Thursday’s political round-up

November 10, 2005

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:

* Now that Gov.-elect Jon Corzine (D) is leaving the Senate, the positioning to be his replacement is almost ridiculous. Howard Dean and Harry Reid want Corzine to appoint acting Gov. Richard Codey to fill the post; Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Charles Schumer and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus want Corzine to appoint Rep. Robert Menendez to the seat; and Rep. Robert Andrews says he’s planning to run for the seat regardless. In all, six of the seven House Dems from New Jersey have publicly expressed interest in filling Corzine’s seat.

* A new Keystone poll in Pennsylvania shows Rick “Man on Dog” Santorum falling even further behind in his bid for a third term. Not only has his approval ratings fallen to a six-year low, but he’s also now trailing Bob Casey (D) in a hypothetical match-up by 16 points, 51% to 35%. (via Taegan Goddard)

* Rep. Don Sherwood (R-Pa.) announced yesterday that he has reached a confidential legal settlement with the woman with whom he had a five-year romantic relationship and who accused him of repeatedly assaulting her. House Dems are anxious to use the scandal to help defeat Sherwood and are rallying behind Chris Carney, a naval intelligence officer specializing in anti-terrorism, who’ll take on Sherwood next year. “Don Sherwood promised us that he would represent our family values in Washington. While he has settled his lawsuit, he has irrevocably broken his trust with the voters,” Carney said in a statement yesterday. “He has revealed his character, his judgment, and his values. With these revelations, how can the people of Pennsylvania trust Don Sherwood?”

* In Utah, State Rep. Steve Urquhart (R) has given up his quixotic quest to take on Sen. Orrin Hatch in a Republican primary next year. Urquhart officially left the race yesterday, citing Hatch’s huge financial advantage.

* Shortly after winning a second term by a wide margin, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that his political career will end in four years. Asked if he would consider running for higher office, Bloomberg said, “I will work, if God’s willing, for the next four years for this city as mayor and then go into the world of philanthropy for my next career.”

* And speaking of politicians who’ve had a good week, Virginia Gov. Mark Warner (D) will be in New Hampshire tomorrow, co-hosting a discussion on high school dropouts with New Hampshire Gov. Lynch in Nashua and having lunch with state Senate Democrats in Manchester.

Only the Democrats could take a victory like Corzine’s and use it to split the party more.

We should have some sort of centralized organization we look to for leadership in times like these. Hmmm.

Or, everyone just wave your hand in the air and yell “Pick me, pick me!”

  • Schumer’s role in the split is most troubling. I’m not sure how his DSCC chair gives him a voice that is not subordinate to either the Senate Majority Leader or the DNC. He can certainly argue to Reid and Dean for his view, but for a senator to buck both the Senate Majority Leader and DNC chair is a major breach of party discipline. I normally like Schumer, but this is disappointing.

  • It is certainly Schumer’s responsibility. He’s in charge of the Senate races for 2006, and whomever Corzie appoints will be running. This falls in his sphere more than in Reid’s or Dean’s.

  • Gov-elect Corzine is now a big time player in the party and who ever he picks is going to owe him big time. This is just normal politics and is how it’s done everywhere; in any organisation.

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