Tag: 2010 Statewide Recruitment

GOP Sen. Judd Gregg says that he’ll run again in 2010, although our friends at the indispensable Blue Hampshire aren’t convinced of his sincerity. While Gov. John Lynch would top many lists of “dream candidates” to take on Gregg, this scenario doesn’t seem especially likely. Who else could or should run against Gregg? And in the event of a Gregg retirement, who do you see stepping up for the GOP?  

GOP Sen. Richard Burr holds North Carolina’s supposedly “cursed” Senate seat — one that has switched parties every time its been up for election starting from 1974 onward. That’s no guarantee that Burr won’t break the curse in 2010, but he certainly starts the cycle with a big target on his back. Who would you like to see run against him?

UPDATE by Crisitunity:

PPP (12/8-9, registered voters)

Roy Cooper (D): 39

Richard Burr (R-inc): 34

(MoE: ±3.9%)

Speak of the devil: PPP shows up with a poll of one of the likeliest matchups: Burr vs. Attorney General Roy Cooper. The news is very good, with Cooper holding a five-point lead (albeit with huge undecideds). Burr also sports a downright awful approve/disapprove at 32/31, while Cooper clocks in at 44/23.

Tim Pawlenty may or may not run for a glorious third term as the top dog in Minnesota. Who would you like to see run against him (or against his successor)?

Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm of Michigan is term-limited out of the governor’s mansion in 2010. Who should run in her place? And who will step forward for the GOP?

Democratic Gov. John Baldacci of Maine is term-limited out of the governor’s office next year. Who should run in his place? And who will the GOP nominate here?

Feel free to dig deep.

Who should run against “Diaper” Dave Vitter in 2010?

Jim Bunning swears he’ll run again. After his nearly disastrous re-election campaign in 2004, when Democrat Dan Mongiardo (allegedly one of “Saddam Hussein’s sons“) nearly toppled him, even as Bush won the state by almost 20 points.

Who would you like to see run against Bunning in 2010? Luckily, we are blessed with a fairly deep Dem bench in Kentucky, including many statewide officeholders who won by impressive margins in 2007.

GOP Sen. Sam Brownback is retiring from the Senate in 2010, and Dems have one big name on the bench who could actually make a race of his open seat — Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who will be conveniently term-limited out of office that same year. However, Sebelius is also being rumored as a possible Secretary of Labor choice in Obama’s cabinet, and if he makes that move, that would likely take her out of contention. Accepting a Cabinet job and quitting after, say, twelve months to run for elected office again strikes me as something that would probably be frowned upon. (Yes, I’m aware that Mel Martinez and Mike Johanns both pulled this move, but each of those gentlemen served in Bush’s Cabinet for nearly three years each.)

Assuming that Sebelius doesn’t run (for whatever reason), is there anyone on the Dem bench who could make this race interesting? I have my doubts, but anything is possible. On the GOP side of the aisle, 1st CD Rep. Jerry Moran is running, and 2nd CD Rep. Todd Tiahrt could very well join him in a few months. Our best hope here is for a contentious and divisive Republican primary. Don’t let us down, Todd!

As for the Governor’s office, it seems likely that Sam Brownback will run for the seat himself. Are there any Dems who have a prayer against him? Of all the term-limited Democratic gubernatorial seats up in 2010, this one may be the likeliest to slip back into GOP hands.

No one likes Blago, but Blago doesn’t seem to care. So who will run against him in the 2010 Democratic primary? And who should run against him?

And speaking of Blagojevich, soon he will appoint a replacement for Barack Obama in the United States Senate. A lot depends on who exactly he selects, of course, but do you see any notable Republicans taking a stab at the seat in 2010? Mark Kirk, perhaps?

With Republican Gov. Linda Lingle of Hawaii term-limited in 2010, Democrats have a good shot at picking up the Governor’s office next cycle. Who should run for the big job? And who will the Republicans nominate to defend the seat?

Democratic Sen. Dan Inouye will also be up for re-election in 2010, and would be unbeatable if he wanted another term. But Inouye will be 86 that year, and is unsurprisingly the subject of retirement rumors. If he calls it quits, Lingle is obviously the GOP’s best bet to make this a race, but there are several Democrats on the bench who could make strong candidates. Who should run?