Thursday’s political round-up

September 27, 2007

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:

* With the third quarter nearly over, Rudy Giuliani is apparently feeling a little antsy about his financial standing in the presidential race. Yesterday, he fired his chief fundraiser, Anne Dunsmore, who took control of Giuliani’s day-to-day fundraising operation in May, replacing her with one of Bush’s top money men. As the New York Daily News reported, “Coming just days before Sunday’s filing deadline, when candidates are expected to report how much money they’ve raised over the last three months, the departure suggests that Giuliani is less than happy with his most recent haul.”

* Speaking of Giuliani, the former mayor may be having money trouble, but he’s narrowing the gap in New Hampshire. A new poll from CNN shows Mitt Romney leading the GOP primary race with 25%, with Giuliani right behind him at 24%. John McCain is third with 18%, followed by Fred Thompson at 13%.

* For the first time in the campaign, John McCain is starting to emphasize that his principal GOP rivals (Giuliani, Romney, and Thompson) have no foreign policy, national security, or military experience. Speaking to the conservative Hudson Institute, McCain said, “We don’t have time or opportunity for on-the-job training, and the other candidates for president I don’t believe have the qualifications that I do to hit the ground running and immediately address these serious challenges.”

* Michelle Obama was probably a little overly-blunt in Iowa yesterday, describing the significance of the state’s caucuses. “Iowa will make the difference,” she said. “If Barack doesn’t win Iowa it is over.”

* The exodus continues: “Rep. Terry Everett (R-Ala.) announced on Wednesday he’s not seeking re-election, but his retirement is not likely to affect the balance of power in the House. Everett, 70, the ninth Republican congressman to announce he’s stepping down this cycle, cited as the deciding factor his slow recovery from nerve damage in his right foot.” The decision sparked a frenzy in Alabama among officials who now want to run for his seat.

…Rudy Giuliani is apparently feeling a little antsy about his financial standing…

How’s Romney feeling?

  • …the ninth Republican congressman to announce he’s stepping downs [sic] this cycle…

    With so much to gain in Congress we really need a candidate who will help down ballot. Someone well liked and respected. Someone who doesn’t want to start a war with Iran. Someone who is not Hillary Clinton.

    But I repeat myself.

  • CB – how is Franken doing in MN? Does he still have a Dem challenger and how does he stack up against Coleman? GO AL GO!

  • phoebes, #4

    Why should they? Given the current political climate, they’re less likely to get a helping boot up the backside on their way out the door. Repubs, OTOH… Early retirement helps them save face. And some of the retirements might be fairly legit; even in “safe” districts, they’re likely to face a brutal fight. If you’re 70, do you want to bother?

  • For the life of me I do not understand how Rudy’s numbers of any kind in any poll in any place are going up.

    Do these people not read The Carpetbagger Report? 🙂

    Wolfie (#3), I’m pretty sure that Mike Ciresi is running against Franken in the primary. There may be others (I defer to our Minnesotans) but Ciresi is the main competition. He has run for office before and is a multimillionaire attorney.

  • For the life of me I do not understand how Rudy’s numbers of any kind in any poll in any place are going up. -Z

    Well, he is like the third or fourth most well known American on Earth, nay the universe!

  • Well Zietgeist,
    Giuliani has a ways to go yet. If the parallel between his character and experience, (Mayberry Man, by Peter J. Boyer, New Yorker, August 20, 2007) and the profile of a Right Wing Authoritarian as illustrated in The Authoritarians, by Bob Altemeyer, he still has at least 4 to 8 % to go before he runs out of RWA followers.

    DC

  • Well Zietgeist,
    Giuliani has a ways to go yet. If the parallel between his character and experience, (Mayberry Man, by Peter J. Boyer, New Yorker, August 20, 2007) and the profile of a Right Wing Authoritarian as illustrated in The Authoritarians, by Bob Altemeyer, he still has at least 4 to 8 % to go before he runs out of RWA followers.
    Speaking of Giuliani, the former mayor may be having money trouble, but he’s narrowing the gap in New Hampshire. A new poll from CNN shows Mitt Romney leading the GOP primary race with 25%, with Giuliani right behind him at 24%. John McCain is third with 18%, followed by Fred Thompson at 13%.
    DC

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