Friday’s political round-up

April 29, 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:

* In a surprise move, California Attorney General Bill Lockyer (D) announced yesterday he would run for state treasurer, not governor. Lockyer had already raised about $11 million for the race, but said he did not want to face the inevitably nasty campaign it would take to unseat Schwarzenegger. State Treasurer Phil Angelides and Controller Steve Westly remain the top two Dems in the race.

* Though Doug Forrester has a slight lead over Bret Schundler among Republicans considering New Jersey’s upcoming gubernatorial race, Sen. Jon Corzine (D) enjoys big leads over both. A new Quinnipiac poll shows Corzine ahead of Schundler, 47% to 33%, and leading Forrester, 46% to 36%.

* Dashing Dem hopes of an uncontested primary, Montgomery County Executive Douglas Duncan (D) announced yesterday that he’s assembling a staff for his gubernatorial campaign, despite party support for Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley. Duncan hired Scott Arceneaux, executive director of the Louisiana’s state party from 2001 to 2004, to manage his campaign.

* An unimpressive career in infomercials apparently hasn’t quelled former Rep. J.C. Watts’ (R) interest in elective office. Watts recently told reporters that “close personal friends and political friends” have encouraged him to run for governor, and he’s told them he “would listen” to their ideas. Incumbent Gov. Brad Henry (D) is up for re-election next year.

* Republicans have not exactly been jumping at the chance to take on Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) next year, despite his status as a “Blue” governor in a “Red” state. While Sen. Bill Frist’s (R) pending retirement from the Senate has lured top-tier talent into that race, there’s far less interest in challenging Bredesen. The first GOP candidate to move forward with a campaign is GOP activist and Bush fund-raiser Scooter Clippard (R). Clippard has never held elected office.

O’Malley is going to crush Duncan. He’s from Montgomery County, so it’s no surprise that he’s a dull speaker and popular only with rich liberals (meaning he’ll probably raise a lot of cash, but not go anywhere). I (sort of) like him, but he has no shot at all. O’Malley has been running for governor non-stop since the late 90s, and this is the culmination of his entire career.

I like Bresden a lot; does anyone know how if he’ll have much affect on the senate race? From what I’ve heard, Ford is dead in the water, based soley on his last name.

  • It’s in the bag in the race for Texas governor:

    Former Senator Joins Kinky Friedman’s Independent Bid for Texas Governor

    AP – “A former senator who engineered Jesse Ventura’s surprise election as Minnesota governor is joining author Kinky Friedman’s independent bid for governor of Texas.

    Former Sen. Dean Barkley, who has recently been a consultant and lobbyist, will serve as campaign director and chief strategist, Friedman announced Friday.

    Barkley said the key to Friedman winning will be stirring voter interest, noting that in Texas’ 2002 gubernatorial election, turnout was 29.3 percent.

    ‘That leaves more than 70 percent of Texans who chose to stay home rather than vote,’ Barkley said.”

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