Monday’s political round-up

October 9, 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:

* NRCC Chairman [tag]Tom Reynolds[/tag] (R-N.Y.), up to his ears in the Foley scandal, is suddenly finding himself in trouble in his home district. A Buffalo News/Zogby poll released over the weekend shows Reynolds trailing Democrat [tag]Jack Davis[/tag] (D) by 15 points — 48% to 33% — in a district Reynolds has represented since 1998.

* Missouri’s Senate race remains the closest in the nation. The most recent Rasmussen poll shows State Auditor [tag]Claire McCaskill[/tag] (D) leading incumbent Sen. [tag]Jim Talent[/tag] (R), 44% to 43%. When Rasmussen includes “leaners,” McCaskill leads 47% to 46%. When asked how they would vote if their vote determined the balance of power in the U.S. Senate, 46% said Democrat and 43% said they would vote Republican.

* In Colorado, former Denver D.A. [tag]Bill Ritter[/tag] (D) is still cruising past Rep. [tag]Bob Beauprez[/tag] (R) in the latest Denver Post poll, 50% to 35%. Remarkably, Ritter is ahead in every part of the state, including the very conservative Colorado Springs area, as well as Beauprez’s own congressional district.

* Though several recent Rasmussen polls have shown incumbent Gov. [tag]Jennifer Granholm[/tag] (D) trailing Amway heir [tag]Dick DeVos[/tag] (R) in Michigan, the latest poll, released over the weekend, shows Granholm on the upswing. The new survey has the incumbent ahead 49% to 42%. It is Granholm’s biggest lead in a Rasmussen poll since January.

* Speaking of Michigan, Republican hopes of making the state’s U.S. Senate race competitive seem to be slipping away. A new Rasmussen poll shows incumbent Sen. [tag]Debbie Stabenow[/tag] (D) leading Republican challenger [tag]Michael Bouchard[/tag], 56% to 39%. The 17-point lead is twice as big as it was a month ago.

* And in 2008 news, Sen. [tag]John Kerry[/tag]’s (D-Mass.) inner circle of aides and supporters believe that the 2004 nominee “intends to launch another run for president.” The Boston Globe spoke to more than a dozen long-time loyalists who said they had “no doubt that Kerry would attempt what a host of Washington doubters think unimaginable: become the first Democrat in half a century to lose a general election and be renominated four years later.”

The Boston Globe spoke to more than a dozen long-time loyalists who said they had “no doubt that Kerry would attempt what a host of Washington doubters think unimaginable: become the first Democrat in half a century to lose a general election and be renominated four years later.”

Didn’t Adlie Stevenson lose the second time too?

  • Kerry’s inner circle of aides and supporters believe that the 2004 nominee “intends to launch another run for president.

    Worst. Surrender monkey. Ever.

  • Kerry is damaged goods (French-speaking, elite, coward–labels that not only stuck, but were tattooed on his backside.)

    I’d prefer to see Al Gore do the remake of the “Nixon 1968” movie winning election.

  • Message to Kerry, et al: Don’t bother. “….renominated four years later.” Please. It’s a pipe dream.

    Kerry lost both my respect and my vote when he dropped the ball with a resounding thud during one of the debates with Bush. That little pain in the ass, Bumiller, asked him something about Christ. Instead of the correct response he yammered something in an attempt to answer the question on the merits. The trouble is, the question had no merit whatsoever. In fact, the question was unlawful under the Constitution. Article Six explicitly limns the following: “The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or Public Trust under the United States.

    This is as plain as it needs to be. Since Kerry was officially auditioning for the postion of President of the United States and the debates are the official forum for this audition, asshole Bumiller’s question was unwarranted, perverse, and illegal. Kerry should have informed her of such and in no uncertain terms. Instead Feckless Johnny mealy-mouthed his way through an answer calculated to be unoffensive and acceptable.

    Second message to Kerry, et al: Leadership is *not* a fucking popularity contest. Unfortunately, campaigning is.

  • Kerry is a pansy who let them trample him and who will get trampled again. The images stuck and he is beyond toast …….. he’s milque toast.

    bring on Gore, Clark or Feingold …. men with balls.

  • Run, Kerry, run.

    You obviously will have to convince some people who do not think you can do it, but this is still democracy and we need the bests of the bests to run.

    Obviously some here would prefer others. This is their right. Your right and your duty is to run.

  • I was a precinct leader for a third party organization during the final stretch of the 2004 campaign.

    John Kerry will not get one iota of support from me in a 2008 campaign.

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