Tuesday’s political round-up

June 6, 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:

*Former Massachusetts Gov. [tag]Bill Weld[/tag] (R), struggling in his New York gubernatorial bid, is under pressure to drop out of the race, and will reportedly end his campaign this afternoon. “His heart is telling him to stay in and fight, but his head is taking the more rational kind of approach,” said a Weld adviser, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “So he is going to speak to his wife and take the evening to think about it.” State GOP boss Steve Minarik, a one-time Weld backer, has called on Weld to throw his support to [tag]John Faso[/tag], the big winner at last week’s Republican convention.

* In Tennessee’s Republican Senate primary, former Chattanooga Mayor [tag]Bob Corker[/tag] seems to have benefited greatly from a major recent ad buy. A new poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies, a Republican firm, shows Corker surging ahead of the GOP field with 43% support, followed by former Rep. [tag]Van Hilleary[/tag] with 23%, and former Rep. [tag]Ed Bryant[/tag] with 17%. The winner of the Aug. 3 primary will face Rep. [tag]Harold Ford[/tag] Jr. (D) in November.

* Rep. [tag]Jim Davis[/tag]’ (D) gubernatorial campaign in Florida got a boost this week when [tag]Bob Graham[/tag], the former Democratic governor and senator, announced that he is not only endorsing Davis, but will also be the chairman of his campaign. Davis faces state Sen. [tag]Rod Smith[/tag] in a Dem primary on Sept. 5.

* Is Idaho’s 1st congressional district going to be competitive in November? Jay Stevens makes a compelling case that the GOP nominee, [tag]Bill Sali[/tag], has burnt a lot of bridges on the right — state House Speaker [tag]Bruce Newcomb[/tag] (R) said of Sali, “That idiot is just an absolute idiot” — while businessman [tag]Larry Grant[/tag], the Dem nominee, might be the ideal candidate to pull an upset.

* In California, a new Field Poll shows Gov. [tag]Arnold Schwarzenegger[/tag] (R) rebounding a bit. At this point, 41% of voters approve of Schwarzenegger’s job performance, while 46% disapprove. Schwarzenegger’s biggest gains have come among political independents, and the incumbent may benefit from a nasty Dem primary fight.

It’s official. Weld has dropped out.

  • and the incumbent may benefit from a nasty Dem primary fight.

    Hopefully with today’s primary election, the nastiness can be put in the past and the loser will publically back the winner. Here’s to hoping.

  • Edo,

    Whatever happens, California elections will be in the news tomorrow.

  • Weld’s decision, and Faso’s way-out-there social views, could lift Spitzer to a record margin of victory.

    As a New Yorker who’s been waiting for him to claim the office for a few years now, I’m pretty stoked about this: our state is going to be at the forefront of innovative, progressive governance, with a squeaky-clean, tough-on-crime badass leading the charge.

  • dajafi-

    The fact that we’ll have two no-contest candidates at the top of the NY ticket is what really pleases me. It’ll do wonders for those contested House seats.

  • Mother Teresa couldn’t beat Spitzer. I laugh when I see any coverage of the GOP hopefuls. I’m with you, dajafi. We’re in for a treat.

  • Grant v Sali is a hot race for an open seat. If Grant can get some attention and some money, the seat will go to the Democrats. Idaho is very red, but Bush is hovering around 50% here.

  • “Mother Teresa couldn’t beat [Eliot] Spitzer.” – Frak

    Well, she was anti-abortion. But is that any way to talk about the Roman Catholic Church’s next saint?

  • When is the California GOP primary? After spending a few days on vacation in Pombo’s district I am very curious to see if he survives his primary challenge, and I couldn’t find any polling data in Wikipedia.

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