Thursday’s political round-up

April 20, 2006

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:

* In a setback for DSCC recruiting, Las Vegas Mayor [tag]Oscar Goodman[/tag] (D) announced yesterday that he will not run against incumbent Sen. [tag]John Ensign[/tag] (R-Nev.) this year, despite pressure from leading Dems. “I love Las Vegas, I love being mayor of Las Vegas,” Goodman said in an interview Wednesday with the Review-Journal. “I have a lot on my plate, I want to see it come to fruition, and I can only do that at home.” The decision leaves [tag]Jack Carter[/tag], an investment consultant in Las Vegas and the son of the former president, as the sole Democratic candidate.

* A new Quinnipiac poll in Florida shows Sen. [tag]Bill Nelson[/tag] (D) with a huge lead over Rep. [tag]Katherine Harris[/tag] (R), 56% to 27%. His 29-point lead is seven points bigger than it was in last month’s Quinnipiac poll. Among Florida’s independent voters, Nelson leads, 57% to 17%.

* Sen. Linc Chafee’s (R-R.I.) re-election bid got a bit of a boost yesterday when the senator picked up an endorsement from the Sierra Club for both the primary and general elections. “We pledge to do all we can to help ensure Senator [tag]Chafee[/tag] is reelected,” said Alison Buckser, chapter chair of the Rhode Island Sierra Club. “Sierra Club volunteers will work with the campaign to contact voters about his exemplary environmental record.” Kos seems rather displeased about the announcement.

* Speaking of Chafee, the Washington Times’ reported today that Chafee is “the only senator running for re-election who is raising less money than his primary opponent and both Democrats running to replace him, according to Federal Election Commission filings.”

* In Colorado, a report from the Denver Post explains that Republican gubernatorial candidate [tag]Marc Holtzman[/tag] believes the state GOP establishment is favoring his primary opponent, Rep. [tag]Bob Beauprez[/tag], and is threatening to spurn his own party’s convention as a result. On Wednesday, Holtzman sent GOP party chair Bob Martinez a letter citing “grave concerns” over the “potential for widespread fraud and manipulation” at the state convention next month. If a list of 10 election process requirements included in the letter are not met, Holtzman’s spokesman Dick Leggitt said, the campaign might go around the party process and petition the secretary of state’s office to get on the ballot.

This is a prime problem with one-issue groups out there. The prevailing theory I seem to be seeing is that the Sierra Club believes that Republicans are going to maintain control of the Senate, so it is better from their point of view to keep a Republican there who has some clout and an overall environmental record of somewhere around 67% that vote in either Democrat who would have a better environmental record (given their answers to questionnaires), but would have no power.

This doesn’t fly with me. If that is their thinking then they should have just refrained from taking a position. If they didn’t take a position, Chaffee would be unlikely to retaliate even if he wins because he represents an environmentally-conscious constituency. Chaffee votes for the Republican leadership of the Senate, which is extremely environmentally-hostile. A Democrat in that seat would vote for Harry Reid and be able to support filibusters.

This also, for me, cannot be separated from Chaffee’s nose dive on Alito, which helped solidify my RI relatives against him.

I have donated to the Sierra Club for years. First thing this morning, I told them not to expect future support and to take me off their membership list. The Union of Concerned Scientists will be receiving my Sierra Club earmark.

  • Wouldn’t Goodman’s “connections” have been a bit of an issue had he run? I’m not high on Carter’s chances, but I think a Goodman run would have easily gotten out of hand.

  • Michelle, I agree with you completely. This is another example of the differences between the right and left and why we really dont play to win. Our issue groups take pride in being “independent.” Those on the right take pride in how much they bring to the Republican Party. It is unthinkable that Right to Life would endorse a Dem in a high profile Senate race, and while there are a very few exceptions the NRA for the most part wouldn’t either. Indeed, they work within and directly in concert with the Republican campaign machines. Our issue groups try to keep to the side, to not be “swallowed up” by the Democratic campaign operations.

    Imagine a tug-of-war where one side has unraveled its end of the rope and each person is pulling a strand in whatever direction they please and on the other end a team is all in alignment pulling in one direction on a common cadence and you sadly have a good visual of campaigning on the left and the right.

  • FWIW, I wrote this to the S.C. this AM:

    It is so frustratiing to read stuff like this. What is gained by advocating for a guy like Chaffee? He’s still a Republican and you can triangulate all you want, he will ALWAYS be for them before he is for us.

    And they said:

    Thank you for contacting the Sierra Club regarding our recent endorsement of Senator Chafee. The Sierra Club Political Committee (SCPC) is the political action committee through which Sierra Club endorses and supports candidates for office. The goal of the SCPC is to elect Democratic, Republican and Independent pro-environment candidates to the U.S. Senate and House. Our goal is a pro-environment majority. The Sierra Club is a nonpartisan organization that endorses candidates of any party if they meet our criteria—which does not include party affiliation. It’s true that
    we’ve endorsed a lot of Democrats, but it’s because in recent history, they tend to generally have better environmental records. We are extremely pleased to support Republican candidates with good environmental records. In this case Senator Chafee has one of the best environmental records of
    any Senator of any party.

    The real strength of the Sierra Club is mobilizing our members in Rhode Island as well as informing voters in the pro-environment majority of RI about Senator Chafee’s record of protecting our families’ clean air, clean water and special places. The Sierra Club takes many factors into account,
    but mainly our endorsement is based on the candidate’s overall environmental record and platform. The number for a 20% approval rating is inaccurate. We use League of Conservation Voters. Chafee did have a 50% in 2004, he currently has a 90%. 2004 was a year with very few
    environmental votes. Their record is measured by their history of public service, public statements, responses in Club interviews and questionnaires. Chafee’s accurate LCV numbers are:

    109th, 1st Session (2005) 90%
    108th Congress (2003-2004) 72%
    107th Congress (2001-2002) 68%
    106th Congress (1999-2000) 100%

    The Sierra Club takes its endorsements very seriously. In order to ensure that we have a fair process that results in a mutually beneficial endorsement, we often consider several candidates for endorsement. While Senator Chafee clearly is an environmental leader, we believe our endorsement carries more weight and credibility when we can say that we have carefully looked at the candidates before making our decision.
    Senator Chafee has an excellent environmental record. He has voted to protect clean air-he was the deciding vote to stop Bush’s Clear Skies plan which would have gutted the Clean Air Act. He is a leader on protecting the Endangered Species act. He protected Clean Air laws again by being the deciding vote to stop a plan to build more oil refineries without environmental protections. He is a leader on global warming on energy
    issues. Senator Chafee has been there for the environment when the environment needed him the most. We cannot take party affiliation into account when someone who has been a loyal friend to the environment needs our support.

    Hopefully this will help answer some of your questions and clarify why the Sierra Club has chosen to support Senator Chafee. Please let us know if you have any additional questions or concerns.

    “Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet.”

    Best Regards,

    Tammy Erwin
    Sierra Club Information

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