Senate Guru
{Originally posted at my blog Senate Guru.}
As Senator Michael Bennet and former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff square off for the Democratic nomination, the Republican primary appears to be a battle over who can most appeal to the furthest right-wing elements of an already hyper-conservative Republican Party. While the Democrats are running largely centrist campaigns, despite being amid a Democratic primary, the Republican establishment pick and primary front-runner, former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton, is doing nothing to cater to a general election electorate. Rather, Norton is joining her primary competition in far-right-wing revelry, espousing radical rhetoric and featuring a right-wing background that would make any sensible moderate shudder. Here are some of Jane Norton's greatest hits.
(Much, much more below the fold.)
{First, a plug for my blog Senate Guru.}
In 40 days, two HUGE primaries for U.S. Senate will impact Democrats nationwide.
In AR, Bill Halter will try to upset corporate lackey Blanche Lincoln.
New polling by Research 2000 finds that Republican Chuck Grassley is far more vulnerable than the conventional wisdom gives him (dis)credit for.
When asked if Grassley should be re-elected, only 42% said re-elect, while 31% said it was time for someone new, and 27% were not sure. (Remember, being unsure about an incumbent of twenty-nine years bodes poorly for the incumbent.) Among independents, only 39% said re-elect. Not too hot.
The money question of the poll was:
When Senator Chuck Grassley says President Obama and Democrats would QUOTE "pull the plug on grandma" UNQUOTE do you think that does Iowa proud in Congress or embarrasses Iowa?
(Much, more more below the fold.)
Nevada's top political journalist, Jon Ralston, reports:
In the federal penal code, it is known as "structuring." And it is a word Sen. John Ensign should remember because it is very likely to be on any indictment with his name on it. That’s what I am told by a reliable source familiar with the deliberations occurring inside the Justice Department as federal authorities in Washington try to do with Ensign what they could not do with former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens: Get their man. Or, because they had Stevens and then lost him because of misconduct, Justice wants to make sure if it goes to the next step with Ensign, the charges stick.
In the federal penal code, it is known as "structuring."
And it is a word Sen. John Ensign should remember because it is very likely to be on any indictment with his name on it.
That’s what I am told by a reliable source familiar with the deliberations occurring inside the Justice Department as federal authorities in Washington try to do with Ensign what they could not do with former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens: Get their man. Or, because they had Stevens and then lost him because of misconduct, Justice wants to make sure if it goes to the next step with Ensign, the charges stick.
Indictment? Don't mind if I do. (Remember, it was the abysmal Bush DOJ that fumbled the Stevens prosecution.) So what is "structuring?"
Senate Guru posed a simple question to the three Democrats running for U.S. Senate in 2010 from North Carolina:
Why should the progressive netroots support your campaign in North Carolina's 2010 Democratic Senate primary?
Former State Senator Cal Cunningham, Attorney Ken Lewis, and Secretary of State Elaine Marshall offer their responses in an appeal to the progressive netroots, exclusively on Senate Guru.
With Richard "Bank Run" Burr the most vulnerable Republican up in 2010, we have a particularly vested interest in who wins the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in North Carolina. I hope you find their responses informative.
{First, a cheap plug for my blog Senate Guru.}
As we continue to celebrate the historic vote on health care reform (and continue to lament the right-wing's response of threats and violent rhetoric), it's important to remember that we're just three days away from the end of the pivotal first fundraising quarter of 2010. Now is the time to contribute!
Please head over to the Expand the Map! ActBlue page and contribute whatever you are able to these terrific Democratic candidates for Senate.
As we await the historic vote on health care reform, it's important to remember that we're just ten days away from the end of the first fundraising quarter of 2010. The fundraising totals reported in this quarter will be pivotal to determining the tenor of many races for the rest of the year. If there is any time to contribute, now is the time!
A central tenet of the Democratic Party is that we want every American to have access to quality, affordable health care. Period. There should be no debate about that.
As such, Democrats who are wavering on whether or not to support the most substantial health care reform in decades should expect that Democrats in their district will want to replace them with better Democrats. Period. There should be no surprise about that.
It looks like conservative Democratic Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts' 9th Congressional district wants to make himself a test case.
Rebuffing personal pleas from President Obama and Vicki Kennedy, Representative Stephen F. Lynch said yesterday that he will vote against the Democrats’ health care overhaul, contending that it doesn’t put enough pressure on insurance companies to reduce costs. The move is a shift for the South Boston Democrat, who voted in favor of the original House bill along with the rest of the Massachusetts delegation in November.
Rebuffing personal pleas from President Obama and Vicki Kennedy, Representative Stephen F. Lynch said yesterday that he will vote against the Democrats’ health care overhaul, contending that it doesn’t put enough pressure on insurance companies to reduce costs.
The move is a shift for the South Boston Democrat, who voted in favor of the original House bill along with the rest of the Massachusetts delegation in November.
{First, a cheap plug for my blog Senate Guru. You can contribute to terrific Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate via the Expand the Map! ActBlue page.}Recent polling from Public Policy Polling and Research 2000 suggests that Democratic Congressman Kendrick Meek is in terrific position to win Florida's 2010 U.S. Senate race.As such, Senate Guru has added Congressman Meek's campaign to its Expand the Map! ActBlue fundraising page, which has raised tens of thousands of dollars for Democratic candidates for Senate in the 2008 and current 2010 cycles.To kick off the addition of Congressman Meek, we're looking to start off with just $100 raised to get the ball rolling. Just five $20 contributions would be a great start! Can you chip in $20?Visit the Expand the Map! ActBlue page to chip in if you can!
Best I can tell, there are five 2010 U.S. Senate races that still don't have a Democratic candidate.
Much more below the fold.
It's been almost a year since Election Day 2008, but some of our '08 champs could still use a little help. Just sayin'.
As of September 30, 2009:
(Much more below the fold.)
The man who beat non-Democrat Joe Lieberman in the 2006 Democratic Senate primary in Connecticut urges you to stand with the man who will beat non-Democrat Arlen Specter in the 2010 Democratic Senate primary in Pennsylvania.
Also, courtesy of The REAL Arlen Specter:
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