Thursday’s political round-up

May 4, 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:

* A new [tag]Keystone Poll[/tag] offers Dems good news and bad news. The good news is Gov. [tag]Ed Rendell[/tag] (D), fresh off a recent ad blitz, now has a big lead over former football player [tag]Lynn Swann[/tag] (R), 49% to 35%. It’s Rendell’s biggest lead since Swann secured the GOP nomination. In the state’s Senate race, however, Treasurer [tag]Bob Casey[/tag] has seen his lead over [tag]Rick Santorum[/tag] shrink to 47% to 41%. Pollsters noted Casey’s margin has declined due to an increase in negative perceptions, fueled by advertising from Santorum’s far-right allies. (thanks to KB for the tip)

* White House Political Director Sara Taylor singled out Florida House Speaker [tag]Allan Bense[/tag] (R) for praise yesterday, the latest step in a larger effort to get Bense to run against [tag]Katherine Harris[/tag] in the state’s Senate primary. Bense has reason to be hesitant — as the Tampa Tribune noted, “Bense will face the need to raise perhaps $20 million, get himself known across the state, fight a tough primary battle, then an even tougher general election battle – all within a scant six months. And all in a year when political winds seem to be blowing against Republicans.”

* In California, [tag]Phil Angelides[/tag] and [tag]Steve Westly[/tag] met last night for the latest California Democratic gubernatorial debate. It wasn’t pretty. As the LAT noted, the event turned “into a mudfest…as the two Democrats splattered each other with accusations over taxes, credibility and their records as millionaire businessmen.” The two will meet next Wednesday for their third and final debate.

* New York’s GOP Senate primary between Kathleen Troia [tag]McFarland[/tag] and former Yonkers Mayor [tag]John Spencer[/tag] has turned really ugly, with McFarland’s campaign manager accusing Spencer yesterday of [tag]bigamy[/tag]. As the NYT explained, In an NY1 News interview on Tuesday, Edward J. Rollins, a top aide to Ms. McFarland, spoke of Mr. Spencer’s personal history and his record as the mayor of Yonkers, dredging up marital infidelity and accusing him of nepotism. Mr. Spencer has never denied that while he was mayor, he had a long affair with his chief of staff while he was married, and had two children with her before they were married. ‘He runs around saying, ‘I’m a good Catholic, I’m this, I’m that,’ Mr. Rollins said, adding that to “a lot of Catholics in this state, that’s bigamy.’ Mr. Spencer was not married to both women at the same time.”

* And in vaguely 2008 news, Roll Call reported today that Al Gore recently wrote a fundraising email for the DCCC with a target of raising $150,000. Instead, Gore’s pitch raised more than any single surrogate piece the committee has sent out this cycle — more than $200,000.

The Democrats ought to start looking again at Al Gore – as if that latest bit doesn’t show the difference between him and the Mini-Me’s of the rest of the pack. I bet HillaryBillary couldn’t have done that.

As to California Governor, I am pretty close to not voting for Governor in the primary next month. Those two bozos could best serve the state by joining hands together and jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. They’re such a pair of assholes, they make Schwarzenegger look good. I think we ought to start a campaign “Vote No For Governor.” Too bad we don’t have a “none of the above” choice on November’s ballot, but if the combined vote for Governor was less than 50% of the total voting, that would definitely send a message.

  • The farther ahead you look(2008), the better Gore looks.
    As a starter, No congressman has gone directly to the White House except for Kennedy in ’60 and Garfield in the late 1800s. That just 2 successful candidates from 200 years of history. Of course, today’s frontrunners are mostly congressmen(McCain, Allen, Feinstein, Clinton) and as such, the parties have not learned the lessons of the past.

    Looking back to 2000, the Clinton administration looks pretty good right now in regards to government Integrity. The farther Gore is away from this current crop of candidates, the better he looks in regard to his past track record .

  • Tom, we could always start a write-in campaign for Edmund G. “Pat” Brown. As a former CA resident I’d vote for that in a heartbeat.

    I think Gore’s a natural for 2008. He’s had eight years experience as V.P., and he’s been free from the taint of Clintonism for almost as long. I also favor John Edwards as his running mate. The environment and the working class – Democratic rallying points.

    That leaves racism, sexism, chickenhawkery, deficit spending, rape of the environment, and corporate crime for the Repugnants.

  • That is really interesting news re: Gore and the DCCC. Heh.

    For all those who want to make it a reality, DraftGore2008.org is now up and running (10 days old today.) Yesterday, one of Gore’s friends joined our advisory board, so we feel momentum building.

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