Monday’s political round-up

October 17, 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 Ohio’s Senate race, it looks like Dems will not be able to steer clear of a primary fight. Rep. Sherrod Brown (D) is in and has begun building a base of support, while Paul Hackett said late Friday that he is in the Senate race to stay, even if it means a tough Dem primary battle next spring. “It’s going to be a long, hard fight, but I am in it for good,” Hackett said. A formal campaign announcement is scheduled for Oct. 24 in Cincinnati. (Full disclosure: Rep. Brown has purchased an ad on my site. This round-up item is neutral with regards to the primary, though I reserve the right to endorse one of the candidates at a later date)

* In an effort to bolster his support among New York conservatives, former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld (R) will offer Assembly Minority Leader John Faso (R) the opportunity to run as Weld’s lieutenant governor next year. “Faso is a popular figure in the party, especially upstate. He would bring credibility,” a source close to Weld told the New York Post.

* Speaking of New York, lawyer Edward Cox announced late last week that he is dropping out of the Senate campaign against Hillary Clinton. Cox’s announcement came shortly after Gov. George Pataki (R) formally endorsed Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro for the Republican nomination. “The governor is the leader of the Republican Party. Out of respect for his position and his decision, I have decided to stop my campaign for the United States Senate,” Cox said in a statement.

* Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said over the weekend that she continues to have no intention to run for president in 2008. “It’s flattering and I appreciate people who think of me in those terms, but that’s not what I’m going to do in life,” she told Fox News Sunday. “I’m quite certain that there are going to be really fine candidates for president from our party and I’m looking forward to seeing them and supporting them.”

* Lynne Cheney said her husband will not run for president in 2008. When asked about a recent comment by Bob Woodward that Dick Cheney would be the Republican presidential nominee in 2008, she said, “That’s pretty interesting. Wrong, but interesting.”

* In Utah, Rep. Chris Cannon (R) will face a Republican primary challenger for the sixth time in six campaign cycles. His latest intra-party foe is real-estate mogul John Jacob, who had also considered a race next year against Sen. Orrin Hatch (R). As it happens, the GOP field may grow to three, as State Sen. Curt Bramble acknowledged that he’s considering the House race as well.

I’ve been wondering if, in Ohio, Sherrod Brown was thinking he might get away with a relative freebee. If the Dems didn’t come up with a top tier candidate to challenge DeWine, he could have strolled in relatively late, not having to raise so much money and campaign for 14 months. Paul Hacket may be considered a top tier candidate, who blew Browns plan to smithereens. I don’t know anything about Sherrod, but I followed Paul Hacket’s progress in the special OH2, and was REALLY impressed.

Putting Democratic Iraq veterans into congress should be a very high priority for the Democratic Party. New blood is the only way we will get out of Iraq. Too much Democratic credibility has been damaged by Bush and his pettingzoomajority. Much of the public who supported going to war are flop-flopping, but for some reason, politicians never seem able to follow the lead of their constituents. I don’t live in OH, but I’m supporting Hacket for the Senate in 06

  • Rep. Sherrod Brown (D) is in and has begun building a base of support, while Paul Hackett said late Friday that he is in the Senate race to stay, even if it means a tough Dem primary battle next spring.

    What the hell are Reid and whoever is Libby Dole’s equivalent for the Dems doing? They need to be pulling out all the stops to ensure that this doesn’t happen. We need both candidates at full strength in national office. If the Dems take Ohio, they take the presidency.

  • They need to be pulling out all the stops to ensure that this doesn’t happen.

    Too late. I know for a fact that establishment Dems really tried, but both Brown and Hackett said they’re in and there’s no talking them out of it. If it’s any consolation, DeWine might have a primary fight of his own, which would help.

  • Can we get Brown and Hackett to refrain from going “negative” on each other? Can they just say: “I’ll be your voice in Washington; I’ll do better job there; and, I’ll beat DeWine by running a better campaign”? No mud-throwing, please!

    I’ve been watching mud-throwing of the Forrester and Corzine campaigns for NJ governor from next door in Pennsylvania. Brown and Hackett need to save the mud for DeWine.

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