Thursday’s political round-up

May 5, 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:

* Despite talk that Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) would be a top GOP target next year, it appears no one wants to run against her. The latest to bow out of consideration is former Gov. Fife Symington (R), who had earlier expressed interest in the race. State Republicans continue to believe Marilyn Quayle, wife of former Vice President Dan Quayle, might be a viable candidate.

* While few top-tier Republicans have expressed interest in taking on Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D), it appears at least one Dem is thinking about it. State Attorney Geoffrey Fieger (D) said he “would prefer” not to challenge Granholm in a primary fight, he said he might if he’s convinced she’d lose to a Republican in 2006.

* With Rep. Jim Gibbons (R) planning to leave the House to run for governor next year, the race is on to replace him. A new Strategic Solutions poll of Republican voters in the district shows Nevada Secretary of State Dean Heller leading former state Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons (Jim’s wife) in a district-wide poll of the likely primary match-up, 28% to 16%, with a whopping 43% undecided.

* Dems believe they’ve found the best candidate to take on freshman Rep. Charles Boustany (R) in Louisiana: former Rep. Chris John (D), who gave up the seat to run for the Senate last year. “The [Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee] wants me to run,” John said. “They have called me [about] a hundred times.”

* Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) represents an increasingly competitive district (Bush beat Kerry in the district by just one point), but generally wins by wide margins. Lawyer Andrew Hurst hopes to change that next year. It will be Hurst’s first run for public office, though he did work on the national finance committee for John Kerry’s presidential campaign.

* With Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas (R) announcing that he will not for the Senate, millionaire Republican businessman Richard Tarrant has told party leaders that he’s “fairly committed” to the race. Rep. Bernie Sanders (I) remains the prohibitive favorite.

How reputable is Strategic Solutions? Was wondering because NV2 has traditionally been DEEEEEEP red–ever since Nevada got split into districts in 1982, we’ve only come close to winning that district ONCE, in ’92.

If that district is even slightly competitive, it could mean a Dem landslide. At the very least, if the Repubs lose this district, they’ve lost everything in Nevada.

  • As much as I would love to see a dem take over a northern VA seat – Davis has been a great advocate for the District and Hurst is an unknown. Speaking as someone who lives here that is important to me.

  • In Michigan, Feiger is still toxic as the attorney who, quite successfully, defended Dr. Jack Kevorkian for about 10 years. When Feiger decided to let one of his law partners start defending the suicide doctor, Kevorkian was convicted and still sits in prison some 7 years later.

    I am, as is Feiger, concerned that as GM and the unions continue to lose influence, Michigan is drifting rightward. Feiger is one hell of a flamboyant and hugely successful trial lawyer. It’s his falmboyance and political tin ear, however, that caused him to lose by a landslide to John Engler in 1998 for Governor, and he could split the party just enough by challenging Granholm to allow the Repukes to slip another pig down our throats in 2006.

    I like Fieger; his heart is in the right place and he has some good ideas. His delivery, though stands in the way. As with Kerry, even though the polar opposite, his personality gets in the way of his message. It’s just too easy to villify him as an evil trial lawyer, and his behavior too often fits the caricature the Repukes use to paint all lawyers as standing in the way of progress. Too bad, because he can call a snake a “snake” and then back it up — something that is too rare in Democratic circles these days.

    • Comments are closed.