratic to Tossup

After Ted Stevens was indicted in July, we moved our rating of this race from Lean Republican to Tossup, and again a week later to Lean Democratic. However, recent polls and events at Stevens’ trial are forcing us to backtrack here.

After enjoying a brief bounce in the polls with the news of Stevens’ indictment, Begich’s numbers have come back down to earth, with one Rasmussen poll even showing Stevens taking a marginal lead. There’s no denying that Stevens is an institution within Alaska, and it’s not surprising that many voters feel reluctant to dump a man who has been representing the state in Washington for 40 years.

But most unsettling to us is what appears to be a very bungled prosecution of Stevens by the Feds. Due to sheer (willful?) mismanagement, Stevens’ federal prosecutors have seen key evidence been thrown out by Judge Emmet Sullivan, and stomach-turning fuck-ups like this one:

“Jurors will be instructed that the government presented evidence to those jurors that the government knew was not true,” Judge Sullivan told both sides this afternoon.

It would be no shock if Stevens received a full acquittal, which would be a huge boost to his re-election chances. That turn of events might not be fatal for Begich, but it would make this race significantly harder. With the trial’s outcome so uncertain, we no longer see a clear edge for Begich in this race.

Minnesota (Coleman): Lean Republican to Tossup

There’s no question that Al Franken had a pretty rough summer. He was put on the defensive for income tax snafus, off-color jokes cherry-picked from his long career as a comedian, and his temperament as a radio host. Lately, though, it seems that Norm Coleman is the one on the defensive — not only for his party label during a time of economic crisis, but also for a steady drip, drip of ethical woes (including shopping sprees at Neiman Marcus on the dime of one of his lobbyist pals).

Some recent polls have shown a lot of volatility, and the three most recent surveys all give leads of varying sizes to Franken. But one thing is also clear: Dean Barkley has emerged as a real spoiler in this race, consistently gobbling up a share of the vote in the mid-to-high teens in the polls — and at least some polling suggests that Barkley is cutting deeper into Coleman’s share of the pie than he is against Franken’s.

Perhaps sensing real danger, Coleman has made the move of pulling all of his negative ads from the airwaves. It remains to be seen whether this turns out to be too little, too late, but it is an indication that Coleman feels the need for a major strategic reorientation.

Independent Expenditure Roundup: 10/6-12

A round-up of all the major House race Independent Expenditures field in the last seven days:

District	Incumbent	Group	Last Week	Total
AK-AL	Young	DCCC	$798,068	$965,980
AK-AL	Young	DWAF	–	$25,000
AL-02	Open	DCCC	$148,169	$420,136
AL-02	Open	NRCC	$84,316	$96,316
AL-05	Open	DCCC	$117,129	$408,700
AL-05	Open	NRCC	$113,353	$113,353
AZ-01	Open	DCCC	$248,207	$973,544
AZ-03	Shadegg	DCCC	$309,689	$697,548
AZ-05	Mitchell	DCCC	$256,884	$965,046
AZ-08	Giffords	DCCC	$115,324	$318,037
CA-11	McNerney	DCCC	$14,049	$208,102
CA-11	McNerney	NARPAC	$258,251	$720,695
CO-04	Musgrave	DCCC	$32,896	$70,233
CO-04	Musgrave	DWAF	$665,000	$916,974
CO-04	Musgrave	EMILY	$82,057	$82,057
CT-04	Shays	DCCC	$179,113	$648,948
CT-04	Shays	NARPAC	–	$505,670
FL-13	Buchanan	EMILY	–	$19,000
FL-16	Mahoney	DCCC	$9,729	$431,095
FL-24	Feeney	DCCC	$268,606	$484,026
FL-24	Feeney	CFG	$166,875	$166,875
ID-01	Sali	DCCC	–	$11,475
ID-01	Sali	NRCC	–	$18,500
IL-10	Kirk	DCCC	$86,800	$405,612
IL-11	Open	DCCC	$109,211	$710,024
IL-11	Open	EMILY	$46,012	$162,185
IN-09	Hill	DCCC	$195,485	$413,716
KS-02	Boyda	CULAC	$78,883	$78,883
KY-02	Open	DCCC	$162,387	$382,957
LA-06	Cazayoux	Grigsby	$34,502	$34,502
LA-06	Cazayoux	DCCC	$186,520	$442,151
LA-06	Cazayoux	NRCC	$62,230	$62,230
MD-01	Open	DCCC	$245,565	$637,110
MD-01	Open	CFG	$209,940	$209,940
MI-07	Walberg	DCCC	$172,031	$437,800
MI-07	Walberg	AFSCME	$500,000	$500,000
MI-07	Walberg	NRCC	$262,019	$307,994
MI-07	Walberg	CFG	–	$189,942
MI-09	Knollenberg	SEIU	$15,771	$77,866
MI-09	Knollenberg	DCCC	$268,166	$643,659
MI-09	Knollenberg	NARPAC	–	$533,760
MN-03	Open	DCCC	$278,785	$904,339
MO-06	Graves	DCCC	$206,998	$233,510
MO-09	Open	DCCC	$114,552	$207,258
MO-09	Open	CULAC	$17,130	$17,130
MS-01	Childers	DCCC	$11,600	$29,265
NC-08	Hayes	DCCC	$310,205	$920,669
NH-01	Shea-Porter	DCCC	$367,810	$1,061,849
NJ-03	Open	DCCC	$136,931	$525,874
NJ-03	Open	NRCC	$93,665	$164,916
NJ-07	Open	DCCC	$160,125	$874,509
NM-01	Open	DCCC	$191,189	$866,421
NM-02	Open	DCCC	$204,415	$464,432
NV-03	Porter	DCCC	$244,051	$612,661
NV-03	Porter	NRCC	–	$15,046
NY-26	Open	DCCC	$264,697	$554,247
NY-29	Kuhl	DCCC	–	$8,576
OH-01	Chabot	SEIU	$18,625	$91,076
OH-01	Chabot	DCCC	$298,659	$692,560
OH-01	Chabot	NRCC	$396,160	$396,160
OH-02	Schmidt	NRCC	–	$11,000
OH-15	Open	DCCC	$227,371	$1,031,337
OH-15	Open	EMILY	$41,551	$51,646
OH-15	Open	NRCC	$45,705	$73,131
OH-16	Open	DCCC	$232,831	$1,035,229
PA-03	English	DCCC	$183,076	$599,418
PA-03	English	NRCC	$123,574	$301,212
PA-03	English	AMAPAC	$155,335	$155,335
PA-10	Carney	DCCC	$215,438	$520,324
PA-11	Kanjorski	DCCC	$199,098	$690,359
PA-11	Kanjorski	NARPAC	–	$1,037,000
TX-22	Lampson	DCCC	–	$382,682
TX-23	Rodriguez	DCCC	$115,915	$299,964
TX-23	Rodriguez	NARPAC	$126,682	$593,770
VA-02	Drake	SEIU	–	$150,000
VA-02	Drake	DCCC	$173,724	$173,724
VA-11	Open	DCCC	$127,343	$549,345
VA-11	Open	NARPAC	$324,000	$324,000
WA-08	Reichert	DCCC	$235,640	$254,692
WI-08	Kagen	DCCC	$119,708	$275,037
WI-08	Kagen	AMAPAC	$16,800	$16,800
WI-08	Kagen	NRCC	$148,580	$284,982
WV-02	Capito	NARPAC	$436,000	$436,000
		Total Blue	$11,032,386	$30,075,951
		Total Red	$3,203,457	$4,436,307

As always, this total does not include expenditures from 501(c)(4) groups like Freedom’s Crotch (who have spent a few million bucks against Democrats in a handful of districts) and the Dem-allied Majority Action. The NRA and a few other groups are making some very piddly expenditures in a few races (the NRA on billboards in about a dozen contested districts), but they’re not included in this roundup for the sake of brevity. More details are available at SSP’s Independent Expenditure Tracker.

GA-Sen: Off the Charts

Check this out:

When we first kicked off this push, we set a goal of raising $2,300 for Jim Martin — a goal that you guys quickly smashed apart. We then raised the stakes to $3,000, and this community blew through that benchmark in just a few hours. It’s quite clear that we weren’t being ambitious enough.

So, what do you say? Can we raise $4,000 for Jim Martin, who is currently in a dead heat with Saxby Chambliss in the polls?

I think we can. Let’s do this thing!

NV-03: Porter Leads by 3 in New Poll

Mason-Dixon for the Las Vegas Review-Journal (10/8-9, likely voters, 6/9-11 in parens):

Dina Titus (D): 40 (42)

Jon Porter (R-inc): 43 (45)

Other: 4

Undecided: 13

(MoE: ±6.4%)

The last couple of polls we’ve seen from this district, both of them Anzalone Liszt internals from July and September, have both shown Titus leading by four and nine points, respectively. (Even Porter’s own internal poll showed him leading by only a 41-39 margin.)

The best news for Porter in this poll is Titus’ favorability rating, which clocks in at 37-46 (compared to 40-34). The RGJ speculates that Porter’s hits against Titus are giving him the same kind of traction that Jim Gibbons got in his gubernatorial campaign against Titus in 2006. In the latest Anzalone poll of this race, those numbers were flipped: Titus had a 50-37 favorable score, while Porter was only at 44-41.

In any case, no incumbent is in a good position at 43% in the polls, and Porter will have to slog this one out on his own for a little while before the NRCC kicks in on his behalf.

SSP currently rates this race as a Tossup.

Bonus finding: Obama leads McCain by 47-45 statewide.

House Ratings – Seats Switching and Shifting Rapidly

(Editors’ Note: These are NOT the Swing State Project’s official race ratings. There has been some confusion on this point in the past. SSP’s official House race ratings can be found here.)

Since the economic crisis has nullified the social issue agenda, more Republican incumbents are becoming vulnerable. More seats (101 Republican seats in total or half of the entire Republican caucus) are at risk of being pink ticketed. The downward trend in the stock market, gas shortages in the South, Obama’s surging campaign, voter registration favoring Democrats, and the bailout bill have all contributed to the addition of even more Republicans to the “at risk” list.

Based on this model if the election were held today, Republicans would lose 23 seats, with an additional 18 seats in the extremely vulnerable column. The likelihood of Republicans losing 40 or more seats on election night is highly probable, yet thirty seats is more less a guarantee. Races in the Likely/Leans or Leans/Toss Up are the races considered likely to have the most momentum in the final two weeks.

Each rating shows the current incumbent followed by state, district, and the current party controlling the seat. A double asterick represents a Democratic gain. (Following the ratings is an explanation detailing the few recent Republican additions to the list).

Only two Democrat, Nick Lampson and Tim Mahoney, are considered likely to lose their seat. The next five vulnerable Democrats are: Cazayoux, Boyda, Shea-Porter, Carney, and Kanjorski.

Here are the ratings:

Republican Favored (Seats considered to be at risk based on known factor)

Dreier (CA-26 Rep)

Bono (CA-45 Rep)

Rohrbacher (CA-46 Rep)

Bilbray (CA-50 Rep)

Open Seat (CA-52 Rep)

Lamborn (CO-5 Rep)

Crenshaw (FL-4 Rep)

Brown-Waite (FL-5 Rep)

Stearns (FL-6 Rep)

Putnam (FL-12 Rep)

Kingston (GA-1 Rep)

Westmoreland (GA-3 Rep)

Linder (GA-7 Rep)

Biggert (IL-13 Rep)

Buyer (IN-4 Rep)

Latham (IA-4 Rep)

King (IA-5 Rep)

Scalise (LA-1 Rep)

Bartlett (MD-6 Rep)

Camp (MI-4 Rep)

Rogers (MI-8 Rep)

McCotter (MI-11 Rep)

Kline (MN-2 Rep)

Akin (MO-2 Rep)

Rehberg (MT-AL Rep)

LoBiondo (NJ-2 Rep)

Foxx (NC-5 Rep)

McHenry (NC-10 Rep)

Tiberi (OH-12 Rep)

Open Seat (PA-5 Rep)

Pitts (PA-16 Rep)

Wilson (SC-2 Rep)

Sessions (TX-32 Rep)

Hastings (WA-4 Rep)

Likely/Favored Republican (Seats considered vulnerable previously, yet less vulnerable now)

King (NY-3 Rep)

Turner (OH-3 Rep)

Open Seat (OH-7 Rep)

Murphy (PA-18 Rep)

Likely Republican (Seats considered vulnerable)

Rogers (AL-3 Rep)

Castle (DE-AL Rep)

Young (FL-10 Rep)

Buchanan (FL-13 Rep)

Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18 Rep)

Roskam (IL-6 Rep)

Open Seat (IL-18 Rep)

Boustany (LA-7 Rep)

LaTourette (OH-14 Rep)

Brown (SC-1 Rep)

McCaul (TX-10 Rep)

Goode (VA-5 Rep)

Capito (WV-2 Rep)

Likely/Leans Republican (Seats which were previously vulnerable, yet are becoming even more vulnerable)

Lungren (CA-3 Rep)

Bachmann (MN-6 Rep)

Terry (NE-2 Rep)

Heller (NV-2 Rep)

Garrett (NJ-5 Rep)

Gerlach (PA-6 Rep)

Dent (PA-15 Rep)

Culberson (TX-7 Rep)

Wolf (VA-10 Rep)

Leans Republican (Extremely vulnerable)

Shadegg (AZ-3 Rep)

Open Seat (CA-4 Rep)

Mahoney (FL-16 Dem)

Diaz-Balart, Mario (FL-25 Rep)

Souder (IN-3 Rep)

Open Seat (MO-9 Rep)

Drake (VA-2 Rep)

Leans Republican/Toss Up (Extremely vulnerable seats constantly shifting between Toss Up and Leans Republican)

Shays (CT-4 Rep)

Open Seat (KY-2 Rep)

Open Seat (NM-2 Rep)

Open Seat (NY-26 Rep)

Lampson (TX-22 Dem)

Reichert (WA-8 Rep)

Open Seat (WY-AL Rep)

Toss Up (Top Tier Races)

Open Seat (AL-2 Rep)

Kirk (IL-10 Rep)

Cazayoux (LA-6 Dem)

Open Seat (MD-1 Rep)

Graves (MO-6 Rep)

Schmidt (OH-2 Rep)

Open Seat (OH-16 Rep)

Toss Up/Leans Dem (Extremely vulnerable seats showing recent shifts from Toss Up to Leans Democrat)

Keller (FL-8 Rep) **

Diaz-Balart, Lincoln (FL-21 Rep) **

Boyda (KS-2 Dem)

Open Seat (MN-3 Rep) **

Shea-Porter (NH-1 Dem)

Open Seat (NJ-3 Rep) **

Carney (PA-10 Dem)

Leans Democrat (Extremely vulnerable)

Young (AK-AL Rep) **

Musgrave (CO-4 Rep) **

Feeney (FL-24 Rep) **

Marshall (GA-8 Dem)

Sali (ID-1 Rep) **

Open Seat (IL-11 Rep) **

Walberg (MI-7 Rep) **

Knollenberg (MI-9 Rep) **

Porter (NV-3 Rep) **

Open Seat (NJ-7 Rep) **

Open Seat (NM-1 Rep) **

Gillibrand (NY-20 Dem)

Open Seat (NY-25 Rep) **

Kuhl (NY-29 Rep) **

Hayes (NC-8 Rep) **

Chabot (OH-1 Rep) **

Open Seat (OH-15 Rep) **

English (PA-3 Rep) **

Kanjorski (PA-11 Dem)

Open Seat (VA-11 Rep) **

Kagen (WI-8 Dem)

Leans/Likely Democrat (Seats which were previously vulnerable, yet are becoming less vulnerable)

Open Seat (OR-5 Dem)

Likely Democrat (Seats considered vulnerable)

Open Seat (AL-5 Dem)

Open Seat (AZ-1 Rep) **

Mitchell (AZ-5 Dem)

Giffords (AZ-8 Dem)

McNerney (CA-11 Dem)

Foster (IL-14 Dem)

Hill (IN-9 Dem)

Moore (KS-3 Dem)

Walz (MN-1 Dem)

Childers (MS-1 Dem)

Arcuri (NY-24 Dem)

Altmire (PA-4 Dem)

Sestak (PA-7 Dem)

Murphy (PA-8 Dem)

Democrat Favored (Seats considered to be at risk based on known factor)

Murphy (CT-5 Dem)

Bean (IL-8 Dem)

Yarmuth (KY-3 Dem)

Hodes (NH-2 Dem)

Bishop (NY-1 Dem)

Open Seat (NY-13 Rep) **

Hall (NY-19 Dem)

Pomeroy (ND-AL Dem)

Space (OH-18 Dem)

Davis (TN-4 Dem)

Rodriguez (TX-23 Dem)

Meet a few of the NEW additions:

Adam “Howdy Doody” Putnam (FL-12th)

Putnam has been part of the Republican leadership for the past eight years. His district has also grown more Democratic, in large part to the growing Hispanic population of Poinciana and the college student population of Temple Terrace. Senior citizens (aka: those that lost large investments courteousy of Putnam tailoring the Republican agenda) compose a large percentage of the population within the district. Lakeland, the stomping ground of former Governor Lawton Chiles, is the epicenter of the district. To Howdy Doody’s disadvantage, Democrats have a 20,000 voter registration advantage over Republicans. However, to his advantage, or to the dismay of Polk County Democrats, a strong Democratic challenger had not stepped forward to challenge Howdy Doody. Democrat Doug Tudor has attacked Putnam for vacationing in Nantucket, yet with very few funds in the bank, Tudor will have a hard time getting his message out. His only hope, which is probable due to Putnam’s position in the Republican caucus, is to hope that Democrats and independents vote against Putnam, thereby giving Tudor their vote.

Michael Castle (DE-AL)

Castle is the most noticeable recruiting failure on the part of the DCCC. The state is largely Democratic, 46% of the electorate is registered as Democrats. Working against Castle are several factors: Bush (the obvious), age (that which took down Sen. Roth in the past), a large African-American population, and the likelihood that turnout, including a large percentage of registered Democrats, will indeed turnout to vote. The economic crisis also spells trouble for the state since they are largely dependent on banks incorporating within the state due to lax banking laws. Castle normally takes 68% of the electorate on average, yet whether or not a solid Democratic electorate votes straight party is something which remains to be seen.

Lynn Westmoreland (GA-3)

Recently Westmoreland created controvery when he used a word which many took to be racist. However, one should not worry, this is the same Westmoreland that wanted to mandate the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools, yet when appearing on the Colbert Report, he struggled to even name one. Westmoreland’s district is 17% minority and he should not have a hard time losing at least 99.99% of them. However, the recent gas shortages in Georgia led many in the public to blame public officials for the crisis. This in part could be a contributing factor in the narrowing of the US Senate race here. While Westmoreland is likely to prevail against his poorly funded Democratic challenger, forcing him to stay home and learn the Ten Commandments may be worthwhile.

Joe Wilson (SC-2)

The demographics of the district are starting to pose a challenge. Recent registration numbers indicate that 27% of the electorate is non-Caucasian. Furthermore, Wilson’s challenger is Rob Miller, an Iraq War veteran. Miller has managed to raise considerable funds in his quest to defeat Wilson, coming rather close in individual donations, yet still giving Wilson an advantage, courteousy of PAC’s. Should the African-American electorate deliver, then Miller only needs a quarter of the Caucasian vote in order to defeat Wilson, not a difficult task, yet one which may require more attacks on Wilson. Making the argument that Bush and Wilson’s high gas prices and free trade policies were contributing factors to the economic collapse (who said you have to tell the truth in politics, especially in SC, where religion triumps the issues at times) may be convincing.

Danny Rehberg (MT-AL)

Only in Big Sky Country have things seem to have gone the opposite direction. The Republican Senate candidate wants to nationalize the oil companies, end the war in Iraq, and dissolve the US Congress in its current form. The Democratic candidate against Rehberg hasn’t been much different. He too wants to end the war in Iraq, but he also doesn’t want to spend a single dime winning the election, vowing to prove that office can be won without spending a single cent. To the surprise of many, including the DCCC, John Driscoll won the House primary against a challenger whom actually spent money. Driscoll’s message may resonate with voters, yet it would be the first of its kind if he did indeed prevail. The most recent debate between all three candidates (yes there is a Libertarian also), was probably the most civil debate held amongst challengers. All three practically agreed with eachother. In fact, Democratic nominee Driscoll, even pledged to vote for Rehberg in November. However, Rehberg is obviously disillusioned when it comes to the issues facing the country. He stated that the two main issues were health care and illegal immigration (so much for that downward economy). A Driscoll victory, while improbable, simply cannot be ruled out. He’s proven he could win the primary, absent funding, and Rehberg’s proven that he’s been living in a glass bottle for the past eight years.

Pete Sessions (TX-32)

Dallas County has become more friendly to Democrats in recent years. In fact, it has become so friendly that outside groups oppossed to immigration, have stated that 333,000 non-citizens are registered to vote in Texas, including a large number in Dallas County. Of course, the nuts are basing this all on unreliable (non-Census) population projectings over the actual number of registered voters. Obviously, right wingers have concerns. The problem which is finally confronting these radicals is that Hispanics, of which 33% compose the population of Sessions district, are registering in large numbers. However, since they’re Hispanic, it’s assumed they’re illegal according to the loose set of rules established by the right wing racists. It surely takes an elementary education to even believe that illegals are running over the border simply to register to vote. I guess it’s all part of the American dream. Sessions had a rather dismal performance in 2006 and with a Libertarian sharing the ballot, the GOP is once again predicting an equally dismal performance. However, should Sessions lose, then expect Republicans and their radical buddies to blame it on the illegal immigrants.

Doc Hastings (WA-4)

Revelations that Hastings Chief of State pressured the US Attorney to investigate voter fraud in the 2004 gubernatorial race and to share details of the investigation with Hastings office, was sufficient enough for Hastings to be named one of the most corrupt members of Congress. Subsequently, the US Attorney whom was pressured, was fired when he refused to disclose information to Hastings office. For the first time, since the revelation had been disclosed, Hastings stands for re-election. However, Jerry Lewis and Gary Miller, two other corrupt Republicans from California, seemed to have gotten a pass this year. Hastings may also survive, yet his district is less Republican than either of them.

IN-09: McCain-Palin Brand of Hatred Seeping Downticket

After Sarah Palin kicked off the week by calling Barack Obama a friend of terrorists, we saw that her comments succeeded in whipping up the GOP ticket’s supporters into a froth of racial hatred. It was only a matter of time before downballot GOP candidates would take a page from the McCain-Palin playbook and crank up the hate:

[Mike] Sodrel, who faces U.S. Rep. Baron Hill, D-Ind., for a fourth consecutive 9th District election, said he believes Americans face losing liberties gained in the Revolutionary War if Obama defeats Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

Electing Obama also would mean more government regulation and higher taxes, Sodrel said.

“As your (county party) chairman pointed out, we’re in danger of electing a tyrant,” Sodrel said.

“I don’t think he’s a communist; (Karl) Marx said you had to do it with bullets. I think he’s a socialist, and he wants to do it with ballots,” Sodrel said.

And that’s not all — here’s what a sitting Republican Superior Court Justice in Indiana had to say at a recent GOP function, just minutes after Sodrel:

“I just want to point out he’s not a communist. He’s not a socialist. He’s a fascist,” said Superior Court 2 Judge Rod McGillivray, who is running against Democrat Kitty Coriden.

Let’s hope that election night will be an especially long one for these class acts.

(H/T: Blue Indiana)