Friday’s political round-up

September 30, 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:

* Hoping to create a little more distance between himself and Republican Doug Forrester in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race, Sen. Sen. Jon Corzine (D) hit the campaign trail yesterday with the Big Dog, former President Bill Clinton. Clinton said he didn’t want to give a “whoop-de-do” speech, but rather make an earnest plea for a man he said had been “an agent of change” throughout his life.

* A Republican poll conducted by Strategic Vision continues to show big leads for Dems in Michigan. In the gubernatorial race, Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) leads challenger Dick DeVos (R), 47% to 33%. In the U.S. Senate race, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) leads Keith Butler, 48% to 27%. (via Taegan Goddard)

* Dems in the Minnesota Senate continue to battle for position, but one just got a big boost — attorney Amy Klobuchar was endorsed yesterday by EMILY’s List. In some competitive statewide races, EMILY’s List has contributed more than $1 million in PAC and bundled donations from members across the country to pro-choice female candidates.

* Few Republicans have expressed any interest in taking on New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) next year, but George Bailey (R) has thrown his hat in the ring. This will be Bailey’s, an educator and ordained minister, first attempt at elected office.

* Rep. Chris Cannon (R-Utah) isn’t exactly a moderate among House Republicans, but that doesn’t mean he won’t face a primary challenge from the even-further right wing of his party. State Sen. Curt Bramble (R), who has served as the treasurer of Cannon’s campaign, said this week that he’s considering taking Cannon on next year. “I don’t know whether I’m going to run or not,” Bramble said. “There’s been a number of groups that have asked me. They’ve offered support. But I haven’t made any decisions yet.”

* Arkansas Attorney General Mike Beebe (D) is the presumptive Dem nominee in the state’s gubernatorial race next year, but former Social Security Administration chief David Bill Halter (D) is reportedly considering forcing Beebe into a primary. Halter has created a website, including an automated contribution form, and posted a message this week saying he’s giving major consideration to the race.

* And in case there weren’t already enough Republicans running for governor in Pennsylvania, Jim Panyard, former head of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association, has entered the race. Panyard, who admitted he’s a long shot, will compete against former Lt. Gov. William Scranton, former football player Lynn Swann, and state Sen. Jeffrey Piccola in a GOP primary.

When did George Bailey leave Bedford Falls?

  • do you have a link for the Arkansas governor’s race? There was a William “Bill” Halter that was the interim head of SSA essentially in between the outgoing Clinton and incoming Bush administrations. Are you sure the first name is David?

  • I found Halter’s website for governor of Arkansas, and yes, his first name is Bill and he is the SSA head I spoke of above. So I would assume Halter, who was the deputy commissioner at SSA for a while before getting the head title got his post by knowing Clinton in Arkansas.

  • A Republican poll conducted by Strategic Vision continues to show big leads for Dems in Michigan. In the gubernatorial race, Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) leads challenger Dick DeVos (R), 47% to 33%. In the U.S. Senate race, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) leads Keith Butler, 48% to 27%. (via Taegan Goddard)

    Any concerns that the incumbants are polling below 50% or is that result becuase it was a republican poll?

  • Any concerns that the incumbants are polling below 50% or is that result becuase it was a republican poll?

    Some concern about the

  • do you have a link for the Arkansas governor’s race? There was a William “Bill” Halter that was the interim head of SSA essentially in between the outgoing Clinton and incoming Bush administrations. Are you sure the first name is David?

    Sorry about the confusion here. I got a tip with a link to a subscriber-only service for which I have no account, but it seems we’re all talking about the same guy.

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