LANDRIEU
DRAWS TOUGH CHALLENGE; SC POLLS; NRCC LOSES TOP NJ PROSPECT. LOUISIANA: State Treasurer John Kennedy (R) -- who switched
parties a few months ago at the urging of Karl Rove and the NRSC
-- announced Thursday he would file paperwork to challenge US
Senator Mary Landrieu (D) next year. Kennedy was a Democratic
candidate for US Senate in 2004, but finished third with 15% in
the open primary. He won re-election last month without opposition,
although his campaign account is now $37,500 in debt. By contrast,
Landrieu starts with over $3.3 million in the bank. While
Congressman Bobby Jindal (R) was handily elected Governor last
month, Landrieu's brother Mitch was re-election Lieutenant Governor
by an even wider margin than Jindal. Our
initial race rating: Toss-Up. SOUTH CAROLINA: A new Clemson University poll shows both
Presidential primary contests remain close, with large undecideds
on each side. The DEM numbers: Hillary Clinton - 19%, Barack Obama
- 17%, John Edwards - 12%, Joe Biden - 2%, and Bill Richardson
- 1%. The GOP numbers: Mitt Romney - 17%, Fred Thompson - 15%,
Mike Huckabee - 13%, John McCain - 11%, Rudy Giuliani - 9%, Ron
Paul - 6%, Duncan Hunter - 1%. NEW JERSEY: The NRCC got some bad news Thursday as their
only major prospect for the open CD-3 seat announced she would
not run. State Senator Diane Allen (R) said she will not run for
the battleground seat, despite be heavily courted to replace retiring
Congressman Jim Saxton (R). Allen blamed her decision on local
GOP infighting: "Now is not the time in my life that I feel
prepared to again fight a Democrat opponent, as well as a rogue
faction of the Burlington County Republican Party simultaneously."
With Allen out, the likeliest GOP candidates now are some second-tier
hopefuls. State Senator John Adler is the Dem candidate. New race
rating: Leans Dem.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 11.30.07 | Permalink
|
THURSDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
GOP
CNN-YOUTUBE DEBATE.
Why the short entry today? Because I spent most of Thursday evening
(after nearly 11 hours at work during the day, mostly spent writing)
watching the GOP CNN/YouTube debate. It was actually a good, feisty
debate. The
winner tonight was probably Mike Huckabee, who registered a very
strong performance. His answers exuded confidence, warmth and
smart politics. Further, the shots aimed at Huckabee by rivals
didn't seem to inflict any real injuries. John McCain owned the
moral high ground on the torture issue, and generally seemed strong
throughout. Rudy Giuliani also performed fairly well, but was
on the receiving end of quite a few shots. Mitt Romney seemed
to start strong in the opening moments, but was rattled early
and sounded progressively worse as the event wore on. So much
so that Romney's voice even seemed to falter, with halting and
waffling responses on some uncomfortable questions. Fred Thompson
was, well, again just present -- but was a total non-factor. Tom
Tancredo and Duncan Hunter were largely ignored sideshows. Ron
Paul stuck to his guns on Iraq and other issues -- however unpopular
at times in the room -- including his gadfly belief in some sort
of Council on Foreign Relations/Trilateral Commission conspiracy
to create create a so-called North American Union merging the
US, Canada and Mexico. If anything, Wednesday evening's debate
seemed to confirm the perception that the contest is now largely
between Romney, Giuliani and Huckabee (and with McCain still making
a resurgent bid for the first tier).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 11.29.07 | Permalink
|
WEDNESDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
KYL
TO BE NEXT WHIP; IOWA TIGHTENS; CONTRADICTORY FL POLLS; "NOT
MY MAN MITCH"; DENNIS + RON. US SENATE: Senator Jon
Kyl (R-AZ) is now a lock to replace resigning Senator Trent Lott
(R-MS) as Senate Minority Whip. Kyl currently holds the third-highest
ranking leadership post: Senate GOP Conference Chair. It appears
Kyl will win the Whip post without opposition. Senator Lamar Alexander
(R-TN) -- who last year lost to Lott for the Whip post by just
one vote -- surprisingly announced he would not oppose Kyl for
Whip and will instead run for Conference Chair. Senators Kay Bailey
Hutchison (R-TX) and Richard Burr (R-NC) are also reportedly interested
in running for Conference Chair. KBH seems an odd candidate for
the leadership post, as she previously indicated she's thinking
of resigning her seat around 2009-2010 -- before the end of her
current term -- to run for Texas Governor in 2010. IOWA: The latest Strategic Vision poll of likely Iowa caucus
participants confirms both contests have significantly tightened.
The GOP numbers: Mitt Romney - 26%, Mike Huckabee - 24%, Rudy
Giuliani - 14%, Fred Thompson - 10%, John McCain - 7%, Ron Paul
- 5%, Tom Tancredo - 3%, Duncan Hunter - 1%. The DEM numbers:
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama tied with 29% each, John Edwards
- 23%, Bill Richardson - 6%, Joe Biden - 4%, and Chris Dodd and
Dennis Kucinich tied with 1% apiece. FLORIDA: We also have two new Florida polls, but they give
very different snapshots of the GOP Presidential primary contest.
The CNN/Opinion Research poll gives Rudy Giuliani a big lead.
The numbers: Giuliani - 38%, Romney - 17%, McCain and Thompson
tied with 11% each, Huckabee - 9%, Paul - 5%, Hunter - 1%. However,
the new Insider Advantage/Majority Opinion poll shows Huckabee
moving up on Giuliani in the Sunshine State. The numbers: Giuliani
- 26%, Huckabee - 17%, McCain - 13%, Romney - 12%, Thompson -
9%. INDIANA: A new Indianapolis Star/WTHR poll shows
Governor Mitch Daniels (R) is in serious trouble next year against
either of his Democratic opponents. Daniels trails former Congresswoman
Jill Long Thompson (D) by a vote of 44% to 43%. Daniels trails
wealthy architectural firm owner Jim Schellinger (D) by a vote
of 44% to 40%. Also, by a 57-35 margin, voters say the state is
headed
in the "wrong direction." KUCINICH-PAUL: Here's an unusual item from Dennis Kucinich
(D) -- a story especially odd as Kucinich is currently tied for
last place in recent Democratic Presidential primary polls. The
liberal Kucinich told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer he is
thinking of libertarian Congressman Ron Paul (R) as his VP runningmate
"to balance the energies in this country ... Think of how
you could unite the country, having a Democrat and a Republican
on the ticket." Kucinich noted they both staunchly oppose
the Iraq War. Paul's spokesman politely shot down the idea, noting
the men disagree on key issues like abortion, taxes, health care
and the overall role of government. "Dr. Paul and Rep. Kucinich
are friends and there is a lot of mutual respect. They have worked,
and will continue to work, together on ending the war and protecting
civil liberties," explained Paul Communications Director
Jesse Benton.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 11.28.07 | Permalink
|
TUESDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
LOTT
ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION; HASTERT OUT; EDWARDS SUPPORTS GAYS SERVING
OPENLY IN MILITARY; AILING CARSON RETIRES. MISSISSIPPI: US Senate Minority Whip Trent
Lott (R-MS) announced Monday he will resign his seat before the
end of this year. After 35 years in Washington, Lott said: "I've
missed a lot of those opportunities to spend extra time with family.
We'd like to have a little more time to do that, too. So I am
announcing today that I will be retiring from the Senate by the
end of the year. It's not effective today. I want to collaborate
and consult with our Governor, state officials, and with federal
officials, and I want to continue to serve in my position as Whip
in the Senate right to the end of the session and try to be helpful
there as much as I can." Coincidentally, Lott's timing will
allow him to almost immediately become a DC lobbyist upon resigning
-- as it avoids the new lobbying rules taking effect January 1
that will bar future former Senators from becoming lobbyists for
two years after leaving office. Others, however, suggest another
wild possibility that porn publisher Larry Flynt and others
may have played a role in the stunning announcement. (Note:
the escort in question flatly
denies the rumors as false.) Governor
Haley Barbour, meanwhile, announced he will quickly appoint an
interim Senator and schedule a special election in November 2008.
Barbour also said he would not appoint himself to the seat nor
be a candidate for it. Dems say Barbour is not following state
law, which requires the special election to be called within 90
days of the resignation date if Lott resigns in a non-election
year. However, if Lott can be persuaded to stay past January 1,
state law would allow the vote to be delayed until November. Congressman
Roger Wicker is viewed as the leading likely GOP candidate. Retiring
Congressman Chip Pickering (R) previously expressed interest in
seeking a Senate seat, but is now viewed as unlikely to run. Former
Governor Ronnie Musgrove and former Attorney General Mike Moore
are seen as the two leading Democratic hopefuls. Musgrove quickly
confirmed to the media he was "seriously considering running."
The Washington Post reported Moore
"is indeed interested" at the race. In related news,
Lott is apparently supporting Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) as his replacement
as Whip. ILLINOIS: Former US House Speaker Denny Hastert (R) finally
submitted his previously announced written resignation letter,
effective at 11:59 pm on Monday. The move will now allow Governor
Rod Blagojevich (D) to schedule the special election primary to
coincide with the state's February 5th Presidential primary. Hastert
delayed his resignation so as to avoid the special general election
taking place on February 5 -- when they fear Dems showing up to
vote for favorite son Barack Obama would give the Dems a pickup
opportunity. With Hastert's timing, the special general election
will likely be in March. EDWARDS:
John Edwards (D) on Monday called for allowing gays and lesbian
to serve openly in the military. In a statement submitted to the
Human Rights Campaign, Edwards said "It is long past time
to end the military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t
Tell’ policy and to allow openly gay men and women to serve
in the military ... This is an issue of fundamental fairness --
and our military ought to treat everyone fairly. ‘Don’t
Ask Don’t Tell’ did not become wrong. It was always
wrong." INDIANA: Congresswoman Julia Carson (D) released a written
statement on Sunday saying she has been diagnosed with terminal
cancer . On Monday, her office confirmed she will not seek re-election.
She is already receiving hospice home care and many with knowledge
of her condition are unsure she will survive to the end of her
current term. Expect a crowded field of candidates from both parties
for this competitive -- but Dem-leaning -- seat.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 11.27.07 | Permalink
|
MONDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
SAVE
TUCKER, PART 2. I'm back in Florida, but am pretty tired after ten hours of
flying (plus the six hour time difference). Thus I have only this
one story today, which is a follow-up to a
story one we originally reported on November 14.
Two Florida men have launched an online, grassroots campaign to
persuade MSNBC executives to not cancel conservative pundit
Tucker Carlson's show. Carlson's political news and commentary
show airs weeknights at 6 pm EST. Amusingly, the name they selected
for their website is SaveTucker.org
(presumably a "Save Ferris" derivative). The two men
behind the project are insurance salesman John Bertran of Melbourne,
Florida, and Broward County Sheriff's Office civilian employee
Alain Jean of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Bertran says the two men
met online through their political interests and decided to form
the Friends of Tucker group and the SaveTucker.org
site. Bertran is a Cuban-American Republican and a conservative.
Jean is a Democratic activist in the Haitian-American community,
a 2006 state legislative candidate, and a former intern to US
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D). According to the New York Times,
MSNBC is considering shifting their programming leftward in a
effort to capture younger viewers. Reportedly, that move would
include canceling Carlson's show. "It would be tragic if one of
the most important conservative voices that MSNBC provides to
balance the liberal views of Keith Olberman, former Tip O'Neill
aide Chris Mathews, and Dan Abrams," said Bertran. "Tucker
Carlson brings humor, civility and lively debate to talk television.
Even if you don't agree with him, he is respectful and entertaining,"
said Jean. The two men are urging viewers to visit their site,
join the Friends of Tucket cause, and send emails to MSNBC executives
to "ask that they reconsider and Save Tucker." [Editor's
Note: In the interests of full disclosure, I've been friends with
Alain for several years. Not quite sure why he's doing this ...
but it is a good story.]
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 11.26.07 | Permalink
|
THURSDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
HAPPY
THANKSGIVING. P2008 - The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the state
legislature's selection of January 15, 2008, as the presidential
primary was lawful. Lower state courts had canceled the January
primary date. State Dem and GOP leaders were unified in support
for the date change, even though it violated the DNC's and RNC's
authorized primary schedule. Thus, the January 15 primary is back
on the calendar. In response, New Hampshire Secretary of State
Bill Gardner announced on Wednesday afternoon that the Granite
State's primary will now be set for January 8 (i.e., five days
after the Iowa caucuses on January 3). Also keep in mind that
US Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) threatened that the Michigan Dems
may decide to not hold a primary and instead hold a caucus on
the same date as the NH primary. Stay tuned. IOWA - A new Washington Post/ABC News poll of likely
GOP Presidential caucus participants shows the Mitt Romney versus
Mike Huckabee fight rapidly narrowing. The numbers: Romney - 28%,
Huckabee - 24%, Fred Thompson - 15%, Rudy Giuliani - 13%, and
John McCain and Ron Paul were tied with 6% apiece. Huckabee's
rise comes as he apparently is solidifying his support among Iowa
evangelicals. BUSH ADMINISTRATION - The US Senate convened on Wednesday
for a 22-second session. Simply by convening the split-second
official session, the Senate Dems used procedural rules which
prohibit President Bush from making any of the so-called recess
appointments which became so controversial in past years. US Senator
Jim Webb (D-VA) ran the quick session in the empty Senate chamber,
as he lives nearby. "I'd much rather be doing this than allow
the President to skirt the confirmation process in the Senate.
This is an exercise in protecting the Constitution and our constitutional
process," explained Webb.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 11.22.07 | Permalink
|
WEDNESDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
HILLARY
LEAD SAGS IN NH; UDALL STRONG IN NM; NEB SENATE NEWS; FRANCE STRIKE
UPDATE. Editor's Note: Why the early postings this week? Because I'm
in France and there's a six hour time difference ... so midnight
here in Paris is only 6 PM on the US East Coast. NEW HAMPSHIRE - A new CNN/WMUR-TV poll of likely Democratic
Presidential
primary voters shows Hillary Clinton losing ground in the state,
but still retaining her lead. The numbers: Clinton - 36%, Barack
Obama - 22%, John Edwards - 13%, Bill Richardson - 12%, Dennis
Kucinich - 3%, Joe Biden - 2%, Chris Dodd - 1%, and Mike Gravel
- 0%. The numbers reflect a seven point drop for Clinton, coupled
with a six-point gain for Richardson since the September poll. NEW MEXICO - A new KOB-TV/SurveyUSA poll shows Congressman
Tom Udall (D) well positioned to win the state's open US Senate
seat next year. In the Dem primary, Udall leads Albuquerque Mayor
Martin Chavez by a vote of 62% to 32%. In the GOP primary, Congresswoman
Heather Wilson leads Congressman Steve Pearce by a vote of 56%
to 37%. In general election match-ups, Udall is also very strong.
Udall leads Wilson by a 56-41 vote. Udall is ahead of Pearce by
a similarly comfortable margin: 54% to 40%. NEBRASKA - The Lincoln Journal-Star reports that
Attorney General Jon Bruning (R) is "poised" to quit the open
US Senate race next week. The move, if true, would allow former
Governor Mike Johanns to win the GOP nomination with only nominal
opposition. Bruning's campaign manager discounted the story as
"gossip and speculation," but he did not make a direct denial
of the report. Bruning has already raised over $1 million. Until
recent days, Bruning had repeatedly blasted Johanns for supporting
the Bush-McCain immigration reform plan earlier this year. Starting
a few days ago, Bruning now calls Johnanns "a friend" and offers
only praise of him. FRANCE - The International Herald Tribune reported
the following on Tuesday evening: "Another strike loomed on the
horizon. Pilots in Air France's SPAF union have called a strike
to protest working conditions. That strike was scheduled for Saturday
through Tuesday, and two other pilots' unions were planning to
join it." Well, I'm scheduled to fly home on Sunday on Air France
(a Delta co-branded flight) so we'll see if I make it home as
scheduled. The other national strikes expanded Tuesday, with an
estimated 300,000 - 700,000 transport, electrical, government
and educational workers now out on strike against the Sarkozy
government.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 11.21.07 | Permalink
|
TUESDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
FERGUSON
RETIRES; ROMNEY GAINS IN NH; GOV BLUNT TRAILS; RACIAL ELECTORAL
SHIFT IN NEW ORLEANS. Editor's Note: Why the early postings this week? Because I'm
in France and there's a six hour time difference ... so midnight
here in Paris is only 6 PM on the US East Coast. NEW JERSEY - In a very surprising move, conservative Congressman
Mike Ferguson (R-NJ) announced Monday he would not seek re-election
to a fifth term next year. At age 37, Ferguson is one of the youngest
US House members. Ferguson won a tough re-election battle last
year over State Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D) by a 1% plurality
margin. Stender was already an announced candidate for the CD-7
seat in 2008 and raised over $240,000 in 3Q-07. Ferguson, the
father of four young children, said the long hours in DC helped
him make his decision. "Since first being elected in 2000, I have
strived to balance my responsibilities to my family and to my
constituents ... Being a representative in Congress is more meaningful
than I had imagined, and I know that now is the right time to
step away from public life to focus more on family life while
our children are still young," explained Ferguson. While Stender
has a lock on the Dem nomination, the GOP primary race is wide
open. Former Congressman Bob Franks and State Senator Tom Kean
Jr. are both being mentioned as possible Republican candidates,
as are others. Kean -- the GOP nominee for US Senate in 2006 --
lost the 2000 primary to Ferguson for the CD-7 seat. Franks formerly
held Ferguson's seat, but gave it up to make a failed primary
run for Governor in 2001. Ferguson is the 17th Congressional Republican
to announce his retirement for 2008. NEW HAMPSHIRE - A new CNN/WMUR-TV poll of likely GOP Presidential
primary voters shows Mitt Romney widening his lead in the state
by eight more points since the last CNN/WMUR-TV poll here two
months ago.
The numbers: Romney - 33%, John McCain - 18%, Rudy Giuliani -
16%, Ron Paul - 8%, Mike Huckabee - 5%, Fred Thompson - 4%, Tom
Tancredo - 1%, Duncan Hunter - 0%. The numbers also show an 8-point
slide for Giuliani, a 9-point drop by Thompson, a 4-point gain
by Paul, and a 2-point gain by Huckabee. McCain's number are unchanged
since the September poll. MISSOURI - A new Research 2000/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/KMOV-TV
poll shows Attorney General Jay Nixon (D)moving into a solid lead
over Governor Matt Blunt (R) in next year's gubernatorial contest.
The numbers: Nixon - 51%, Blunt - 42%. According to the newspaper,
Blunt's slump was largely due to the fact that "a majority of
likely Missouri voters" disagreed with Blunt's state health care
plan for the poor. NEW ORLEANS - In a sign of the electoral effect Hurricane
Katrina had on New Orleans, the newly elected City Council will
be majority white for the first time since the early 1980s. The
results of a Saturday run-off shifted the Council to a 4-3 white
majority.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 11.20.07 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE; USE OUR FACEBOOK GROUP TO PROMOTE YOUR CANDIDATES.
Here's an idea how you can use our Politics1 group on Facebook
to promote candidates you're backing. If you belong to our P1
group, post photos of yourself with the candidates you back on
our P1 group page. And, if you haven't yet joined the group, click
here to join our group. C'mon ... give in to the peer pressure
... cuz all the cool kids are doing it.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 11.20.07 | Permalink
|
MONDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
NH
A.G. INVESTIGATES ANTI-ROMNEY CALLS; RUDY LIKES THOMAS, SCALIA;
DOBBS NOT RUNNING; GOP STRONG FOR NE SEN; COCHRAN RUNS. ROMNEY - The New Hampshire Attorney General's office has
opened a formal investigation into the anti-Mormon calls targeted
at Mitt
Romney's (R) religious faith. The call scripts invoked numerous
references to Mormon religious beliefs. Romney said the message
was "un-American." The calls were aimed at voters in both New
Hampshire and Iowa. In an interesting twist, the Utah company
that was apparently hired to make the calls -- Western Wats --
includes Romney contributors on its payroll. The company's CEO
is also reportedly a friend of Romney. A Romney spokesman said
it was "preposterous" that Romney's campaign was involved in the
calls in an effort to gain backlash sympathy for the candidate.
Rival campaigns suggest it would have been insane for any campaign
to hire a Utah-based company to make anti-Mormon calls. Meanwhile,
the company refuses to name their client, but specifically stated
the rumor that the Giuliani campaign paid for the calls was false.
John McCain denied any involvement and said he welcomed the AG's
investigation. US Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH), speaking for the
Romney campaign, also praised the AG's office for opening an investigation.
The other GOP campaigns also are denying any involvement. New
Hampshire law requires the all political advertising -- including
phone calls -- to identify who paid for it. The NH calls did not
contain any disclaimer as to the funding source. Political professionals
believe the calls will ultimately trace back to a "527 group"
or individual without direct links to a candidate -- but that
doesn't mean a campaign was not involved in planning the calls.
Additionally, it would seem unlikely this matter is cleared up
before the Iowa and New Hampshire contests in a few weeks. GIULIANI - Speaking before the conservative Federalist
Society on Friday, Rudy Giuliani (R) promised that he would only
appoint "strict constructionist" judges like Clarence Thomas,
Antonin Scalia and Miguel Estrada to the federal bench. DOBBS - TV show host Lou Dobbs of CNN quickly shot down
rumors he was looking at making an independent run for President
next year. "I have no interest in running, and I've said that
throughout," he told the New York Times. NEBRASKA - The GOP looks well positioned to hold retiring
US Senator Chuck Hagel's (R) seat next year, according to new
polling data. The Research 2000/Daily Kos poll shows former Governor
Mike Johanns (R) leading rancher and '06 Congressional nominee
Scott Kleeb (D) by a 59% to 28% vote. Attorney General Jon Bruning
(R) leads Kleeb by a vote of 55% to 29%. MISSISSIPPI - US Senator Thad Cochran (R) announced last
week he would seek re-election next year. Cochran appeared in
recent weeks to be waffling on a decision, as he postponed his
announcement more than once. "There is no reason to delay any
longer. I have enjoyed serving in the Senate, and I am highly
honored to have had the support and encouragement to continue
this service from friends throughout the state," said Cochran.
With Cochran running again, the seat is safely Republican.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 11.19.07 | Permalink
|
FRIDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
DOBBS
'08?; HASTERT TO RESIGN; HUCKABEE RISING; NO TELECOM IMMUNITY
IN SENATE'S FISA RENEWAL.
Here's a very quick take on the political news ... TV show host
Lou Dobbs of CNN acknowledged he is "conteplating" making an independent
run for President next year ...
former House Speaker Denny Hastert (R-IL), who previously announced
he will not seek re-election, will resign his seat before the
end of the year. This will trigger a special election, but the
timing ensures it will take place after the state's February 5
Presidential primary date ... Two new polls out of Iowa show Mike
Huckabee rapidly gaining on Mitt Romney. The ARG poll shows Romney
leading 26% to 24%. The Research 2000 poll shows Romney ahead
27% to 18%. Regardless of which is a better indicator of true
voter sentiments, both confirm Huckabee is quickly gaining traction
... The Dems debated in Nevada on Thursday evening. Unlike the
last debate, Hillary Clinton registered a much more solid performance
than her waffling performance must skewered by rival campaigns
... By a 10-9 vote, the US Senate Judiciary Committee approved
a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act overhaul that does not
grant immunity to the telecommunications corporations for assisting
federal officials with unwarranted wiretaps of domestic phone
calls ... Finally, reporting live from sunny and chilly Paris,
the national transit, electrical and gas workers continue to strike
to protest the Sarkozy government labor reform plans. What was
normally a 40 minute taxi ride into central Paris from the airport
(CDG) took over two hours due to traffic snarls. The only subway
line functioning normally is the fully-automated Line 14 (i.e.,
no workers drive the train, so it isn't impacted). Areas also
are experiencing very brief rolling blackouts -- call it a passive-aggressive
side of the strike -- but the duration we saw last night was just
one brief outage lasting just two minutes.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 11.16.07 | Permalink
|
While
Congressman Bobby Jindal (R) was handily elected Governor last
month, Landrieu's brother Mitch was re-election Lieutenant Governor
by an even wider margin than Jindal. Our
initial race rating: Toss-Up.
The
winner tonight was probably Mike Huckabee, who registered a very
strong performance. His answers exuded confidence, warmth and
smart politics. Further, the shots aimed at Huckabee by rivals
didn't seem to inflict any real injuries. John McCain owned the
moral high ground on the torture issue, and generally seemed strong
throughout. Rudy Giuliani also performed fairly well, but was
on the receiving end of quite a few shots. Mitt Romney seemed
to start strong in the opening moments, but was rattled early
and sounded progressively worse as the event wore on. So much
so that Romney's voice even seemed to falter, with halting and
waffling responses on some uncomfortable questions. Fred Thompson
was, well, again just present -- but was a total non-factor. Tom
Tancredo and Duncan Hunter were largely ignored sideshows. Ron
Paul stuck to his guns on Iraq and other issues -- however unpopular
at times in the room -- including his gadfly belief in some sort
of Council on Foreign Relations/Trilateral Commission conspiracy
to create create a so-called North American Union merging the
US, Canada and Mexico. If anything, Wednesday evening's debate
seemed to confirm the perception that the contest is now largely
between Romney, Giuliani and Huckabee (and with McCain still making
a resurgent bid for the first tier). 
Jon
Kyl (R-AZ) is now a lock to replace resigning Senator Trent Lott
(R-MS) as Senate Minority Whip. Kyl currently holds the third-highest
ranking leadership post: Senate GOP Conference Chair. It appears
Kyl will win the Whip post without opposition. Senator Lamar Alexander
(R-TN) -- who last year lost to Lott for the Whip post by just
one vote -- surprisingly announced he would not oppose Kyl for
Whip and will instead run for Conference Chair. Senators Kay Bailey
Hutchison (R-TX) and Richard Burr (R-NC) are also reportedly interested
in running for Conference Chair. KBH seems an odd candidate for
the leadership post, as she previously indicated she's thinking
of resigning her seat around 2009-2010 -- before the end of her
current term -- to run for Texas Governor in 2010.
headed
in the "wrong direction." 
Trent
Lott (R-MS) announced Monday he will resign his seat before the
end of this year. After 35 years in Washington, Lott said: "I've
missed a lot of those opportunities to spend extra time with family.
We'd like to have a little more time to do that, too. So I am
announcing today that I will be retiring from the Senate by the
end of the year. It's not effective today. I want to collaborate
and consult with our Governor, state officials, and with federal
officials, and I want to continue to serve in my position as Whip
in the Senate right to the end of the session and try to be helpful
there as much as I can." Coincidentally, Lott's timing will
allow him to almost immediately become a DC lobbyist upon resigning
-- as it avoids the new lobbying rules taking effect January 1
that will bar future former Senators from becoming lobbyists for
two years after leaving office. Others, however, suggest 
EDWARDS:
John Edwards (D) on Monday called for allowing gays and lesbian
to serve openly in the military. In a statement submitted to the
Human Rights Campaign, Edwards said "It is long past time
to end the military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t
Tell’ policy and to allow openly gay men and women to serve
in the military ... This is an issue of fundamental fairness --
and our military ought to treat everyone fairly. ‘Don’t
Ask Don’t Tell’ did not become wrong. It was always
wrong."
Tucker Carlson's show. Carlson's political news and commentary
show airs weeknights at 6 pm EST. Amusingly, the name they selected
for their website is 
Presidential
primary voters shows Hillary Clinton losing ground in the state,
but still retaining her lead. The numbers: Clinton - 36%, Barack
Obama - 22%, John Edwards - 13%, Bill Richardson - 12%, Dennis
Kucinich - 3%, Joe Biden - 2%, Chris Dodd - 1%, and Mike Gravel
- 0%. The numbers reflect a seven point drop for Clinton, coupled
with a six-point gain for Richardson since the September poll.
The numbers: Romney - 33%, John McCain - 18%, Rudy Giuliani -
16%, Ron Paul - 8%, Mike Huckabee - 5%, Fred Thompson - 4%, Tom
Tancredo - 1%, Duncan Hunter - 0%. The numbers also show an 8-point
slide for Giuliani, a 9-point drop by Thompson, a 4-point gain
by Paul, and a 2-point gain by Huckabee. McCain's number are unchanged
since the September poll.
