Thursday’s political round-up

April 28, 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:

* California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s poll numbers have reached an all-time low and his approval rating has now dropped below the magical 50% threshhold. The latest data from Public Policy Institute of California shows 45% of Californians approve of the way Schwarzenegger is governing, while 47% disapprove. “We’re seeing now several months of growing doubts about the governor’s leadership,” said poll director Mark Baldassare.

* Speaking of polls, a new Quinnipiac University poll shows a tight race among the Republicans vying to inevitably lose to Jon Corzine in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race. Garden State Republicans have businessman Doug Forrester ahead of the pack, but just barely. Forrester drew 36% in the poll, while Bret Schundler had 33%.

* Last month, a poll in Washington state showed incumbent Sen. Maria Cantwell (D) far ahead of all of her potential rivals — except gubernatorial runner-up state Sen. Dino Rossi. Yesterday, Rossi bucked party pressure and said he would not take on Cantwell.

* Rep. Mark Green (R-Wis.), confirming months of rumors, said yesterday he will kick off his campaign against Gov. Jim Doyle (D) this weekend.

* After several top-tier candidates rejected party overtures, former Nebraska Attorney General Don Stenberg (R) is expected to announce today that he’s going to take on incumbent Sen. Ben Nelson (D) next year. If Stenberg is the nominee, it will set up a rematch of the 2000 race in which Nelson topped Stenberg, 51% to 49%.

* With Rep. Mark Kennedy (R) running for the Senate, Minnesota’s sixth district will be a very competitive open seat. Last week, the GOP’s far-right made its choice for the seat clear. Phyllis Schlafly of the Eagle Forum and Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform sponsored a fundraiser for State Sen. Michelle Bachmann (R) at a suburban DC Ritz Carlton. Bachmann is one of at least eight Republicans in the race.

* Speaking of open, competitive midwestern House seats, there are now two Dems competing for the chance to succeed Henry Hyde in Illinois’ 6th. 2004 candidate Christine Cegelis has already indicated her intention to run, and yesterday, Wheaton arbitrator Peter O’Malley (D) tossed his hat into the ring.

I don’t get Schundler’s appeal. From what I’ve gathered, he only became Jersey City’s mayor by wallking into a situation where any passable Republican would have won. Jersey City had been run by a famously corrupt Democratic machine for eight decades before Schundler came in.

  • Michelle Bachman is a loony toon of the 1st order. She appears to have but one purpose in life and that is a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Apart from that she just toes the party line. I echo knobboy’s feelings that I’d like to see her get the nod as she would play really poorly everywhere but the affluent suburbs. I doubt that the MN Republican party would desert Mark Kennedy after all the effort to get him into the House. It sure would be nice to get a two’fer and lose them both!

  • Michelle Bachman. This lady is CRAZY! She should be run out of politic’s completely.

  • Definitely tracking with MNProgressive and TheCowboy here. Here’s a bit of sampling of where Michelle’s coming from:

    “(St. Paul) Joined by professors, students, and the student rights and intellectual diversity movement’s most prominent author and activist, David Horowitz, State Representative Ray Vandeveer (R-Forest Lake) and State Senator Michele Bachmann (R-Stillwater) today unveiled a Minnesota “Academic Bill of Rightsâ€? at a Capitol press conference in St. Paul.”


    Academic Bill of Rights

    The intellectual diversity movement’s most prominent author and activist?

    There was this a couple of months ago:

    “Bachmann announced her bill to name the 694/494 interstate loop the ‘Ronald Reagan Beltway.’

    Since Reagan’s passing last year, states around the nation have taken action to christen public buildings and roadways in the former president’s honor. Bachmann says naming one of the Twin Cities’ busiest freeways after the 40th president would keep his heritage alive for years to come.”

    President Reagan Heritage Plan

    Bunch more here, if you can stand it.

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