Friday’s political round-up

January 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:

* Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) won’t let a little thing like a criminal indictment, if there is one, stop him from running for re-election. In an interview with The Hill, Ney said, “I’m running — if I’m indicted, I’m running.” Ney made the remarks in response to comments made by Ohio Republican Chairman Bob Bennett, who told Fox News, “If Bob Ney is indicted, that’s a very serious charge. We would ask him to step down on that basis…that’s where the line is drawn.”

* In Montana, State Auditor John Morrison (D) released a poll conducted on his behalf that shows him with a comfortable lead over state Senate President Jon Tester (D) in Montana’s Dem Senate primary. The poll, taken by the Global Strategy Group, shows Morrison up, 39% to 20%, though 37% remain undecided. The winner of the primary will take on embattled Sen. Conrad Burns (R) in November.

* A new Rasmussen poll shows Arkansas Attorney General Mike Beebe (D) with a modest lead over former Rep. Asa Hutchinson (R) in the Arkansas’ gubernatorial election. In November, a University of Arkansas poll showed Beebe up 47% to 40%; three months later, Rasmussen shows largely the same thing: Beebe 46%, Hutchinson 40%.

* Rep. Ed Case (D-Hawaii) surprised the party’s establishment yesterday by announcing he will launch a primary campaign against incumbent Sen. Daniel Akaka (D). Case said he respects and admires Akaka but feels the party needs to make the transition to a new generation of leadership. Case also suggested Akaka, who is 81, could die in office, leaving Hawaii’s Republican governor a chance to replace him. Dem leaders in Hawaii and DC vowed to rally behind Akaka.

* Hennepin County Attorney and U.S. Senate candidate Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) picked up a key endorsement this week from Rep. James Oberstar (D). Klobuchar faces child safety advocate Patty Wetterling and philanthropist Ford Bell in a Dem primary, though I’ve heard rumors that Klobuchar Wetterling may drop out of the race soon. (Update: from comments, Wetterling withdrew from the race today.)

* President Bush was asked yesterday whether he’d encourage his wife to run for the Senate at some point in the future. Bush quickly responded, “Never. No, I’m not going to ask her. Never.”

“Bush quickly responded, “Never. No, I’m not going to ask her. Never.”

Of course not. He’d never give Laura the opportunity to show how much more intelligent she is than he is. Unfortunately for George, we already know this.

Poor George.

  • curious on the Klobuchar rumor – I thought she was doing fairly well; what is the basis for dropping out?

  • “I’m pretty certain, when I married her she didn’t like politics or politicians,” Bush said.

    And she still doesn’t…especially ones she has to live with.

  • About the last one – why not? Why won’t he? I can think of one good answer and a few terrible ones, but I wouldn’t put it past Bush to say no for one of the bad reasons.

    The good one being “If she wants to make that decision I would fully support her, but I wouldn’t ever pressure my wife into making a career decision she isn’t interested in doing of her own accord.” The bad ones having to do with the Clintons and the usual conservative idea of “a woman’s place”.

  • It’s Wetterling who is dropping out of the MN Senate race and who is now supporting Klobuchar, according to news reports.

  • 1) “If Bob Ney is indicted, that’s a very serious charge. We would ask him to step down on that basis…that’s where the line is drawn.” Apparently Ney is taking the Tom Delay approach and ignoring the fact that credibility is impacted by being a corrupt politician. I am reminded of Rep. Trafficant (also of OH I think) who ran and won after being convivted (I think).
    2) Laura Bush is no Hillary Clinton. She may be a Liddy Dole (without the resume). I for one hope she and George disappear the second he leaves office. “Cutting brush is hard work!”
    3) Amy Klobuchar is trailing Patty Wetterling according to the latest polls linked on this page yesterday by CB. Here in MN we have 4 or 5 Dems who are all electable to state wide or national office but they are disorganized. They are doubled and tripled up in some races like this one. Amy could easily drop out and run for Gov (but AG Mike HAtch is already leading there). Patty Wetterling tried to take Mark Kennedy’s House Seat last election and lost. Now Kennedy is trying to upgrade to Mark Dayton’s Senate seat. If I were the puppet master I would ask Wetterling to go after Kennedy’s seat and have Klobuchar run for Senate. However nobody asked me. Kennedy’s seat is in sub-urban/rural district that is pretty conservative and Catholic. Wetterling came close last time. She has a high profile and is prominant in the rural part of the district. The Senate seat is state wide and since Amy Klobuchar is the Hennepin County (Minneapolis) DA she would take the Twin Cities hands down. Kennedy will lose these votes to anybody but has a better rep with the more conservative out-state areas.

    And that is my MN Political primer for today.

  • It’s Wetterling who is dropping out of the MN Senate race and who is now supporting Klobuchar, according to news reports.

    Yes, that’s what I meant, but I mis-typed it. The post is corrected. Thanks.

  • Not campaign related, but I thought this was worth mentioning.

    Patrick Leahy announced that he will vote against Alito’s confirmation. Leahy feels Alito “does not have the independence needed to uphold U.S. residents’ constitutional rights against attacks from President Bush or future presidents.” Leahy is also quoted as saying “At a time when the president is seizing unprecedented power, the Supreme Court needs to act as a check and to provide balance. Based on the hearing and his record, I have no confidence that Judge Alito would provide that check and balance. In good conscience, based on the record, I cannot support this nomination.”

    Here’s the link to the Burlington Freepress article
    http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060120/NEWS01/601200310/1009

  • Related to VT Idealist’s post. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) has announced he will vote against confirming Alito. And Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) has already said he will vote for confirming him.

  • well, now we know laura won’t run for senator. can we persuade george bush to talk to his brother?

    your pal,
    blake

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