OHIO:
STATE GOP
FIRES CONSULTANT FOR SPREADING STRICKLAND RUMORS.
The Ohio Republican Party fired political
consultant Gary Lankford for using emails to spread rumors that
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ted Strickland and his wife may
be closeted homosexuals in a marriage of convenience, according
to the Toledo Blade. Lankford served as the Ohio GOP's
Social Conservative Coordinator on behalf of Secretary of State
Ken Blackwell's campaign for Governor. Strickland,
in addition to serving in Congress, is also a Methodist minister.
"In no way was I intending to smear him ... [but Strickland
was] making being a Methodist minister and husband an important
part of his qualifications [in his radio ads, so] it seems like
a fair observation," said a not-quite apologetic Lankford.
The State GOP Chair also openly apologized to Strickland for the
"innuendo."
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.31.06 | Permalink
|
BY
THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. TENNESSEE - US SENATE - (Rasmussen
Reports):
Former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker (R) - 49%, Congressman Harold
Ford Jr. (D) - 37%.
Former Congressman Ed Bryant (R) - 44%, Ford (D) - 41%.
Former Congressman Van Hilleary (R) - 44%, Ford (D) - 40%.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.31.06 | Permalink
|
PENNSYLVANIA:
INDY GOV
CANDIDATE FALLING SHORT ON SIGNATURES.
Businessman Russ Diamond (Independent) -- who organized
the popular grassroots organization last year that targeted state
legislative incumbents who pushed through a huge pay hike for
themselves --
will fall far short of the required signatures to secure a November
ballot spot. Diamond must submit at least 67,000 valid voter signatures
by this upcoming Thursday. However, he has only 26,000 verified
signatures to date. "I'm not ready to throw in the towel,
but it's been cleaned and pressed," said Diamond to the Harrisburg
Patriot-News. Diamond noted Government Ed Rendell (D) and
former pro football player Lynn Swann (R) were only required to
collect 2,000 signatures apiece as major party candidates to qualify
for the primary ballot -- even though both were unopposed for
their respective nominations. Diamond's only hope is for a large
volume of volunteer-collected petitions to arrive in his mailbox
over the next few days, but he's not optimistic.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.31.06 | Permalink
|
CONGRESS:
GOP TIES MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE TO ESTATE TAX CUT FOR WEALTHY.
In what could prove big issue in the November
elections, a group of nearly 50 backbench House Republicans successfully
pressed their leadership to hold a floor vote on legislation to
raise the minimum wage. It has been a decade since the last increase
to the current rate of $5.15 per hour -- an amount which places
minimum wage-earning families below the poverty level. After already
raising their own congressional salaries, election-year politics
forced the GOP leadership to allow the vote to increase the wage
to $7.25 in a phased-in process. In return for allowing the minimum
wage vote, the Republican House Leadership insisted the bill be
tied to holding votes on several tax cuts, including eliminating
the inheritance tax on multimillion-dollar estates. The minimum
wage bill -- pegged to the estate tax cut -- passed the House
on Saturday by a 230-180 vote. The bill’s future, however, is
uncertain as it approaches an end-of-session vote in the Senate.
"It's political blackmail to say the only way that minimum wage
workers can get a raise is to give a tax giveaway to the wealthiest
Americans ... Members
of Congress raised their own pay -- no strings attached. Surely,
common decency suggests that minimum wage workers deserve the
same respect," said US Senator Ted Kennedy
(D-MA) to the AP. If tied to further estate tax cuts, the minimum
wage increase appears unlikely to win Senate approval. "The
Senate has rejected fiscally irresponsible estate-tax giveaways
before and will reject them again," said Senate Minority
Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).
Writer:
Andy W. Davis - 07.31.06 | Permalink
|
P2008:
UTAH GOV EXPLAINS SWITCH FROM ROMNEY TO McCAIN.
Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. (R) denied
expressing any interest in a Cabinet post as his motivation for
endorsing US Senator John McCain in his potential 2008 Presidential
bid. Earlier this month Huntsman announced his support for McCain
over Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (R), a fellow Mormon.
Huntsman last year announced his support for Romney. Huntsman,
a former ambassador to Singapore, was advising Romney on Asian
issues. Huntsman defended his subsequent switch by explaining
that he and McCain share similar beliefs on immigration, Iraq,
and land and water issues. However, the primary issue that led
to Huntsman’s decision to support McCain was Iraq and the
War on Terrorism. "We have a lot of brush fires around the
world that I do believe are going to need a clear vision of foreign
policy, defense policy and some military experience," Huntsman
said.
Writer:
Dustin McKissen - 07.31.06 | Permalink
|
CONNECTICUT:
LAMONT, LIEBERMAN EACH SPLIT BIG PAPER ENDORSEMENTS.
The New York Times on Sunday endorsed anti-war
businessman Ned Lamont over US Senator Joe Lieberman in the upcoming
Connecticut Democratic primary. "At this moment, with a Republican
president intent on drastically expanding his powers with the
support of the Republican House and Senate, it is critical that
the minority party serve as a responsible, but vigorous, watchdog.
That does not require shrillness or absolutism. But this is no
time for a man with Mr. Lieberman’s ability to command Republicans’
attention to become their enabler, and embrace a role as the president’s
defender ... [The primary] has become a referendum on his warped
version of bipartisanship, in which the never-ending war on terror
becomes an excuse for silence and inaction," explained the
newspaper.
The blow was cushioned, however, when the Hartford Courant
endorsed Lieberman on Sunday.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.31.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Your space for the rest of the news.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.31.06 | Permalink
|
SEND
A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
Here's my open offer for every campaign (and campaign supporter):
send me a button or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional,
Statewide Office, etc., campaign you are involved in -- feel free
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campaign site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you"
note. My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33301. TODAY'S THANKS GO TO: businesswoman
and radio talk show host Pat
LaMarche, Green Independent Party nominee for Maine Governor.
WEEKEND
OPEN THREAD.
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Talk amongst yourselves, 'cuz I'm spending time down at the beach
this weekend.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.29.06 | Permalink
|
FRIDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
BY
THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. ARKANSAS - GOVERNOR: Attorney
General Mike Beebe (D) - 47%, former Congressman Asa Hutchison
(R) - 40%. (Rasmussen Reports).
CALIFORNIA - GOVERNOR:Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
(R) - 43%, State Treasurer Phil Angelides (D) - 30%, financial
executive Peter Camejo (Green) - 4%, Others - 4%. (Public Policy
Institute of California). GEORGIA - US HOUSE - CD-4:DeKalb County
Commissioner Hank Johnson - 46%, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney
- 21%. (InsiderAdvantage). MICHIGAN - GOVERNOR:Governor Jennifer
Granholm (D) - 47%, businessman Dick DeVos (R) - 44%. (Detroit
News/WXYZ-TV). MICHIGAN - GOVERNOR: DeVos (R) - 48%, Granholm
(D) - 44%. (Strategic Research-R). MICHIGAN - US SENATE - GOP PRIMARY: Oakland County
Sheriff Mike Bouchard - 43%, evangelical bishop Keith Butler -
37%. (Strategic Research-R). MICHIGAN - US SENATE: US Senator Debbie Stabenow
(D) - 52%, Bouchard (R) - 36%. (Strategic Research-R). MICHIGAN - US SENATE: Stabenow (D) - 53%, Butler
(R) - 33%. (Strategic Research-R). VIRGINIA - US SENATE: US Senator George Allen
(R) - 50%, former US Navy Secretary Jim Webb (D) - 39%. (Rasmussen
Reports).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.28.06 | Permalink
|
ARIZONA:
GOV CANDIDATE
IS BOTH RICH MAN, POOR MAN.
GOP gubernatorial candidate Mike Harris has come under
fire regarding questions about his decision to contribute more
than $100,000 of personal money to his campaign. Well self-financing
candidates are fairly common these days, Harris stands out because
this move comes after he successfully convinced a judge to reduce
his child support payments. The Arizona Republic reported
that Harris successfully sought a reduction in his child support
payments by 50%. Arguing that his technology business had suffered
a “significant reduction in income”, Harris was granted
a monthly reduction from $2,000 to $1000, in addition to the requirement
that he provide health insurance to his son. According to the
newspaper, his seven-year-old son remains uninsured despite the
fact that Harris' website claims his company -- Harris Technical
Sales -- has gross sales averaging $18 million a year. Harris
recently joined fellow GOP candidate Gary Tupper in criticizing
incumbent Governor Janet Napolitano (D) with some less-than-subtle
gay baiting. “She’s never been married. She’s
never had children. I don’t think she ever will,”
says Harris daily in his stump speeches.
Writer:
Dustin McKissen - 07.28.06 | Permalink
|
P2008:
"DRAFT SESSIONS" MOVEMENT CRASHES ON TAKE-OFF.
A recent move by a prominent member of the
Alabama GOP State Executive Committee to promote the candidacy
of US Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) for President in 2008 got the
cold shoulder from the state party’s leadership. Hugh McInnish,
an outspoken and occasionally contentious member of the Executive
Committee, proposed a resolution recommending Sessions as an ideal
candidate for President. McInnish lauded Sessions’ stand against
illegal immigration and conservative views in a resolution presented.
"I think the grassroots has been becoming more and more concerned
with illegal immigration and as that concern continues to swell,
by November 2008, it will reach a crescendo and, yes, I think
Jeff Sessions is beautifully positioned to ride that crest,"
McInnish told the Birmingham News. Apparently, the rest
of the ALGOP leadership failed to agree. The resolution was hastily
tabled. McInnish shrugged off the dismissal and noted the "discussion
of the resolution ... served to bring the possibility of Sessions’
candidacy to the fore." The small draft campaign to promote
Sessions appears to be off to a rocky start.
Writer:
Stephen Hill - 07.28.06 | Permalink
|
KENTUCKY:
FLETCHER'S GOP PROBLEMS GROW.
The bad news continues to roll in for Governor
Ernie Fletcher (R). This week his 2003 campaign's state finance
chair jumped into the 2007 primary contest against Fletcher. McCracken
County Board of Education Chair Billy Harper said: "With
all that's gone on, I think Kentuckians need an option, and I'm
willing to be that option.” Two weeks ago, anonymous supporters
of State Representative Lonnie Napier made a big splash when a
Draft Napier
website was unveiled. And -- although the election is still over
a year away -- the voters of Kentucky appear to be done with Fletcher,
as 69% said they "want a new governor" in a recent independent
poll. Democrats appear currently unable to find a suitor to actively
run for Governor, as all potential Democratic candidates are waiting
to see what Congressman Ben Chandler (D) is going to do. Chandler
lost to Fletcher in 2003, but Chandler recently said that while
Fletcher’s political stock continues to drop, his own continues
to rise as voters are feeling a “buyer’s remorse.”
Writer:
Roscoe Mann - 07.28.06 | Permalink
|
ALABAMA:
RETIRED BASKETBALL STAR PONDERS RUN FOR GOV IN '10.
For almost a decade now, most Alabamians
snickered when former Auburn and NBA star Charles Barkley mentioned
running someday for Governor. However, some things seem to have
changed. The Birmingham News reported Barkley again hinted
at a gubernatorial run while speaking recently at a national school
board convention in Florida. Barkley sounded more like a candidate
than ever before. In a surprising statement, Barkley said he was
“…rich like a Republican. But I’m not one.” He explained he recently
switched from Republican to Democrat. Barkley then went on to
bash current Democrats and Republicans for using issues like gay
marriage and illegal immigration to "deceive" voters
-- saying the real issues of education, drugs and crime are most
important for his state. Going further, he blasted affluent whites
for forgetting about poor students. Barkley jabbed at his own
community, too, saying that rap music was a negative influence
on young black men and too many black families do not adequately
value education. "There are places where a black kid who is a
good student and tries to speak correctly, you hear stuff like,
'He's trying to be white.' Well I say, if that's true, we need
more kids trying to be white." Alabama has never yet had an viable
African-American candidate for Governor, despite the state's sizable
black voter population.
Writer:
Andy W. Davis - 07.28.06 | Permalink
|
WASHINGTON:
STATE SUPREME CT RULES AGAINST SAME-SEX
MARRIAGE..
On Wednesday, the Washington State Supreme
Court upheld a state law the defines marriage as a union between
a man and a woman. A group of 19 same-sex couples had challenged
the law, hoping to make Washington the second state in the country
to legalize same-sex marriage. In the 5-4 decision, the court
found that the "legislature was entitled to believe that limiting
marriage to opposite-sex couples furthers the State's legitimate
interests in procreation and the well-being of children." While
it found that the same-sex couples had failed to prove a fundamental
right to marry, Justice Barbara Madsen wrote in the majority opinion
that the legislature "may want to re-examine the impact of the
marriage laws on all citizens of this state." Same-sex marriage
advocates were shocked by the ruling, as they had expected to
prevail.
Writer:
Xander Zebrose - 07.28.06 | Permalink
|
MASSACHUSETTS:
BIG DIG PROBLEMS HELP ROMNEY DUMP FOE.
Amid public backlash following the tragic
death of a passenger due to the partial collapse of a "Big
Dig" tunnel two weeks ago, State Turnpike Authority Chair
Matt Amorello decided to resign this week. At a press conference
shortly after the collapse, Amorello originally said he would
not step down despite heavy pressure from Governor Mitt Romney
(R). "I didn't think it would fix anything or magically make all
the issues associated with the Big Dig go away [by resigning],"
explained Amorello. Romney had pressured Amorello to resign since
taking office in 2003. The Governor then publicly tried to fire
Amorello -- a fellow Republican. Amorello fought back, retaining
attorneys to resist Romney's attempts to dump him. Romney, who
has been criticized by state Dems for being frequently absent
from the state in order to concentrate on a run for President
in 2008. They note Romney was absent from the state when the collapse
happened. However, Romney promptly returned to Boston -- and a
TV video captured him chewing-out Amorello.
Writer:
Keith Sonia - 07.28.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Blah, blah, blah ... whatever.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.28.06 | Permalink
|
SEND
A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
Here's my open offer for every campaign (and campaign supporter):
send me a button or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional,
Statewide Office, etc., campaign you are involved in -- feel free
to add a sticker and brochure -- and I'll place a link to official
campaign site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you"
note. My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33301. TODAY'S THANKS GO TO:Fair
Wisconsin, the group fighting the ballot initiative to
ban same-sex marriage.
THURSDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
HAWAII:
LINGLE LOOKS SAFE AS FILING CLOSES.
Governor Linda Lingle (R) go some
good news when candidate filing closed this week, leaving her
without a major challenger. Former State Senator Randy Iwase appear
likely to capture the Democratic nomination against Lingle, when
all of the bigger names passed on the race. Hawaii County Mayor
Harry Kim (D) announced the day before the close of filing he
appreciated the encouragements from party members, but he declined
to enter the race. Governor Race Rating: Safe GOP. Liberal US
Senator Dan Akaka is facing an aggressive Democratic primary challenge
from centrist Congressman Ed Case. Case argues Akaka is ineffective,
while Akaka's boosters tout his seniority clout and progressive
record. Right now, Akaka appears the frontrunner. On the GOP side,
six unknowns filed for the seat. Congressman Neil Abercrombie
(D) looks safe in CD-1. In the open CD-2 race, 10 Democrats and
two Republicans filed. The seat is heavily Democratic -- and most
of the Dems in the race appear to be potentially viable contenders
-- so keep an eye on this hot primary. Click
here to view all of the Hawaii candidates.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.27.06 | Permalink
|
BY
THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. ALABAMA - GOVERNOR: Governor
Bob Riley (R) - 52%, Lieutenant Governor Lucy Baxley (D) - 38%.
(WKRG-TV/SurveyUSA).
FLORIDA - GOVERNOR - GOP PRIMARY:Attorney General
Charlie Crist - 57%, State CFO Tom Gallagher - 29%. (Strategic
Vision-R). FLORIDA - GOVERNOR - DEM PRIMARY:Congressman
Jim Davis - 40%, State Senator Rod Smith - 35%. (Strategic Vision-R). FLORIDA - GOVERNOR (Strategic Vision-R):
Crist (R) - 49%, Davis (D) - 39%.
Crist (R) - 49%, Smith (D) - 41%.
Gallagher (R) - 40%, Davis (D) - 39%.
Gallagher (R) - 40%, Smith (D) - 40%. FLORIDA - GOVERNOR - GOP PRIMARY:Crist
- 55%, Gallagher - 32%. (Quinnipiac University). FLORIDA - GOVERNOR - DEM PRIMARY:Davis
- 47%, Smith - 19%. (Quinnipiac University). FLORIDA - GOVERNOR: Crist (R) - 44%, Davis (D)
- 38%. (Quinnipiac University), FLORIDA - US SENATE: US Senator Bill Nelson (D)
- 57%, Congresswoman Katherine Harris (R) - 29%. (WESH-TV/Mason-Dixon).
FLORIDA - US SENATE: US Senator Bill Nelson (D) - 60%,
Congresswoman Katherine Harris (R) - 22%. (Strategic Vision-R).
VIRGINIA -CD-5: Congressman Virgil Goode (R) - 59%, winemaker
Al Weed (D) - 35%. (WDBJ-TV/SurveyUSA).
WASHINGTON - US SENATE: US Senator Maria Cantwell (D)
- 48%, insurance executive Mike McGavick (R) - 44%. (Strategic
Vision-R).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.27.06 | Permalink
|
MARYLAND:
STEELE
ADMITS HE WAS THE ANONYMOUS GOP CRITIC IN WaPo STORY.
Maryland Lieutenant Governor
Michael Steel acknowledged he was the Republican candidate quoted
anonymously as saying that being a member of the GOP was like
wearing a "scarlet letter" and that he did not want President
Bush to campaign for him this fall. Steele also voiced objections
to continuing the Iraq War ("It didn't work ... We didn't
prepare for the peace") and the government's response last
year to Hurricane Katrina ("a monumental failure").
In the original Washington Post article Steele was only
referred to as an unnamed "Republican Senate Candidate."
"He realizes that he can't win being a conservative Republican
in Maryland in 2006," said Maryland Democratic Party spokesman
Arthur Harris. Steele's campaign spokesperson responded the quotes
merely show Steele is "independent minded." Polls currently
show Steele trailing the two Democratic frontrunners -- Congressman
Ben Cardin and former Congressman Kweisi Mfume -- by competitive
margins.
Writer:
Xander Zebrose - 07.27.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Last week it was Alabama. This week it was Oklahoma. I missed
this item from yesterday's vote: businessman,
former police officer and grandfather Al
McAffrey won the Dem primary for a seat in the Oklahoma State
House by a 51% to 49% vote. No Republican filed, so McAffrey won
the seat by simply winning the primary -- making McAffrey the
first out gay member of the Oklahoma Legislature.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.27.06 | Permalink
|
SEND
A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
Here's my open offer for every campaign (and campaign supporter):
send me a button or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional,
Statewide Office, etc., campaign you are involved in -- feel free
to add a sticker and brochure -- and I'll place a link to official
campaign site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you"
note. My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33301. TODAY'S THANKS GO TO: Financial broker
and political activist Stan
Vaughan, Democrat for Nevada State Assembly AD-7.
WEDNESDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
BY
THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. CALIFORNIA - GOVERNOR:Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) - 45%, State Treasurer Phil Angelides
(D) - 37%. (Field Poll). FLORIDA - GOVERNOR - GOP PRIMARY:Attorney
General Charlie Crist - 55%, State CFO Tom Gallagher - 24%. (WESH-TV/Mason-Dixon). FLORIDA - GOVERNOR - DEM PRIMARY:Congressman
Jim Davis - 29%, State Senator Rod Smith - 14%. (WESH-TV/Mason-Dixon). ILLINOIS - GOVERNOR: Governor Rod Blagojevich
(D) - 45%, State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka (R) - 34%, "Other"
- 17%. (KSDK-TV/SurveyUSA). INDIANA -CD-2: Attorney Joe Donnelly (D) - 46%,
Congressman Chris Chocola (R) - 41%. (South Bend Tribune/WSBT-TV). KENTUCKY -CD-4: Former Congressman Ken Lucas
(D) - 50%, Congressman Geoff Davis (R) - 41%. (WCPO-TV/SurveyUSA). TEXAS
- GOVERNOR: Governor Rick Perry (R) - 40%, State Comptroller
Carole Keeton Strayhorn (Independent) - 20%, musician/author Kinky
Friedman (Independent) - 19%, former Congressman Chris Bell (D)
- 13%. (Rasmussen Reports).
VIRGINIA -CD-9: Congressman Rick Boucher (D) - 66%, State
Delegate Bill Carrico (R) - 29%. (WDBJ-TV/SurveyUSA).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.26.06 | Permalink
|
OKLAHOMA:
PRIMARY RESULTS.
Governor Brad Henry easily won renomination with 86% in
the Democratic primary. On the GOP side,
Congressman Ernest Istook sailed to a comfortable victory with
56% against three opponents. Wealthy oil executive Bob Sullivan
was Istook's nearest opponent, but finished more than 25-points
behind the primary winner. Independent polls show the conservative
Henry holding a commanding lead over Istook. Governor Rac Rating:
DEM Favored. There were no clear winners in the race for Lieutenant
Governor, with both parties seeing candidates forced into run-offs
on August 22. State House Speaker Todd Hiett and State Senator
Scott Pruitt will meet in the Republican contest, while State
House Minority Leader Jari Askins and former congressional aide
Pete Regan advance in the Dem race. There was an interesting twist
in the GOP primary for State Treasurer. Howard Barnett -- former
Chief of Staff to Governor Frank Keating (R) -- defeated investment
banker Daniel Keating, the former Governor's brother. In the GOP
primary for the CD-5 seat being vacated by Istook -- a safe GOP
seat -- Lieutenant Governor Mary Fallin finished first in the
six-candidate field with 35%. She will advance to the run-off
with Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, who placed a distant second
with 24%. Click here to view all of the Oklahoma
nominees and run-off candidates.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.26.06 | Permalink
|
P2008:
COMIC JUMPS INTO LIBERTARIAN PREZ RACE.
Comedian Doug Stanhope -- of Comedy Central's The Man
Show and Girls Gone Wild video fame -- has announced
he will seek the Libertarian nomination for President in 2008.
"Yes, I am very serious. Most of us know how completely screwed
the system has become. Yet we shrug it off as something to deeply
rooted to change. I'm tired of accepting what we have as the best
we can do and yelling about it in barrooms and comedy clubs isn't
going to force anyone's hand," said Stanhope. He promised on his
MySpace website
that his first official act as President will be to pardon all
non-violent drug offenders. Stanhope, who is known for his sexually-explicit
comedy routines, will likely be the only White House candidate
with an X-rated adult-content official
website. 2004 LP nominee Michael Badnarik is currently running
for Congress in Texas, but has not ruled out making another Presidential
run in 2008. Several other Libertarians have also announced P2008
candidacies.
Writer:
Xander Zebrose - 07.26.06 | Permalink
|
CONGRESS:
FORMER HOUSE ETHICS CHAIR WANTS TO BAN LEADERSHIP PACs.
A surprising statement was inserted in the Congressional
Record by former Ethics Committee Chair Joel Hefley (R-CO),
who was removed from his post by the GOP leadership in 2004 because
of his independence. Embattled
Congressman Alan Mollohan (D-WV) -- who is targeted by Republicans
in his re-election campaign because of ethics problems -- got
unexpected help against the GOP claim Mollohan caused the stalemate
that paralyzed the Ethics Committee during the last two years.
Hefley, who is retiring, stated: "If I had been the ranking member
of the Ethics Committee and the majority party had arbitrarily
and unilaterally changed the rules, I would have had an obligation
to react, just as Representative Mollohan did." Hefley also criticized
changes the GOP leadership made to the structure of the Ethics
Committee that limited their inquiry into the activities of then-Majority
Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX). The same he made his statement, Hefley
introduced legislation to ban sitting federal legislators from
establishing so-called leadership PACs. Hefley's legislation would
give existing leadership PACs a year to give away their money.
Hefley's bill is intended to stop of potential House Committee
chair candidates raising money for colleagues in order to secure
votes in the chair elections in the party caucuses. Hefley lost
a bid in 2002 for House Resources Committee Chair when GOP legislators
instead picked Congressman Richard Pombo (R-CA) -- who had less
seniority than Hefley but donated substantially more money to
GOP House members.
Writer:
Johannes Waldschütz
- 07.26.06 | Permalink |
KANSAS:
CD-3 PRIMARY PREVIEW.
In what is a perennial target district for both national
party organizations, two Republicans competing next week for the
opportunity to face 4-term Congressman Dennis Moore (D) in November.
The long-time GOP frontrunner, State Representative Scott Schwab,
appears to be losing traction to political newcomer Chuck Ahner.
Ahner is a West Point graduate and banker. The Kansas City
Star on Tuesday endorsed Ahner. Two other Republicans are
also running, but have little chance of winning the primary. No
matter whether Schwab or Ahner wins the August 1 primary. either
man will have an uphill battle to unseat the incumbent. Moore
reported nearly $1.6 million raised to date, and still has over
$540,000 cash on hand as of the July reporting period. By contrast,
Ahner has a cash-on-hand of $157,000 (nearly all from his own
pocket) and Schwab a COH tally of only $15,000. However, Republicans
hold a heavy registration advantage in the district, so this district
is always worth watching.
Writer:
Jim Thompson
- 07.26.06 | Permalink |
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Insert random comments here.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.26.06 | Permalink
|
SEND
A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
Here's my open offer for every campaign (and campaign supporter):
send me a button or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional,
Statewide Office, etc., campaign you are involved in -- feel free
to add a sticker and brochure -- and I'll place a link to official
campaign site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you"
note. My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33301. TODAY'S THANKS GO TO: Marketing executive
and former Congressional aide Dan
Seals, Democrat for Congress in Illinois CD-10.
TUESDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
OKLAHOMA:
PRIMARY PREVIEW.
Primary voters cast ballots in the Sooner State on Tuesday.
Governor Brad Henry (D) faces only nominal
primary opposition and is a heavy favorite to win re-election
in November. On the GOP side, frontrunner Congressman Ernest Istook
(R) has failed to solidify the GOP base, and could be embarrassingly
forced into an August 22 run-off with wealthy oil executive Bob
Sullivan. Istook told the Daily Oklahoman he "expects
to win" without a run-off. The open race for Lieutenant Governor
will see competitive primaries in both parties. State House Speaker
Todd Hiett (R) and former congressional aide Pete Regan (D) are
the two frontrunners in their respective Lt Gov primaries. The
other race to watch is the GOP primary for the CD-5 seat being
vacated by Istook. Polls show Lieutenant Governor Mary Fallin,
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett and State Corporation Commissioner
Denise Bode easily leading the six-candidate Republican field.
Look for Fallin and Cornett to advance to the run-off.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.25.06 | Permalink
|
BY
THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. ALASKA - GOVERNOR - DEM PRIMARY:
Former Governor Tony Knowles - 65%, State Representative Eric
Croft - 12%, Others - 2%. (Anchorage Daily News). ALASKA - GOVERNOR - GOP PRIMARY: Former Wasilla
Mayor Sarah Palin - 36%, former State Senator John Binkley - 23%,
Governor Frank Murkowski - 20%. (Anchorage Daily News). MINNESOTA - GOVERNOR: Governor Tim Pawlenty (R)
- 50%, Attorney General Mike Hatch (DFL) - 36%, former State Finance
Commissioner Peter Hutchinson (Independence) - 8%. (KSTP-TV/SurveyUSA). MINNESOTA
- US SENATE: Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar (DFL)
- 47%, Congressman Mark Kennedy (R) - 42%, former public acess
TV executive Robert Fitzgerald (Independence) - 8%. (KSTP-TV/SurveyUSA). NEW YORK - GOVERNOR - DEM PRIMARY: Attorney General
Eliot Spitzer (D) - 78%, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi -
9%. (Siena College). NEW YORK - ATTORNEY GENERAL - DEM PRIMARY: Former
US Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo - 45%, former NYC Public Advocate
Mark Green - 27%, attorney Charlie King - 3%, former Clinton White
House aide Sean Patrick Maloney - 3%. (Siena College). NEW YORK - US SENATE - DEM PRIMARY: US Senator
Hillary Clinton - 79%, labor organizer Jonathan Tasini - 12%.
(Siena College). OKLAHOMA - CD-5 - GOP PRIMARY: Lieutenant Governor
Mary Fallin - 30%, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett - 25%, State
Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode - 24%, State Representative
Kevin Calvey - 9%, State Representative Fred Morgan - 6%, Others
- 4%. (KFOR-TV/SurveyUSA). TENNESSEE - GOVERNOR: Governor Phil Bredesen
(D) - 57%, State Senator Jim Bryson (R) - 24%. (Chattanooga
Times Free Press/Mason-Dixon). TENNESSEE - US SENATE - GOP PRIMARY: Former Chattanooga
Mayor Bob Corker - 39%, former Congressman Ed Bryant - 23%, former
Congressman Van Hilleary - 22%. (Chattanooga Times Free Press/Mason-Dixon). TENNESSEE - US SENATE: Corker (R) - 49%, Congressman
Harold Ford Jr. (D) - 36%. (Chattanooga Times Free Press/Mason-Dixon). TENNESSEE - US SENATE - GOP PRIMARY: Corker -
49%, former Congressman Ed Bryant - 29%, former Congressman Van
Hilleary - 15%. (WBIR-TV/SurveyUSA). TEXAS - US SENATE: US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
(R) - 58%, attorney Barbara Ann Radnofsky (D) - 31%. (Rasmussen
Reports). UTAH - CD-1: Congressman Rob Bishop (R) - 57%,
engineer Steve Olsen (D) - 23%. (Deseret Morning News/KSL-TV). UTAH - CD-2: Congressman Jim Matheson (D) - 64%,
State Representative LaVar Christensen (R) - 23%. (Deseret
Morning News/KSL-TV). UTAH - CD-3: Congressman Chris Cannon (R) - 56%,
attorney Christian Burridge (D) - 24%. (Deseret Morning News/KSL-TV).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.25.06 | Permalink
|
FLORIDA:
ATTY GEN CANDIDATE HAS ABRAMOFF-PROBLEM.
Under a headline "Bad Timing For Lobbyist-Candidate", the
St. Petersberg Times took former
Congressman Bill McCollum (R) to task for his work as a DC lobbyist
for the past five years. Furthermore, the article attempted to
link McCollum to convicted felon and disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
McCollum never did business with Abramoff, but he got $1,000 from
Abramoff in his 2000 US Senate race. Also, two Indian tribes represented
by Abramoff gave $1,000 each to McCollum. Actually, a review of
campaign contributions on www.opensecrets.org
reveals additional $1,000 contributions from Jack Abramoff's Sun
Cruz Casino company and his jailed former business partner Adam
Kidan. McCollum claims he was unaware of the contributions and
did not know Jack Abramoff -- a claim which is proving difficult
to believe since the same newspaper revealed in January that McCollum
previously met with Abramoff to ask about a job, "The only time
he spoke to Abramoff was after that race, when he was considering
law firms where he might work and Abramoff talked to him about
Miami-based Greenberg Traurig. Abramoff resigned from the politically
connected firm in 2004," explained a McCollum spokesperson. McCollum
is the GOP nominee for Florida Attorney General, the state's top
law enforcement post. Bad press detailing similar Abramoff-related
ties destroyed former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed's
GOP primary bid for Georgia Lieutenant Governor last week.
Written
by Jeff Garcia - 07.25.06 | Permalink
|
MARYLAND:
BAD PRESS (REALLY BAD) FOR SENATE HOPEFUL.
Unemployed international business consultant and USAF veteran
David Dickerson (D) was a little-known candidate in the open US
Senate race. Today, he's finally grabbing lead headlines across
the state ... but not for anything good. Baltimore Police arrested
Dickerson over the weekend on charges he raped and assaulted his
19-year-old Latvian wife. According to WBAL-TV, police were called
to the hospital when Dickerson's wife Anna reported she had been
raped. According to the TV station, "the victim said she
and her husband met in her home country of Latvia and married
last year when she was 18. She told police that shortly after
moving back to the United States, she was deprived of food and
physically abused -- even after becoming pregnant ... she was
forced to have sex against her will many times and was beaten
if she did not submit to her husband's wishes. After an alleged
assault by her husband on July 16, the victim said she called
911. She said her husband allegedly raped and beat her before
medics could arrive." Anna's mother in Latvia is raising
the couple's 2-month old child. According to the police report,
Dickerson told the officers Anna was "crazy in the head,"
denied all charges, and said his wife is simply seeking to remain
in the US. In response, police charged Dickerson with three sex
crimes. After his arrest, Dickerson posted $100,000 pre-trial
bond. In a rather ironic twist, retrospectively, Dickerson proclaimed
on his campaign website "we need to renew our respect for
... family values ... [rebuild] the moral fabric of our Democratic
Party" and proclaims that "violence in our society is
beyond worrisome ... we need to stop the strong from taking advantage
of the weak."
(And, even though they have nothing directly to do with this
story, feel free to use this thread for commenting on the hot
Cardin-Mfume-Steele race for this open US Senate seat.)
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.25.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
So, what else is going on?
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.25.06 | Permalink
|
SEND
A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
Here's my open offer for every campaign (and campaign supporter):
send me a button or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional,
Statewide Office, etc., campaign you are involved in -- feel free
to add a sticker and brochure -- and I'll place a link to official
campaign site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you"
note. My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33301. TODAY'S THANKS GO TO: Former State
Representative and former State Human Resources Commissioner Jim
Martin, Democrat for Georgia Lieutenant Governor.
MONDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
P2008:
DEMS REVISE PREZ PRIMARY CALENDAR.
Bowing to press from party activist located in nearly all
states -- except Iowa and New Hampshire -- the DNC Rules and Bylaws
Committee voted to allow Nevada to hold a Presidential caucus
on the Saturday following Iowa's Tuesday caucuses.
The New Hampshire primary would take place next on the Tuesday
after Nevada, followed by the South Carolina primary one week
later. After February 5, all other states could set their own
primary and caucus dates. New Hampshire Democratic Chair Kathy
Sullivan blasted the decision as a "short sighted action
... exacerbates the current problem of frontloading in the primary
calendar. In addition to ensuring that the Democratic Party will
have a nominee by February 5th after only a handful of states
have voted, the committee trampled on the grassroots tradition
of the New Hampshire primary. Instead of going door to door and
meeting the voters face to face, the candidates will spend millions
of dollars on television advertising." Personally, I endorse
the controversial compromise suggested last month by Des Moines
Register political columnist David Yepsen: the first primary
every four years will be the state that had the closest actual
raw vote total difference between the Democratic and Republican
Presidential nominees, followed by the second closest state, then
the third, then everyone else. That way, the states most likely
to be in play in November will also have the greatest say in the
primary process. Applying Yepsen's model, for example, Florida
would have gone first in the 2004 primaries. (And why, you
may ask, are we using Senator Russ Feingold's photo to illustrate
this article? Because he'd make a damn good Democratic Presidential
nominee in 2008.)
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.24.06 | Permalink
|
BY
THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. CONNECTICUT - US SENATE - DEM PRIMARY:
Businessman Ned Lamont - 51%, US Senator Joe Lieberman - 41%.
(Rasmussen Reports). CONNECTICUT - US SENATE: Lamont (D) - 40%, Lieberman
(Independent) - 40%, former State Representative Alan Schlesinger
(R) - 14%. (Rasmussen Reports). CONNECTICUT - US SENATE - DEM PRIMARY: Lamont
- 51%, Lieberman - 47%. (Quinnipiac University). CONNECTICUT - US SENATE: Lieberman (Independent)
- 51%, Lamont (D) - 27%, Schlesinger (R) - 9%. (Quinnipiac University). CONNECTICUT - GOVERNOR - DEM PRIMARY: New Haven
Mayor John DeStefano - 52%, Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy - 32%.
(Quinnipiac University). CONNECTICUT - GOVERNOR: Governor Jodi Rell (R)
- 62%, DeStefano (D) - 25%. (Quinnipiac University). CONNECTICUT - GOVERNOR: Rell (R) - 64%, Malloy
(D) - 23%. (Quinnipiac University). NEW JERSEY - US SENATE: US Senator Bob Menendez
(D) - 43%, State Senator Tom Kean Jr. (R) - 40%. (Fairleigh Dickinson
University). OHIO - GOVERNOR: Congressman Ted Strickland (D)
- 47%, Secretary of State Ken Blackwell (R) - 27%, Others - 2%.
(Columbus Dispatch). OHIO - US SENATE: Congressman Sherrod Brown (D)
- 45%, US Senator Mike DeWine (R) - 37%. (Columbus Dispatch). PENNSYLVANIA - GOVERNOR: Governor Ed Rendell
(D) - 49%, former football player Lynn Swann (R) - 36%. (Strategic
Vision-R). PENNSYLVANIA - US SENATE: State Treasurer Bob
Casey Jr. (D) - 50%, US Senator Rick Santorum (R) - 40%. (Strategic
Vision-R). WISCONSIN - GOVERNOR: Governor Jim Doyle (D)
- 43%, Congressman Mark Green (R) - 42%. (Strategic Vision-R). WISCONSIN - GOVERNOR: Doyle (D) - 47%, Green
(R) - 41%. (Rasmussen Reports). WYOMING - GOVERNOR: Governor Dave Freudenthal
(D) - 58%, attorney Ray Hunkins (R) - 29%. (Rasmussen Reports). WYOMING - US SENATE: US Senator Craig Thomas
(R) - 59%, college professor Dale Groutage (D) - 32%. (Rasmussen
Reports).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.24.06 | Permalink
|
CONNECTICUT:
JOE IS "FRIEND OF BILL" ... MORE SCHLESINGER WOES.
US Senator Joe Lieberman (D) -- locked in a very tight
primary for renomination -- scored a major coup in recent days.
Former President Bill Clinton agreed to make a campaign swing
through the state in support of Lieberman. Meanwhile, pressure
mounted on former State Representative Alan Schlesinger (R) to
quit the race. The Hartford Courant reported Schlesinger
was "successfully sued for thousands of dollars in casino
debts he ran up in Atlantic City venues." The newspaper reports
that a sizable number of members of the Republican State Central
Committee are now "scheming" to give Lieberman the GOP
nomination, in the belief it will assist the state's three endangered
GOP Congressional members in November.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.24.06 | Permalink
|
SOMETHING
NEW: HELP US BROADEN OUR NEWS COVERAGE.
Like the famous story of Tom Sawyer painting his aunt's
fence, I'm willing to let all of you have the great experience
of writing news articles for Politics1 -- but only if you're up
to the task. Normally, I'll admit I'm a fairly rigid control freak
with the site content here (excluding the wide open exchanges
in the blog comment threads). Still, I'd like to find a way to
add more stories to
the daily news update. That's where you come in. If you'd like
to try it (and, yes, you'll be credited by name with the articles
you write, so I will need your real first name/last name), here
are some guidelines, rules and disclaimers:
All
articles should be in the same general form as those we currently
publish (i.e., one paragraph optimally around 150 words in
length; but 300 words is the max length). The shorter the
article, the better your chances are for being published.
Politics1
(which means Ron) reserves the right to edit all articles for
appropriateness and site style consistency (without changing
the context of your writing), and also reserves the full discretion
to reject any articles submitted for publication.
IMPORTANT:
These are to be news stories, and NOT editorials, election predictions,
poll analysis, or campaign press releases/puff pieces. "State
Senator X starts 9-city bus tour in race for Governor"
is not a story we would ever publish.
The topics
are limited to those related to US elections (particularly Presidential,
US Senate, Congressional, gubernatorial and "big city"
mayoral races).
Try to
keep the tone fairly neutral/balanced.
All articles
must be sourced (i.e., something like "..., according to
the [insert newspaper/TV station name]." must appear in
the article to show the original source if it is not original
reporting).
Try not
to get "too local" or obscure in the level of the
election covered -- unless it is a particularly colorful story.
There will
obviously be days when different people submit similar articles.
Don't get your feeling hurt is someone else's gets selected.
That
said, please submit articles to me at publisher@politics1.com,
write ARTICLE in the subject line, and email the article(s) to
me within the body of your email (please don't submit them as
attachments). I'll still only do the updates each evening -- as
I'm at my "real job" during the day -- but this should
help broaden our coverage. So ... any interest?
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.24.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Over the past few days, we've updated candidate links and info
on 20+ of our state pages ... Also saw the painful Pirates
of the Caribbean sequel over the weekend. Hard to believe
a big budget movie with that much action
could still be so painfully boring.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.24.06 | Permalink
|
SEND
A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
Here's my open offer for every campaign (and campaign supporter):
send me a button or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional,
Statewide Office, etc., campaign you are involved in -- feel free
to add a sticker and brochure -- and I'll place a link to official
campaign site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you"
note. My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33301. TODAY'S THANKS GO TO: Nassau County
Executive, former Glen Cove Mayor and attorney Tom
Suozzi, Democrat for New York Governor.
WEEKEND
NEWS UPDATE.
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Candidate filing closed in Florida on Friday, with an astounding
19 hopefuls running for Governor (including 4 Repulicans and 5
Democrats). Click here to view all of the Florida
filings.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.22.06 | Permalink
|
FRIDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Sorry, but this is one of those every-once-in-a-while days when
I just don't have the time to write an update. But, I promise,
I'll post some stuff over the weekend.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 07.21.06
| Permalink |
SEND
A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
Here's my open offer for every campaign (and campaign supporter):
send me a button or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional,
Statewide Office, etc., campaign you are involved in -- feel free
to add a sticker and brochure -- and I'll place a link to official
campaign site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you"
note. My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33301. TODAY'S THANKS GO TO: Democratic activist
Sam Brooks,
candidate for Washington, DC, City Council, Ward 3.
THURSDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
BY
THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. NEBRASKA - GOVERNOR: Governor
Dave Heineman (R) - 66%, publishing
executive Dave Hahn (D) - 21%. (Rasmussen Reports). NEBRASKA - US SENATE: US Senator Ben Nelson (D)
- 57%, former Ameritrade COO Pete Ricketts (R) - 31%. (Rasmussen
Reports). NEW YORK - GOVERNOR: Attorney General Eliot Spitzer
(D) - 69%, former State Assembly Minority Leader John Faso (R)
- 20%. (Marist College). NEW YORK - GOVERNOR - DEM PRIMARY: Spitzer (D)
- 75%, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi - 10%. (Marist College). NEW YORK - US SENATE: US Senator Hillary Clinton
(D) - 61%, former Yonker Mayor John Spencer (R) - 34%. (Marist
College). NEW YORK - US SENATE: Clinton (D) - 61%, former
Defense Department official K.T. McFarland (R) - 32%. (Marist
College). NEW YORK - US SENATE - DEM PRIMARY: Clinton -
81%, labor organizer Jonathan Tasini - 13%. (Marist College). NEW YORK - US SENATE - GOP PRIMARY: Spencer -
36%, McFarland - 15%. (Marist College).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.20.06 | Permalink
|
NRSC:
ADVICE FOR GOP CANDIDATES.
US Senator John Thune (R-SD) is openly posturing the be
the Chair of the National Republican Senate Committee for the
2008 elections. That's why his openly expressed comments Wednesday
at the National Press Club were rather unexpected. "If I
were running in the state this year, you obviously don't embrace
the President and his agenda," said Thune, according to the
AP. In fact, President Bush's current approval ratings are so
dismal that Thune said the November elections "are going
to be tough races to win" for the Republicans. Thune was
elected to the US Senate in 2004 by pledging to be a solid Bush
ally in DC.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 07.20.06
| Permalink |
WORST
HAIR IN CONGRESS: CYNTHIA McKINNEY.
Congratulations to Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-GA)
for placing first in her primary on Tuesday ... and for placing
first Wednesday in our biennial Congressman Jim Traficant Memorial
Bad Hair Award contest for having the "Worst Hair in
Congress." Personally, I disagreed with the vote -- as I
thought her new "Sideshow Bob" look actually appeared
rather stylish at times. I thought reigning champion Carl Levin's
comb-over disaster or John Mica's cheap-looking fake hair yarmulke
should have won ... but it wasn't my decision. Instead, roughly
3,600 of you cast ballots in the poll and gave McKinney the win
with 29% -- a full 7-points ahead of Levin. Thus -- and as creatively
envisioned at right -- it is with great dignity and in good humor
that we place the coveted crown of Jim Traficant's infamous toupee
on McKinney's head for the next two years. Click
here to view all of the tonsorial nightmares (and the complete
poll results).
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 07.20.06
| Permalink |
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Here's a surprise. Community activist Patricia
Todd won the Democratic run-off Tuesday for the open Alabama
State House District 54 seat by a 51% to 49% vote. No Republican
filed for the seat, so Todd will take office when the new legislative
session begins. Why is this a big surprise? Because Todd -- a
lesbian -- ran as an "out" candidate. In Alabama. And
won.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 07.20.06
| Permalink |
SEND
A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
Here's my open offer for every campaign (and campaign supporter):
send me a button or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional,
Statewide Office, etc., campaign you are involved in -- feel free
to add a sticker and brochure -- and I'll place a link to official
campaign site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you"
note. My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33301. TODAY'S THANKS GO TO: former State
Senator and attorney Greg
Hecht, Democrat for Georgia Lieutenant Governor.
WEDNESDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
GEORGIA:
RALPH REED DEFEATED; McKINNEY FORCED INTO RUN-OFF.
In the gubernatorial race, Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor
defeated Secretary of State Cathy Cox in the Democratic
primary by a 52% to 44% vote. Taylor trailed Cox in the polls
until just a few weeks ago, when Cox's campaign made several minor
(but cumulative) tactical missteps and gaffes. Taylor will face
Governor Sonny Perdue (R) in November. Governor Race Rating: Leans
GOP. In the GOP primary for Lieutenant Governor, State Senator
Casey Cagle decisively defeated former Christian Coalition Executive
Director Ralph Reed by a 56% to 44% vote. Reed -- once a rising
conservative star -- was hammered in the news and Cagle's TV spots
for his extensive Abramoff-related ethics problems. In his post-concession
remarks, Reed said he does not plan to again seek elective office.
On the Dem side, former state legislators Jim Martin and Greg
Hecht finished in a near tie -- easily outpacing three others
-- and will continue their battle in the August 8 run-off. In
the Congressional primaries, the CD-4 contest may prove to be
an apparent upset in the making. With most votes counted, controversial
Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney narrowly led DeKalb County Commissioner
Hank Johnson in the Dem primary by a 47% to 45% vote. McKinney's
campaign
site blamed Diebold voting machine problems and poll worker
incompetence for her poor performance, saying that some voting
machines changed McKinney votes into Johnson votes. The two bitter
rivals appear headed to a run-off. In CD-6, Congressman Tom Price
(R) easily won his primary. CD-13 Congressman David Scott defeated
former State Senator Donzella James in the Dem primary by a 24-point
margin. Click here to view our Georgia page to
see the lost of nominees and run-off candidates.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.19.06 | Permalink
|
ALABAMA:
WALLACE JR. LOSES LT GOV RUN-OFF.
The much anticipated general election contest for Lieutenant
Governor between scions of two of Alabama's most legendary Governors
will not take place. State PSC Commissioner and former State Treasurer
George Wallace Jr. (R) -- the son of the late Governor George
Wallace (D) -- lost his run-off contest to wealthy attorney Luther
Strange by a 55% to 45% vote. Strange will next face former Governor
Jim Folsom Jr. (D) in November in what should be a hotly contested
race.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.19.06 | Permalink
|
MINNESOTA:
LAST MINUTE SURPRISE AS PRIMARY FILING CLOSES.
Rapidly growing controversies derailed the Attorney General
candidacy of State Representative Matt Ettenza, forcing the DFL
frontrunner to suddenly quit the race just hours before filing
closed. When Ettenza exited, a swarm of Democrats jumped into
the fray, including State Senator Steve Kelley, former Congressman
Bill Luther, and State Solicitor General Lori Swanson. State Representative
Jeff Johnson is the GOP nominee. There will also be Democratic,
Republican and Independence party primaries for Governor and US
Senate. In the open CD-5 contest, eleven candidates filed. By
contrast, the nominees are already decided in the open CD-6 seat.
Click here to view all of the Minnesota primary
filings. Not as seemingly exciting as the impromptu Minnesota
doings, but filing also closed this week in Vermont
-- with lots of crowded races.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.19.06 | Permalink
|
BY
THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. RHODE ISLAND - US SENATE: Former
Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse (D) - 46%, US Senator Lincoln
Chafee (R) - 41%. (Rasmussen Reports).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.19.06 | Permalink
|
BAD
HAIR POLL: THE FINAL DAY.
Wednesday is the final day of voting in our biennial
Congressman Jim Traficant Memorial Bad Hair Award contest
to name the "Worst Hair in Congress." As of Tuesday
evening, nearly 3,000 people have already voted. Click
here to vote in our Congressman Jim Traficant Memorial Bad
Hair Award poll. Voting ends Wednesday evening
at 9:00 pm Eastern.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.19.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Whatever.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.19.06 | Permalink
|
SEND
A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
Here's my open offer for every campaign (and campaign supporter):
send me a button or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional,
Statewide Office, etc., campaign you are involved in -- feel free
to add a sticker and brochure -- and I'll place a link to official
campaign site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you"
note. My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33301. TODAY'S THANKS GO TO: Congressman Russ
Carnahan, Democrat for re-election in Missouri's CD-3;
Wyoming; and the Interfaith
Alliance Foundation, a group blending religious beliefs,
inclusion, and progressive politics.
TUESDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
GEORGIA:
PRIMARY PREVIEW.
Georgia voters cast primary ballots on Tuesday. In the
gubernatorial races, Governor
Sonny Perdue (R) will cruise to an easy win over his minor opponent.
The Democratic primary, however, is much more competitive. Secretary
of State Cathy Cox led in the polls for months, only to see Lieutenant
Governor Mark Taylor leap ahead in recent weeks. Look for Taylor
to win the primary by several points, setting up a feisty November
contest. In the race for Lieutenant Governor, former Christian
Coalition Executive Director Ralph Reed (R) has been hammered
for his extensive Abramoff-related ethics problems. State Senator
Casey Cagle should narrowly defeat Reed in the GOP primary, ending
Reed's career as a "rising star" conservative leader.
In the Dem primary, look for former state legislators Jim Martin
and Greg Hecht to lead the Lt Gov field and face-off in an August
8 run-off. In the Congressional primaries, Congresswoman Cynthia
McKinney's Dem primary in CD-4 is garnering the most attention.
However, the 2006 challenge is not the same as the crowded 2002
primary she lost. This time McKinney largely ignored her primary
foes, and the strategy appears to be working. She'll win the primary.
Congressmen Tom Price (R) in CD-6 and David Scott (D) in CD-13
are both facing respectable challenges, but both will easily win
renomination. Alabama voters will also cast votes Tuesday in the
GOP run-off for Lieutenant Governor between State PSC Commissioner
George Wallace Jr. and wealthy attorney Luther Strange. Both of
the candidates eliminated in the primary endorsed Wallace, as
did the Christian Coalition -- but has run an uninspiring campaign.
Strange , however, outspent Wallace by a wide margin from
his own deep pockets and will likely defeat Wallace by several
points.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.18.06 | Permalink
|
SOUTH
CAROLINA: GOP SENATOR KNOTTS QUITS HIS INDY GOV RUN.
Conservative State Senator Jake Knotts (R) ended his brief
Independent run for Governor on Monday. Although he apparently
collected at least 13,000 vote petition signatures -- well more
than the statutory requirement for an Indy run -- Knotts said
he would not file because he did not believe he could collect
the $2 million he thought he needed to run a viable campaign.
"With the best interest of the people who support me at heart,
I will not be a candidate for governor in the November 2006 election,"
he explained. Knotts is closely aligned with GOP critics of Governor
Mark Sanford (R). He previously said he would endorse State Senator
Tommy Moore (D) for Governor if he didn't enter the race. Still,
Knotts' move is great news for Sanford.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.18.06 | Permalink
|
BY
THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. ARIZONA - US SENATE: US Senator Jon Kyl
(R) - 52%, former State Democratic Chair Jim Pederson (D) - 40%.
(KPNX-TV/SurveyUSA). COLORADO- GOVERNOR: Former Denver District Attorney
Bill Ritter (D) - 42%, Congressman Bob Beauprez (R) - 35%. (Denver
Post). MARYLAND - US SENATE: Congressman Ben Cardin
(D) - 47%, Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele (R) - 36%. (Baltimore
Sun). MARYLAND - US SENATE: Former Congressman Kweisi
Mfume (D) - 42%, Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele (R) - 40%.
(Baltimore Sun). MARYLAND - US SENATE - DEM PRIMARY: Congressman
Ben Cardin - 32%, former Congressman Kweisi Mfume - 28%, socialist
activist Robert Kaufman - 1%, college professor Allan Lichtman
- 1%, developer Josh Rales - 1%, former Baltimore County Executive
Dennis Rasmussen - 1%. (Baltimore Sun). MARYLAND - US SENATE: Congressman Ben Cardin
(D) - 47%, Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele (R) - 41%. (Rasmussen
Reports). MARYLAND - US SENATE: Lieutenant Governor Michael
Steele (R) - 45%, former Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D) - 44%. (Rasmussen
Reports). MICHIGAN
- GOVERNOR: Businessman Dick DeVos (R) - 47%, Governor
Jennifer Granholm (D) - 42%. (Detroit Free Press). MINNESOTA - US SENATE: Hennepin County Attorney
Amy Klobuchar (DFL) - 50%, Congressman Mark Kennedy (R) - 31%.
(Minneapolis Star-Tribune). NEVADA - GOVERNOR - GOP PRIMARY: Congressman Jim Gibbons
- 44%, State Senator Bob Beers - 23%, Lieutenant Governor Lorraine
Hunt - 16%. (KVBC-TV/SurveyUSA). NEVADA - GOVERNOR - DEM PRIMARY: State Senate Minority
Leader Dina Titus - 42%, Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson - 39%, liberal
activist Leola McConnell - 6%. (KVBC-TV/SurveyUSA). NEW JERSEY - US SENATE: US Senator Bob Menendez
(D) - 38%, State Senator Tom Kean Jr. (R) - 37%. (Gannett/Monmouth
University). NEW JERSEY - US SENATE: State Senator Tom Kean
Jr. (R) - 40%, US Senator Bob Menendez (D) - 38%. (Quinnipiac
University). OHIO - CONGRESS - CD-13: Former State Rep. Betty Sutton
(D) - 48%, Lorrain Mayor Craig Foltin (R) -30%, attorney Traci
Kennedy (Independent) - 6%. (WKYC-TV/SurveyUSA). OKLAHOMA - GOVERNOR: Governor Brad Henry (D)
- 57%, Congressman Ernest Istook (R) - 29%. (Tulsa World/Oklahoma
Poll). OKLAHOMA - GOVERNOR - GOP PRIMARY: Congressman
Ernest Istook - 36%, businessman Bob Sullivan - 10%, aviation
consultant Jim Evanoff - 7%, State Senator Jim Williamson - 2%.
(Tulsa World/Oklahoma Poll).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.18.06 | Permalink
|
BAD
HAIR POLL: BEAT THE FREEPERS?
We're in the middle of our biennial Congressman Jim
Traficant Memorial Bad Hair Award contest to name the worst
hair in Congress ... and along come the FreeRepublic.com right-wingers
with a fairly racist campaign to push Cynthia McKinney into first
place. If you disagree with my description of these wingers as
racists, just check out their blog
thread filled with fairly racist photos and comments. I'd
urge everyone to level the playing field by mentioning this poll
on sites across the political spectrum: left, right, libertarian,
etc. Click here to vote in our Congressman
Jim Traficant Memorial Bad Hair Award poll. Voting
ends Wednesday evening ... so, who does have the worst hair in
Congress? I'll repeat: worst HAIR (not: who is craziest,
meanest, most corrupt, etc.) ... we're voting on BAD HAIR!!
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.18.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Anything and everything else.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.18.06 | Permalink
|
SEND
A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
Here's my open offer for every campaign (and campaign supporter):
send me a button or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional,
Statewide Office, etc., campaign you are involved in -- feel free
to add a sticker and brochure -- and I'll place a link to official
campaign site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you"
note. My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33301. TODAY'S THANKS GO TO: Governor Dave
Freudenthal, Democrat for re-election in Wyoming; and
to Democratic activist Jeremiah "DemoGog" Brewer
of Wyoming, who not only sent the "Mightly Governor Dave"
pin (he asked that I use that tag for Freudenthal), but also sent
a bunch of other items from Dem campaigns across the nation.
MONDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
NEVADA:
WAS STATE CONTROLLER AUGUSTINE MURDERED?
Due to several new developments, the Reno Police Department
and State Division of Investigations are now conducting an investigation
of the sudden death of State
Controller Kathy Augustine (R). Her husband, critical care nurse
Chaz Higgs, told police he discovered Augustine unconscious on
the floor and not breathing after she apparently collapsed from
a massive heart attack at their second home in Reno. She died
three days later without regaining consciousness. Because Augustine
was only 50 and seemingly healthy -- and was in the middle of
campaign for State Treasurer -- police ordered an autopsy. The
findings: no signs of any serious heart problems. It will reportedly
be several weeks before toxicology results come back. That news
was released Friday, the same day as Augustine's funeral services.
On Saturday, Higgs attempted suicide by slitting his wrists. Augustine's
daughter kicked open the bathroom door and called paramedics in
time to save Higgs' life. The suicide note did not contain any
confession. "Whether the attempt was caused by emotional
distress or something else, it begs us to take a look. It's just
common logic," said Reno Deputy Police Chief Jim Johns to
the AP. According to KLAS-TV, the couple was having problems and
police were dispatched to Augustine's Las Vegas home for a domestic
disturbance call just days before her collapse. Higgs was the
hospital nurse who cared for Augustine's second husband, Charles,
when he died following an apparent stroke in 2003 at age 63. Higgs
and Augustine were married about one month later.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.17.06 | Permalink
|
OUR
BIENNIAL CONGRESSIONAL "BAD HAIR" CONTEST.
It's time again for our biennial Congressman Jim Traficant
Memorial Bad Hair Award contest (note: Traficant isn't dead,
but his political career is six feet under). Traficant -- now
imprisoned (but not for his criminally ugly hairpiece) -- is the
undisputed all-time champion of Congressional tonsorial terror.
He would likely take some pride from the fact that a quarter of
all our nominees come from Traficant's homestate of Ohio. This
year's contestants are giving it their best shot to win the Traficant
Award by knocking the crown off reigning 2004 "bad hair"
champ Carl Levin. Looking at the rival comb-overs, bad rugs, and
just plain ugly hair stylings of the dozen contenders -- and we
even included a few women this time -- it will be tough for Levin
can score a repeat win. Click here to vote
in our Congressman Jim Traficant Memorial Bad Hair Award
poll. Voting ends Wednesday evening ... so, who does
have the worst hair in Congress? I'll repeat: worst HAIR
(not: who is craziest, meanest, most corrupt, etc.) ... we're
voting on BAD HAIR!!
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.17.06 | Permalink
|
BY
THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS. MARYLAND - GOVERNOR: Baltimore
Mayor Martin O'Malley (D) - 46%, Governor Bob Ehrlich (R) - 38%.
(Baltimore Sun).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.17.06 | Permalink
|
HAWAII:
VIABLE
DEM CANDIDATE EASES TOWARDS GOV RACE.
Governor Linda Lingle (R) -- a heavy favorite to win re-election
this year -- filed paperwork last week to run for a second term.
In a surprising move, popular Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim is
considering filing paperwork to seek the Democratic nomination.
Kim, however, remained oddly non-committal on the race. Kim told
reporters he just commissioned a poll to see how he would perform
against Lingle. In his past races, Kim noted he has always filed
at the last minute. Kim has been the target of an informal draft
effort for the past several months. Former State Senator Randy
Iwase (D) is also running. Filing closes July 25.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.17.06 | Permalink
|
CONNECTICUT:
GOP HAS REPLACEMENT READY, BUT SCHLESINGER WON'T FOLD.
According to the Manchester Journal-Inquirer, state
GOP leaders have already decided to back wealthy former clothing
company CEO Jack Orchulli as their new nominee against US Senator
Joe Lieberman (D). Orchulli earned 33% as the GOP nominee against
US Senator Chris Dodd (D) in 2004. The problem, however, is that
embattled GOP nominee Alan Schlesinger will not quit the race
-- even though the leading Connecticut Republicans have publicly
asked the former State Representative to quit due to reported
gambling problems. Schlesinger confirmed the news stories that
he "frequently" gambles at casinos and does so under
a fake name. However, he said his gambling was "not a problem"
and that he had incurred no serious debts from the gambling. None
of this has changed the mind of State GOP Chair George Gallo,
who still wants Schlesinger to exit the race.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.17.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Win Rockefeller (R), 57, died
on Sunday. The down-to-earth billionaire -- who remained very
popular with state voters -- died after a lengthy fight with a
cancer-related condition.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.17.06 | Permalink
|
SEND
A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
Here's my open offer for every campaign (and campaign supporter):
send me a button or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional,
Statewide Office, etc., campaign you are involved in -- feel free
to add a sticker and brochure -- and I'll place a link to official
campaign site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you"
note. My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33301. TODAY'S THANKS GO TO: Physician, and
epidemiologist Victoria
Wells Wulsin, Democrat for Congress in Ohio's CD-2; college
professor and community activist Duane
Milne, Republican for Pennsylvania State House Dist. 167;
and librarian and progressive activist Jim
Brown, Green candidate for Congress in New York's CD-3
(note: another Brown supporter sent me more pins so, thus, this
second plug).
WEEKEND
NEWS UPDATE #2.
OUR
BIENNIAL CONGRESSIONAL "BAD HAIR" CONTEST.
It's time again for our biennial Congressman Jim Traficant
Memorial Bad Hair Award contest. Traficant -- now imprisoned
(but not for his criminally ugly hairpiece) -- is the undisputed
all-time champion of Congressional tonsorial terror. Still, this
year's contestants are giving it their best shot to win the Traficant
Award by knocking the crown off reigning 2004 "bad hair"
champ Carl Levin. Looking at the rival comb-overs, bad rugs, and
just plain ugly hair stylings of the dozen contenders -- and we
even included a few women this time -- it will be tough for Levin
can score a repeat win. Click here to vote
in our Congressman Jim Traficant Memorial Bad Hair Award
poll. Voting ends Wednesday evening ... so, who does have
the worst hair in Congress? Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.16.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Your open thread to discuss everything and anything (other
than bad congressional hair). Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 07.16.06 | Permalink
|
political
consultant Gary Lankford for using emails to spread rumors that
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ted Strickland and his wife may
be closeted homosexuals in a marriage of convenience, according
to the Toledo Blade. Lankford served as the Ohio GOP's
Social Conservative Coordinator on behalf of Secretary of State
Ken Blackwell's campaign for Governor. Strickland,
in addition to serving in Congress, is also a Methodist minister.
"In no way was I intending to smear him ... [but Strickland
was] making being a Methodist minister and husband an important
part of his qualifications [in his radio ads, so] it seems like
a fair observation," said a not-quite apologetic Lankford.
The State GOP Chair also openly apologized to Strickland for the
"innuendo."
SEND
A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
some
good news when candidate filing closed this week, leaving her
without a major challenger. Former State Senator Randy Iwase appear
likely to capture the Democratic nomination against Lingle, when
all of the bigger names passed on the race. Hawaii County Mayor
Harry Kim (D) announced the day before the close of filing he
appreciated the encouragements from party members, but he declined
to enter the race. Governor Race Rating: Safe GOP. Liberal US
Senator Dan Akaka is facing an aggressive Democratic primary challenge
from centrist Congressman Ed Case. Case argues Akaka is ineffective,
while Akaka's boosters tout his seniority clout and progressive
record. Right now, Akaka appears the frontrunner. On the GOP side,
six unknowns filed for the seat. Congressman Neil Abercrombie
(D) looks safe in CD-1. In the open CD-2 race, 10 Democrats and
two Republicans filed. The seat is heavily Democratic -- and most
of the Dems in the race appear to be potentially viable contenders
-- so keep an eye on this hot primary. 
Governor
Michael Steel acknowledged he was the Republican candidate quoted
anonymously as saying that being a member of the GOP was like
wearing a "scarlet letter" and that he did not want President
Bush to campaign for him this fall. Steele also voiced objections
to continuing the Iraq War ("It didn't work ... We didn't
prepare for the peace") and the government's response last
year to Hurricane Katrina ("a monumental failure").
In the original Washington Post article Steele was only
referred to as an unnamed "Republican Senate Candidate."
"He realizes that he can't win being a conservative Republican
in Maryland in 2006," said Maryland Democratic Party spokesman
Arthur Harris. Steele's campaign spokesperson responded the quotes
merely show Steele is "independent minded." Polls currently
show Steele trailing the two Democratic frontrunners -- Congressman
Ben Cardin and former Congressman Kweisi Mfume -- by competitive
margins.
side,
Congressman Ernest Istook sailed to a comfortable victory with
56% against three opponents. Wealthy oil executive Bob Sullivan
was Istook's nearest opponent, but finished more than 25-points
behind the primary winner. Independent polls show the conservative
Henry holding a commanding lead over Istook. Governor Rac Rating:
DEM Favored. There were no clear winners in the race for Lieutenant
Governor, with both parties seeing candidates forced into run-offs
on August 22. State House Speaker Todd Hiett and State Senator
Scott Pruitt will meet in the Republican contest, while State
House Minority Leader Jari Askins and former congressional aide
Pete Regan advance in the Dem race. There was an interesting twist
in the GOP primary for State Treasurer. Howard Barnett -- former
Chief of Staff to Governor Frank Keating (R) -- defeated investment
banker Daniel Keating, the former Governor's brother. In the GOP
primary for the CD-5 seat being vacated by Istook -- a safe GOP
seat -- Lieutenant Governor Mary Fallin finished first in the
six-candidate field with 35%. She will advance to the run-off
with Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, who placed a distant second
with 24%. 
Embattled
Congressman Alan Mollohan (D-WV) -- who is targeted by Republicans
in his re-election campaign because of ethics problems -- got
unexpected help against the GOP claim Mollohan caused the stalemate
that paralyzed the Ethics Committee during the last two years.
Hefley, who is retiring, stated: "If I had been the ranking member
of the Ethics Committee and the majority party had arbitrarily
and unilaterally changed the rules, I would have had an obligation
to react, just as Representative Mollohan did." Hefley also criticized
changes the GOP leadership made to the structure of the Ethics
Committee that limited their inquiry into the activities of then-Majority
Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX). The same he made his statement, Hefley
introduced legislation to ban sitting federal legislators from
establishing so-called leadership PACs. Hefley's legislation would
give existing leadership PACs a year to give away their money.
Hefley's bill is intended to stop of potential House Committee
chair candidates raising money for colleagues in order to secure
votes in the chair elections in the party caucuses. Hefley lost
a bid in 2002 for House Resources Committee Chair when GOP legislators
instead picked Congressman Richard Pombo (R-CA) -- who had less
seniority than Hefley but donated substantially more money to
GOP House members. 
nominal
primary opposition and is a heavy favorite to win re-election
in November. On the GOP side, frontrunner Congressman Ernest Istook
(R) has failed to solidify the GOP base, and could be embarrassingly
forced into an August 22 run-off with wealthy oil executive Bob
Sullivan. Istook told the Daily Oklahoman he "expects
to win" without a run-off. The open race for Lieutenant Governor
will see competitive primaries in both parties. State House Speaker
Todd Hiett (R) and former congressional aide Pete Regan (D) are
the two frontrunners in their respective Lt Gov primaries. The
other race to watch is the GOP primary for the CD-5 seat being
vacated by Istook. Polls show Lieutenant Governor Mary Fallin,
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett and State Corporation Commissioner
Denise Bode easily leading the six-candidate Republican field.
Look for Fallin and Cornett to advance to the run-off.
MINNESOTA
- US SENATE: Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar (DFL)
- 47%, Congressman Mark Kennedy (R) - 42%, former public acess
TV executive Robert Fitzgerald (Independence) - 8%. (KSTP-TV/SurveyUSA).
former
Congressman Bill McCollum (R) to task for his work as a DC lobbyist
for the past five years. Furthermore, the article attempted to
link McCollum to convicted felon and disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
McCollum never did business with Abramoff, but he got $1,000 from
Abramoff in his 2000 US Senate race. Also, two Indian tribes represented
by Abramoff gave $1,000 each to McCollum. Actually, a review of
campaign contributions on 
caucuses.
The New Hampshire primary would take place next on the Tuesday
after Nevada, followed by the South Carolina primary one week
later. After February 5, all other states could set their own
primary and caucus dates. New Hampshire Democratic Chair Kathy
Sullivan blasted the decision as a "short sighted action
... exacerbates the current problem of frontloading in the primary
calendar. In addition to ensuring that the Democratic Party will
have a nominee by February 5th after only a handful of states
have voted, the committee trampled on the grassroots tradition
of the New Hampshire primary. Instead of going door to door and
meeting the voters face to face, the candidates will spend millions
of dollars on television advertising." Personally, I endorse
the controversial compromise suggested last month by Des Moines
Register political columnist David Yepsen: the first primary
every four years will be the state that had the closest actual
raw vote total difference between the Democratic and Republican
Presidential nominees, followed by the second closest state, then
the third, then everyone else. That way, the states most likely
to be in play in November will also have the greatest say in the
primary process. Applying Yepsen's model, for example, Florida
would have gone first in the 2004 primaries. (And why, you
may ask, are we using Senator Russ Feingold's photo to illustrate
this article? Because he'd make a damn good Democratic Presidential
nominee in 2008.)
to
the daily news update. That's where you come in. If you'd like
to try it (and, yes, you'll be credited by name with the articles
you write, so I will need your real first name/last name), here
are some guidelines, rules and disclaimers:
publishing
executive Dave Hahn (D) - 21%. (Rasmussen Reports).
WORST
HAIR IN CONGRESS: CYNTHIA McKINNEY.
Democratic
primary by a 52% to 44% vote. Taylor trailed Cox in the polls
until just a few weeks ago, when Cox's campaign made several minor
(but cumulative) tactical missteps and gaffes. Taylor will face
Governor Sonny Perdue (R) in November. Governor Race Rating: Leans
GOP. In the GOP primary for Lieutenant Governor, State Senator
Casey Cagle decisively defeated former Christian Coalition Executive
Director Ralph Reed by a 56% to 44% vote. Reed -- once a rising
conservative star -- was hammered in the news and Cagle's TV spots
for his extensive Abramoff-related ethics problems. In his post-concession
remarks, Reed said he does not plan to again seek elective office.
On the Dem side, former state legislators Jim Martin and Greg
Hecht finished in a near tie -- easily outpacing three others
-- and will continue their battle in the August 8 run-off. In
the Congressional primaries, the CD-4 contest may prove to be
an apparent upset in the making. With most votes counted, controversial
Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney narrowly led DeKalb County Commissioner
Hank Johnson in the Dem primary by a 47% to 45% vote. McKinney's
Governor
Sonny Perdue (R) will cruise to an easy win over his minor opponent.
The Democratic primary, however, is much more competitive. Secretary
of State Cathy Cox led in the polls for months, only to see Lieutenant
Governor Mark Taylor leap ahead in recent weeks. Look for Taylor
to win the primary by several points, setting up a feisty November
contest. In the race for Lieutenant Governor, former Christian
Coalition Executive Director Ralph Reed (R) has been hammered
for his extensive Abramoff-related ethics problems. State Senator
Casey Cagle should narrowly defeat Reed in the GOP primary, ending
Reed's career as a "rising star" conservative leader.
In the Dem primary, look for former state legislators Jim Martin
and Greg Hecht to lead the Lt Gov field and face-off in an August
8 run-off. In the Congressional primaries, Congresswoman Cynthia
McKinney's Dem primary in CD-4 is garnering the most attention.
However, the 2006 challenge is not the same as the crowded 2002
primary she lost. This time McKinney largely ignored her primary
foes, and the strategy appears to be working. She'll win the primary.
Congressmen Tom Price (R) in CD-6 and David Scott (D) in CD-13
are both facing respectable challenges, but both will easily win
renomination. Alabama voters will also cast votes Tuesday in the
GOP run-off for Lieutenant Governor between State PSC Commissioner
George Wallace Jr. and wealthy attorney Luther Strange. Both of
the candidates eliminated in the primary endorsed Wallace, as
did the Christian Coalition -- but has run an uninspiring campaign.
Strange , however, outspent Wallace by a wide margin from
his own deep pockets and will likely defeat Wallace by several
points. 
MICHIGAN
- GOVERNOR: Businessman Dick DeVos (R) - 47%, Governor
Jennifer Granholm (D) - 42%. (Detroit Free Press). 
State
Controller Kathy Augustine (R). Her husband, critical care nurse
Chaz Higgs, told police he discovered Augustine unconscious on
the floor and not breathing after she apparently collapsed from
a massive heart attack at their second home in Reno. She died
three days later without regaining consciousness. Because Augustine
was only 50 and seemingly healthy -- and was in the middle of
campaign for State Treasurer -- police ordered an autopsy. The
findings: no signs of any serious heart problems. It will reportedly
be several weeks before toxicology results come back. That news
was released Friday, the same day as Augustine's funeral services.
On Saturday, Higgs attempted suicide by slitting his wrists. Augustine's
daughter kicked open the bathroom door and called paramedics in
time to save Higgs' life. The suicide note did not contain any
confession. "Whether the attempt was caused by emotional
distress or something else, it begs us to take a look. It's just
common logic," said Reno Deputy Police Chief Jim Johns to
the AP. According to KLAS-TV, the couple was having problems and
police were dispatched to Augustine's Las Vegas home for a domestic
disturbance call just days before her collapse. Higgs was the
hospital nurse who cared for Augustine's second husband, Charles,
when he died following an apparent stroke in 2003 at age 63. Higgs
and Augustine were married about one month later.
