Monday’s political round-up

June 19, 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:

* It hasn’t been publicly released, but according to the DSCC, a new Rasmussen poll show Sen. [tag]George Allen[/tag] (R) leading former Navy Secretary [tag]James Webb[/tag] (D) in Virginia by 10 points, 51% to 41%. In April, Allen’s lead was twice as big (50% to 30%).

* [tag]J.R. Damron[/tag], a radiologist who had never held elected office, was the only Republican willing to take on New Mexico Gov. [tag]Bill Richardson[/tag] (D) this year, but over the weekend, he dropped out of the race to make room for a more aggressive GOP bombthrower. When Damron stepped aside, 100 party members at the Republican State Central Committee meeting gave a unanimous voice vote to support former state GOP chairman [tag]John Dendahl[/tag] to be the nominee against Richardson. This will be Dendahl second gubernatorial campaign — in 1994, he finished third in a four-way GOP primary.

* In Vermont, wealthy businessman [tag]Richard Tarrant[/tag] (R) has already broken spending records in his Senate campaign, but it doesn’t seem to be working. The latest Rasmussen poll shows Rep. [tag]Bernie Sanders[/tag] (I) maintaining a comfortable lead over Tarrant, 67% to 29%.

* Former Vice President [tag]Al Gore[/tag] was offered the opportunity to endorse his former running mate, Sen. [tag]Joe Lieberman[/tag] (D), over the weekend, but he sidestepped the question. “I typically do not get involved in Democratic primaries,” Gore said. “Joe is my close friend, Joe and Hadassah are close to Tipper and me and it would be very difficult for me to ever oppose him. But I don’t get involved in primaries typically. He’s a great guy and he’s right on a lot of other issues.”

* And in Alabama, fresh off his victory over Roy Moore in a GOP primary, Gov. [tag]Bob Riley[/tag] (R) appears to be in a very strong position to win a second term. According to a new Press-Register/University of South Alabama poll, Riley leads Lt. Gov. [tag]Lucy Baxley[/tag] (D), 53% to 25%. (via Taegan Goddard)

Well, one of the things that bug me are comments by pols like “I typically don’t get involved in primaries” when that was not the case in the most recent relevant primary. I like Gore but he really should think twice before making such comments.

  • “He’s a great guy and he’s right on a lot of other issues.”

    If I was Whiner Joe, I don’t think I’d necessarily take that statement as evidence my former running mate was very much behind me here. That’s a pretty good indication of what Gore thinks of Whiner Joe on the issue that is going to make or break that self-righteous little putz. (I’m sure Joe would understand exactly what that means, but for those of you who don’t know Yiddish, a “putz” is “a penis that thinks it’s a man.” A much worse term than “prick” because in context it means a total and complete lack of respect for the one so identified.)

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