Wednesday’s political round-up

July 12, 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 Minnesota, Veterinarian and philanthropist [tag]Ford Bell[/tag] (D) ended his Senate campaign yesterday, clearing the way for Hennepin County Attorney [tag]Amy Klobuchar[/tag] to win the Dem (technically, the DFL) nomination in September. Bell said he had “not a doubt” that he could have defeated Rep. [tag]Mark Kennedy[/tag] (R) in November “but it has also become clear that our campaign will not be able to raise enough money to win the September primary.” Bell also endorsed Klobuchar, who said in a statement, “We’ve had our differences but today we are united and determined to elect a Senator who will put the people of Minnesota first.”

* Wisconsin Gov. [tag]Jim Doyle[/tag] (D), whom Republicans had targeted as vulnerable this year, has built on earlier leads over Rep. [tag]Mark Green[/tag] (R) and is now ahead by double digits. A Badger poll released this week shows Doyle ahead, 49% to 36%.

* Republicans in Florida have just about made up their minds on the state’s two big races this year. According to a new SurveyUSA poll, state Attorney General [tag]Charlie Crist[/tag] is well on his way to winning the GOP gubernatorial nomination, leading [tag]Tom Gallagher[/tag] 61% to 23%. In the Senate race, Rep. [tag]Katherine Harris[/tag] is facing a series of unknown candidates, and she leads among primary voters with 51% support. (via Taegan Goddard)

* In an odd twist to an already strange race, rumor has it that Republican state Rep. [tag]Diana Urban[/tag] is considering her own independent U.S. Senate campaign, raising the possibility of a four-way race if Sen. [tag]Joe Lieberman[/tag] leaves the Dems. Urban reportedly picked up some petitions yesterday.

* And in Ohio’s closely watched 18th congressional district, scandal-plagued incumbent Rep. [tag]Bob Ney[/tag] (R) admits he’s in some trouble, as evidenced by a new poll, conducted by Ney’s campaign, that shows him leading his Dem rival, [tag]Zack Space[/tag], by only four points. “There’s no doubt this race will be a challenge,” Ney pollster Glen Bolger said in a statement. Space, meanwhile, is touting his own internal polls, which, as recently as last month, showed him leading the race.

I hate to say it but I allmost wish Doyle would lose in Nov. He has been a horrible Dem in his time as Govenor.

  • I have some commentary on the Bell thing here: Ford Bell lackss seduction. His message was perfect, it was just who he said it to and how he said it that failed.

    He had a progressive message, but he was unknown in the progressive/peace community before caucuses. Maybe he was useful in spreading the peace message to other Minneapolis-based ‘patrician bluebloods’, but they weren’t able to contribute enough votes or money to balance out the DSCC and John Kerry sponosred PAC e-mail fundraising letters and house parties at Ambassador’s residences that the East Coast elites wrangled for Klobuchar.

    There were lots of attacks on Ford Bell for living in an inherited mansion, but I would guesstimate that his net worth is not any greater than that of the Klobuchar household when you factor in likely inheritence from Amy’s famous father.

    Even though Bell endorsed Klobuchar, it is a big gain for Michael Cavlan, a Green that has been running on peace issues that have captured the attention of 22% of the DFL establishment, the 5% of the voters that have voted Green in Minnesota, and hopefully will energize disaffecte (non)-voters to give him a win in the 3 or 4 way race that the MN Senate race is shaping up to be.

  • Frank, while Jim Doyle may have had a lackluster term, it’s never a good idea to have a Republican governor. What if (and, yes, it’s a long shot) Feingold became president? Or if (G-d forbid) anything bad happened to either Feingold or Kohl? A Republican governor would name a Republican successor, adding to their numbers in the senate. Someday, when we decisively take the majority, we can split hairs over who truly upholds the ideals of the Democratic party. But at this juncture, our need can be summed up in three words:

    STRENGTH IN NUMBERS.

  • Great, so Cavlan can be the Ralph Nader of our attempts to retake the US Senate by ensuring Kennedy beats Klobuchar. (Hey, Ralphie – what was that about “no real difference between Bush and Gore anyway”? Still believe that do you? Maybe you should do a tour in the Sunni Triangle and then try the question again. . .)

    Nobody can organize a circular firing squad quite as well as the left. Here’s betting we retake neither chamber this fall, and lose the Presidency in 2008. We simply are too #%*^^#$&^-ing full of ourselves to learn how to actually win an election.

  • Well, Zeitgeist, maybe its time that centrists rally behind progressive candidates for the sake of Democratic Unity?

    There is still a three or four day window for a stronger DFL candidate to enter the primary race. Otherwise, its Cavlan…

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