Friday’s political round-up

July 7, 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:

* [tag]Scott Howell[/tag] has made some highly noteworthy campaign ads lately. In 2004, he helped orchestrate the Swiftboat smear against Kerry. In 2005, he created TV ads against Tim Kaine in Virginia, claiming the candidate was soft on Hitler because Kaine opposes the death penalty. Now, Howell has two new clients: Sens. [tag]George Allen[/tag] of Virginia and [tag]Jim Talent[/tag] of Missouri, both of whom are facing tough re-election fights this year. Let the smearing begin….

* Sen. [tag]Rick Santorum[/tag] (R-Pa.) unveiled his first TV ad of the campaign season yesterday, telling voters that he’s a staunch opponent of “liberals like [tag]Ted Kennedy[/tag]” who favor helping undocumented immigrants attain legal status. As Bloomberg explained, the ad fails to mention that Kennedy’s position on immigration happens to be the same as [tag]John McCain[/tag] and the [tag]Bush[/tag] White House.

* The latest Rasmussen polls out of Maine show Gov. [tag]John Baldacci[/tag] (D) clinging to a very narrow lead, and Sen. [tag]Olympia Snowe[/tag] (R) enjoying a huge lead. Baldacci is currently ahead of state Senator Chandler Woodcock (R), 45% to 43%. Snowe, meanwhile, leads [tag]Jean Hay Bright[/tag] (D), 66% to 26%.

* In South Carolina, state Sen. [tag]Jake Knotts[/tag] (R) moved one step closer to an independent gubernatorial bid yesterday, picking up “a batch” of petition forms from the State Election Commission. “There’s a lot of sentiment out there to do it,” he said, citing a “flood” of phone calls and e-mails he has received the last week urging him to take the plunge. Most in-state observers believe Knotts would undercut incumbent Republican Gov. [tag]Mark Sanford[/tag]’s campaign, and may help boost state Sen. [tag]Tommy Moore[/tag] (D).

* And in 2008 news, a June 17 video clip of Sen. [tag]Joseph Biden[/tag] (D-Del.) is making the rounds and raising a few eyebrows. In the video, Biden emphasized his support from Delaware’s Indian-American community, saying, “I’ve got a great relationship. In Delaware, the largest growth in population is Indian-Americans moving from India. You cannot go to a 7/11 or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight [tag]Indian[/tag] accent. I’m not joking.” As one reporter put it, “They say one thing standing between Joe Biden and the White House is Joe Biden’s mouth.”

Going to be interesting to see how James Webb gets “swiftboated,” particularly since Webb will fight back.

I think he ought to point out how Felix was a “Confederacy supporter” in California when that meant supporting the worst of “southernism” – which I really think a majority of current southerners do not support – and how his “southernism” is fake, since the southerners I know are big on “authenticity” – making out what a fake Felix is could really hurt him (altho it might be argued that this will bring out the trailer park trash in greater numbers to vote for him)

But whatever happens, we know Webb will kill that little yuppie mush head Howell.

  • Now, Howell has two new clients: Sens. George Allen of Virginia and Jim Talent of Missouri, both of whom are facing tough re-election fights this year. Let the smearing begin….

    Yes, let it begin so that Webb can show the rest of the Democrats how to respond to such smears. Hopefully, McCaskill will not provide an object lesson in how not to respond; instead, hopefully she’ll reinforce Webb’s approach and we’ll win in both races.

  • It’s true; it’s amazing to me that Biden has managed to be reelected so many times. He appears to have no control over what comes out of his mouth. I’ve watched him in action in a lot of SFRC meetings, marveling at the fact that no one ever resorts to throwing things at him in order to get him to shut up.

    He’s embarrassing.

  • “the ad fails to mention that Kennedy’s position on immigration happens to be the same as John McCain and the Bush White House”

    When are we going to learn that Republics aren’t fair? It’s not up to Santorum to point out Kennedy’s alignment with McCain and the Shrub. It’s up to the Democrats. Apparently Democrats have yet to learn to play hardball – it ain’t beanbag, as one prominent Demcorat used to remind us.

  • Thank God for Joe Biden’s mouth. I don’t think he’s a bad guy, but we need a serious candidate in 2008 and Joe just ain’t it. With a mouth like that we won’t have to worry about him past the early rounds of the primaries.

  • “the ad fails to mention that Kennedy’s position on immigration happens to be the same as John McCain and the Bush White House” – CB

    “Ricky Santorum/George Felix Allen oppose comprehensive immigration reform supported by their own President. They offer no solution to the twelve million undocumented workers in this country but to close the border behind them. They want to fence PART of the border with Mexico while terrorists FLY into America. If Ricky Santorum/George Felix Allen is to the right of George Bush, is he wrong for Pennsylvania/Virginia?”

    Please, Webb and Casey campaigns, use with my permission.

  • I want these assholes to smear Webb again. Can’t wait to hear what Webb says back about Felix.

  • KNOTTS THROWS IN THE FORK

    Without claiming to know his chances of success or what his candidacy could have meant to the fall election, The Buzz is disappointed state Sen. Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, abandoned his quixotic bid to get on the ballot for governor.

    Nothing says South Carolina politics like the robust, populist Knotts, all drawl and jowls. But we also could think of no better image than Knotts and his campaign staff, consisting of Rod Shealys Jr. and Sr., hunkered down at a wing-and-beer joint in West Columbia to pour over petitions, maps and voter lists.

    It’s hard to say whether Gov. Mark Sanford or Democratic candidate Tommy Moore was more disappointed or relieved by Knotts’ decision. Some thought Knotts would have taken anti-Sanford votes away from Moore, a state senator from Aiken. Others thought Knotts and Sanford would have split the Republican vote, allowing Moore to slip into the Governor’s Mansion.

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