The Washington Monthly

March 29, 2010

MONDAY'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.

* Charlie Crist is still losing to Marco Rubio in Florida's Republican Senate primary, but the latest Mason-Dixon poll puts Rubio's lead at "only" 11 points, 48% to 37%.

* Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) needed a running mate, and the state party has chosen Sheila Simon, an attorney and former city council member. Simon is perhaps best known as the daughter of former Senator Paul Simon (D).

* The primary is not until August. But Democrats in Minnesota's 6th congressional district formally endorsed state Sen. Tarryl Clark (D) over the weekend, hoping Clark can topple right-wing Rep. Michele Bachmann (R) in November.

* Many New York Republicans were delighted to recruit Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, a former Dem, to run for governor on the GOP ticket, but rank-and-file Republicans in the Empire State aren't impressed. In the latest Maris poll, Levy trails former Rep. Rick Lazio in the Republican gubernatorial primary by 36 points.

* At this point, former Sen. Lincoln Chafee (I) continues to look like the frontrunner in Rhode Island's gubernatorial race.

* Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons is dropping out of Tennessee's Republican gubernatorial primary, making it a three-way contest between Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, Rep. Zach Wamp, and Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey.

* And speaking of dropping out, I'd completely forgotten that he was still running, but former New Hampshire Sen. Bob Smith (R) was apparently trying to run for the Senate this year in Florida. Late last week, however, Smith quit, citing poor fundraising.

—Steve Benen 12:00 PM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (15)

Comments

Er, Pedants 'R Us here, Steve - In that Tennessee race, would you consider "among"?

Posted by: bertthenitpicker on March 29, 2010 at 12:03 PM | PERMALINK

Interesting situation in Illinois. Quinn publicly supported Simon on Friday. So the state Democratic committee really had no choice but to back Simon. Usually House Speaker Michael Madigan, the state committee chair, rules, and he was backing another candidate.

It was nice to see Mike Madigan lose one!

Posted by: Molly Weasley on March 29, 2010 at 12:05 PM | PERMALINK

Not impressed with Levy( he's had a few set-to's with immigrants and racial profiling in Suffolk Co.),but Lazio is too nice a guy to be Governor. I don't want Paterson any more than the next-and with our legislature in shambles we need a strong hand to motivate Albany back into some semblance of shape.

Posted by: johnnymags on March 29, 2010 at 12:12 PM | PERMALINK

Here's to hoping Clark defeats Bachmann. I'm hoping to focuses on the "embarrassment" argument -- that Bachmann's too busy with national nutjobs to focus on her district. If she delves into, you know, rational debate, Clark will lose.

Posted by: Chris_ on March 29, 2010 at 12:13 PM | PERMALINK

NY's R party has followed the California GOP marching off to the deep end and drowning. Levy is an arse but might actually win the general. Lazio has conservative cred but stands no chance in the general.

Posted by: JM on March 29, 2010 at 12:13 PM | PERMALINK

On it's face, Tarryl Clark sounds like a better bet than some dude named Elwyn Tinklenberg, and El only lost by a few points in 2008!

Posted by: bogenrim on March 29, 2010 at 12:22 PM | PERMALINK

Simon is perhaps best known as the daughter of former Senator Paul Simon (D).

Or, as the losing mayoral candidate in a town of 25,000 in 2007. Adds just tons of credibility to Quinn's flailing governorship.

Posted by: cr on March 29, 2010 at 12:26 PM | PERMALINK

Re: Bob Smith. Wow, I live in Florida and didn't even know he was running. I guess Marco Rubio and Charlie Crist sucked all the oxygen out of that one.

Posted by: Mustang Bobby on March 29, 2010 at 12:32 PM | PERMALINK

Re: Charlie Crist vs Marco Rubio

Normally, we of the rich wing of the republican party would support a pol like Crist. However, to maintain control of the reich wing of our party we must continue to milk their hatreds.

The only thing that comes close to yelling abortion in raising the emotional levels (and lowering the intellectual levels) of our reich wing base is yelling queer.

If this race gets any closer, we are going to have to pull out our 'Charlie Crist is a homo!' advertisements.

Posted by: RepublicanPointOfView on March 29, 2010 at 12:40 PM | PERMALINK

Maybe after he loses Crist can get divorced again and come out of the closet. OK, I admit I just watched the film Outrage.

Posted by: emjayay on March 29, 2010 at 1:19 PM | PERMALINK

Levy hasn't changed his views, just his affiliation to have a real chance at running again Cuomo. He is a fierce campaigner and executive, so it should be a fascinating race. I think he could make real change in Albany - just like he did at every other level of office he's had.

Posted by: Rob on March 29, 2010 at 2:53 PM | PERMALINK

"...to have a real chance at running against Cuomo."

Yeah, he's losing 36 points to Lazio in the Marist poll of the GOP primary, but he has a "real chance" at running against Cuomo" (rolls eyes). Levy has to win that primary to run against Cuomo, you know.

Posted by: daniel rotter on March 29, 2010 at 8:42 PM | PERMALINK

Rick Lazio had a head start of nearly 8 months, Levy's been in the race for 10 days. Lazio has no money, no resources and no drive.