May 19, 2009
TUESDAY'S CAMPAIGN ROUND-UP....Today's installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn't generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers.
* The bad news for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is that a new Mason-Dixon poll, conducted for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, shows the senator with weak support the year before his re-election bid. The good news for Reid is that Republicans still can't find a credible challenger.
* In light of Brian Moran's latest push, Terry McAuliffe's gubernatorial campaign in Virginia has a new video with evidence that he really did support President Obama's general-election campaign last year.
* Even before the state Supreme Court's consideration of the case, a majority of Minnesotans want to see former Sen. Norm Coleman (R) concede to Al Franken immediately. The same Rasmussen poll showed a 67% majority wants to see Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) sign Franken's election certificate if Coleman loses at the state Supreme Court.
* Merrick Alpert, a former aide to Al Gore and an Air Force officer in Bosnia, announced yesterday that he'll challenge Sen. Chris Dodd in a Democratic primary in Connecticut next year.
* Let's just summarize the latest Rasmussen poll in New York quickly: Gov. David Patterson (D) would easily lose to his likely Republican challengers, while state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo (D) would easily win those same match-ups.
* Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) ran into some Ron Paul fans at the state Republican convention the other day, who didn't like it when Graham said, "Ron Paul is not the leader of this party.... I'm not going to give this party over to people who can't win."
* And Republicans may not agree with Bruce Springsteen's liberal politics, but that doesn't mean they mind exploiting his popularity for GOP fundraising efforts.
—Steve Benen 12:00 PM
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The good news for Reid is that Republicans still can't find a credible challenger.
Broken record alert! Can we?
Even if he wins a primary, we need to let him know we're not okay with his flaccid, ineffective leadership.
Posted by: doubtful on May 19, 2009 at 12:07 PM | PERMALINK
Lindsay Graham isn't going to give the Republican party over to people who can't win?
Who does he think runs it now?
Posted by: Jinchi on May 19, 2009 at 12:14 PM | PERMALINK
The good news for Reid is that Republicans still can't find a credible challenger.
Could the Democrats perhaps find one?
Posted by: thorin-1 on May 19, 2009 at 12:18 PM | PERMALINK
Someone talk me down: I'm thinking that at this point I'd probably donate to -anyone- who ran against Reid.
Posted by: gussie on May 19, 2009 at 12:23 PM | PERMALINK
That's awesome news that Dodd has a primary challenger. Unlike Reid, I like some of what Dodd does, but the guy's toast. A novice Democrat has a much better chance than a tainted one and I think if Alpert has at least some of Gore's people behind him, he'll smoke Simmons.
Posted by: Jay B. on May 19, 2009 at 12:33 PM | PERMALINK
I'm with doubtful, at 12:07.
The Republicans don't need to find a challenger. Reid'll give them damn near everything they can dream of.
Posted by: zak822 on May 19, 2009 at 12:37 PM | PERMALINK
Republican - NO
Democrat - NO
American - YES
Harry Reid - Our country would be better off if he lost, either in a primary or a general election. Then, maybe, the dumbocraps could find a senate leader who is not a DLC/DINO/Rethug-Lite.
Terry McAuliffe - Another symbol of all that is wrong with politics in our country. Here's hoping for the best for any other dumbocrap running against him.
Norm Coleman / Al Franken - I still am willing to wager that the Fed Supremes will take Coleman's case after he loses in the Mn Supreme Court - and will slow walk it so that it does not get heard until next year - and will delay announcing their decision until as late as possible. Here's to Al Franken, the next senator from Mn - to be sworn in late next summer.
Chris Dodd - Another example of why dumbocraps have a history of 'turning victory into defeat'. If he goes, good riddance.
David Patterson - Another pseudo politician way out of his league.
Lindsay (the Gay Shadow) Graham knows that he is an idiot, but can't help himself.
Fortunately, I do not dispise all congress-critters of both persuasions. Just most!
Having become deeply disappointed with Obama chosing political expediency over his oath of office to uphold the Constitution and laws of our country, I would like to see Russell Feingold & Bernie Sanders run together against Obama and whoever the rethugs put out as their front man.
Posted by: AngryOldVet on May 19, 2009 at 12:48 PM | PERMALINK
Just a question: why are you still calling it campaign round-up ?
Posted by: rbe1 on May 19, 2009 at 1:00 PM | PERMALINK
The bad news for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is that a new Mason-Dixon poll, conducted for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, shows the senator with weak support the year before his latest re-election bid. The good news for Reid is that Republicans still can't find a credible challenger.
Given we're going to pick up 6-7 new Senators in 2010, I wouldn't mind losing this one to get rid of Reid.
Posted by: TCinLA on May 19, 2009 at 1:06 PM | PERMALINK
rbe1,
All of the news in the midday round-up is related to upcoming (or ongoing) campaigns.
Posted by: doubtful on May 19, 2009 at 2:07 PM | PERMALINK
Even before the state Supreme Court's consideration of the case, a majority of Minnesotans want to see former Sen. Norm Coleman (R) concede to Al Franken immediately.
It sounds like some Minnesotans are experiencing buyer's remorse and would love to retroactively change their votes from Coleman to Franken. Laugh if you will, but I bet that the GOP would find a way to make that happen if they had wanted to change their votes from Franken to Coleman.
Posted by: DrGail on May 19, 2009 at 3:21 PM | PERMALINK
Re Coleman/Franken fiasco:
It is becoming more and more evident that, if your first name is Al, you should consider staying away from direct participation in politics and from running for office.
Posted by: exlibra on May 19, 2009 at 3:25 PM | PERMALINK
I would like to see Russell Feingold & Bernie Sanders run together against Obama and whoever the rethugs put out as their front man.
Because you looooooooove losing elections that make your otherwise dignified candidates look like idiots in the process?
Russ Feingold doesn't have a bigger fan than I, and I'm pretty fond of Bernie, too. But can we get serious for a moment?
Posted by: shortstop on May 19, 2009 at 4:47 PM | PERMALINK