Tuesday’s political round-up

April 18, 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 Siena College poll in New York shows state Attorney General [tag]Eliot Spitzer[/tag] crushing his Dem primary opponent, [tag]Tom Suozzi[/tag], 72% to 11% among likely Democratic voters. That is very much in line with a similar poll from December that showed Spitzer leading 72% to 8%. The results had to be discouraging for Suozzi, who recently completed an expensive TV ad campaign.

* In related news, the same Siena College poll showed former Assembly minority leader [tag]John Faso[/tag] with a narrow lead over former Massachusetts Gov. [tag]William Weld[/tag] in New York’s Republican gubernatorial primary. The poll was skewed a bit, however, because former Secretary of State Randy Daniels was included, but has since dropped out of the race.

* Sen. [tag]Joe Lieberman[/tag] (D-Conn.) is principally concerned with a primary challenge from Ned Lamont, but in the meantime, a handful of Republicans are lining up for the race. Yesterday, [tag]Alan Schlesinger[/tag], a former six-term state representative and mayor of Derby, threw his hat into the ring. Schlesinger will take on Paul Streitz in an August primary.

* In New Jersey, a new Rasmussen poll shows state Sen. [tag]Tom Kean[/tag], Jr. (R) opening up a surprising lead over Sen. [tag]Robert Menendez[/tag] (D) in this year’s Senate race, 43% to 36%. This conflicts with a more reliable poll from Rutgers-Eagleton from last week, which showed Menendez leading, 40% to 35%.

* In 2008 news, Texas Gov. [tag]Rick Perry[/tag] (R) is apparently “angling” for a shot at vice presidency in two years. He’s been traveling extensively outside of Texas in the hopes of building a national profile, including appearances at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington. Perry also met recently with a DC insider about “writing a book to showcase the governor’s conservative bona fides.”

Another effing Texan?

No effing way!

  • Let’s pass two constitutional amendments:

    1. No one from the State of Texas may hold any national office, elective or appointive, forever.

    2. No one related to a former President of the United States by marriage or ancestry, no matter how many generations removed, may run for the office of President or Vice President.

  • We could always give Texas back to Mexico. Think of the millions of illegals we would get rid of that way…

    … such as Tom DeLay 😉

  • This conflicts with a more reliable poll from Rutgers-Eagleton from last week, which showed Menendez leading, 40% to 35%.

    Why is this poll more reliable than Rasmussen? (don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to defend or promote Rasmussen, I’m just interested in why his polls typically are so different than everyone else’s). thanks in advance.

  • Why is this poll more reliable than Rasmussen?

    I like Rasmussen, but they conduct polls via automated callers. Rutgers-Eagleton used real people at a phone bank. As a rule, robo-calls produce polling results that aren’t as reliable.

  • thanks for the clarification. As always, Mr. Carpetbagger comes through with a thoughtful, concise response. You Rock!

  • Regarding the Menendez v. Kean race…

    It’s been touched on before, but my fellow voters of NJ must be made completely aware that they are not voting for Tom Kean the former governor and chairman of the 9/11 commission. Menendez should be running a campaign in which he points out that NJ liked the father of the candidate, much as America like the father of ’00 candidate George W. Bush. He should also point out that 1/3 of GOP primary voters thought they were voting for the father (GHWB) during the early part of the primary season. It’s a smaller, but similar effect seen with Tom Kean **Jr.** who apparently drops the Jr. to advance the name recognition factor – as did GWB. Menendez should be out front forcing Kean to run on **his own** record and not the cop-out way of using his *dad’s* name to further his own ambition.

    Did I mention I’m for hire?

  • For years I’ve wondered whether a doctrine of “expulsion” could pass constitutional muster. Given the stunningly bad performance of its national political leaders, the enthusiasm of its elites to install a kind of neo-feudalism, and the total rapaciousness of companies like Enron, Texas certainly would get my vote as the guinea pig.

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