Tuesday’s political round-up

April 17, 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:

* The shootings at Virginia Tech yesterday had led to several cancellations and postponements of political events scheduled for today. Perhaps most notably, Rudy Giuliani was scheduled to deliver a speech at Pat Robertson’s Regent University, but the event will be rescheduled. Similarly, Barack Obama had scheduled a major foreign policy speech for today, but the remarks have been postponed.

* Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu (D) announced this morning that he will not run for governor. “I believe I can best serve the people of Louisiana by finishing the job I started four years ago,” Landrieu said in a written statement Monday. He said he would seek re-election instead. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is now the most experienced Democrat in the race, though party officials are still looking for a higher-profile candidate. Rep. Bobby Jindal (R) is widely considered the likely GOP nominee. The primary election is Oct. 20.

* Richard Land, president of the Religious and Ethics Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention had that he’d rather vote for Hillary Clinton than Rudy Giuliani. Now, he’s clarified — if Giuliani gets the GOP nomination, he just won’t vote at all.

* Roll Call reported that Rep. Mark Udall (D) filed papers yesterday to run for Colorado’s open Senate seat, making official what have long been his stated intentions for the 2008 cycle. Udall is considered the Dem favorite, while the GOP currently has no top-tier candidate.

* Victoria Wulsin came very close to beating right-wing Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) last year, and she’ll seek a rematch in 2008.

* And Mitt Romney’s list of embarrassing flip-flops continues to grow. Asked by The Associated Press after a recent speech if he disagreed with Hillary Clinton’s view, that “it takes a village” to raise a child, Romney said he disagreed and added, “It takes a family.” In 1998, Romney told The Boston Globe, “Hillary Clinton is very much right, it does take a village, and we are a village and we need to work together in a non-skeptical, no-finger-pointing way.”

Glad to see Dr. Wulsin stepping up for a second try. I’d really love to see Paul Hackett jump back into Ohio politics, though. Hey, maybe he can run against Voiney . . .

Looks like Bobby Jindal will be the next governor of Louisiana. But, the silver lining is, if he wins, he won’t be running against Mary Landrieu next year, which increases her likelihood of holding onto her senate seat . . . kenehora!

And, I’m glad Richard Land might not be voting. Let’s hope he and his legions of like-minded automatons sit on their hands on election day. It’s about time the religious interests got their paws out of the government!

  • What The Caped Composer (#1) said about Louisiana. What like what’s good for the country will be Louisiana– Bobby Jindal is the dimmest of bulbs.

    Here’s a good rule of thumb: If a Republican talking point is that someone is really, really smart (e.g., Condoleeza Rice, Bobby Jindal, Alberto Gonzales), they’re really, really not.

  • When I lived in MA I didn’t believe a word Mitt said and I still don’t. He wants to be elected far too much. I loved it when he lost to Ted Kennedy. He needs to go back to MI or Utah or wherever and reread and rewatch all the statements and speeches he has made and then start again. Candidates — please remember we have tape and we have the internet and we can research what you did and said before now!!

  • I sure hope that there are enough disgruntled right-wingers / evangelicals / christian conservatives / neo-cons that they end up not voting at all.

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