Tuesday’s political round-up

October 4, 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:

* Everyone’s favorite theocrat, disgraced former judge Roy Moore, announced yesterday that he will challenge Gov. Bob Riley in a Republican gubernatorial primary next year. Moore said he didn’t plan to move his granite Ten Commandments display from private church property to state property if elected, but added that he would “defend the right of every citizen of this state — including judges, coaches, teachers, city, county and state officials — to acknowledge God as the sovereign source of law, liberty and government.” Two Democrats, Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley and former Gov. Don Siegelman, are already running. The primaries are scheduled for June 6.

* In another failure in Republican recruiting efforts, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) has announced that she will not take on Sen. Robert Byrd (D) next year, despite pressure from the White House and the NRSC. Capito will instead seek re-election to the House. West Virginia University basketball coach Gale Catlett and West Virginia Secretary of State Betty Ireland are among the Republicans party officials are eyeing for the race.

* In Ohio, Paul Hackett announced yesterday that he will challenge Sen. Mike DeWine (R) next year, following weeks of recruiting efforts from party leaders.

* Complicating the Ohio picture is Rep. Sherrod Brown (D). Party leaders asked Brown for months to consider the race and indicted that he might run. But, as he’s done in previous cycles, Brown backed out of the race in August, prompting Dems to rally behind Hackett. And now that Hackett is in the race, Brown is having second thoughts, with his office telling the Washington Post that the lawmaker’s previous statement “has not changed at this time.”

* As if Rep. Katherine Harris’ (R-Fla.) Senate campaign didn’t have enough trouble, her fundraising suffered over the third quarter. Campaign Manager Jim Dornan blamed Hurricane Katrina for the setback. Harris reportedly raised $500,000 during the period from July 1 to Sept. 30, leaving her with $250,000 in the bank.

* As expected, seven-term Republican Rep. Ernest Istook announced yesterday that he is giving up his House seat to run for governor against Democratic incumbent Brad Henry. A poll commissioned by the Oklahoma state GOP three weeks ago showed Istook trailing Henry, 44% to 36%.

“Campaign Manager Jim Dornan blamed Hurricane Katrina for the setback.”

Right…

  • Not being well enough versed in campaign expeditures, can anyone tell me what Harris could already have spent 250,000 dollars from this past quarter, and all the money from the previous quarters, on?

  • What is Sherrod Brown playing at here? Is he a DINO, secretely working for the GOP? I don’t get it.

  • can anyone tell me what Harris could already have spent 250,000 dollars from this past quarter, and all the money from the previous quarters, on?

    Nothing too exciting. She’s spent a bundle assembling a staff; she’s had to get materials in place (bumperstickers, yard signs, website, etc.); and she’s paying lots of consultants (pollster, media guy, etc.)

    In fact, Harris’ $250k expenditures sounds a little low for a state like Florida. If her fundraising was going better, she’d likely have spent much more.

    What is Sherrod Brown playing at here?

    For what it’s worth, I like Sherrod Brown and think he’s a fine congressman. I just think he’s flirted with statewide office too many times and let folks down. I suppose he withdrew from consideration when he thought DeWine looked strong for re-election and is having second thoughts now that DeWine looks vulnerable. His problem isn’t that he’s “secretly working for the GOP,” it’s that he’s excessively undecisive.

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