Tuesday’s political round-up

December 5, 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:

* According to The Des Moines Register, “Sen. Hillary Clinton began making calls Monday to Iowa Democrats about the state’s political landscape with an eye toward its 2008 presidential nominating caucuses…. ‘She’s begun the process of making some calls into Iowa,’ Lorraine Voles, Clinton’s communication director, said Monday.” (thanks to B.W. for the tip)

* Sen. Barack Obama was in New York yesterday for a meeting with philanthropist George Soros, and some other Democratic donors, at Soros’ offices. According to the NYT, “One of the donors who met with Mr. Obama, and who spoke on condition of anonymity because he did not want to offend Mrs. Clinton, said that he and several others had supported Mrs. Clinton’s Senate campaigns but were not committed to her as a presidential candidate. ‘I like Hillary a lot, but I’m also impressed with Obama — his message, the way he connects to people,’ said the donor, a prominent New York business person. ‘It’s a little too early for Democrats to be certain that Hillary is the strongest bet for 2008. There are a lot of good people interested in running.'”

* Outgoing Gov. George Pataki (R-NY) is still eyeing a presidential campaign and will travel to New Hampshire and Iowa tomorrow. “The governor is weighing his options and making the decision with his family,” Pataki spokeswoman Alicia Preston told ABC News. “Ultimately, he and his family will be the ones to make the final decision as to whether he will run. He is thinking about it and is appreciative of all the support he has received.”

* In Michigan, Sen. Carl Levin (D), soon to be the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced yesterday that he will run for re-election in 2008. William Rustem, an analyst with Public Sector Consultants in Lansing, said Levin’s decision makes it much tougher for Republicans such as GOP Reps. Candice Miller and Mike Rogers, both of whom have expressed interest in the race if Levin retires, but who will probably steer clear of taking Levin on directly. “He’s an institution in Michigan,” Rustem said.

* According to Dem party officials, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D), fresh off her big re-election win, will become chairwoman of the Democratic Governors Association next year. She’ll replace New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who is considering a run for president in 2008.

“New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson … is considering a run for president in 2008.”

No more glorious words were ever typed.

  • Pataki spokeswoman Alicia Preston told ABC News. “Ultimately, he and his family will be the ones to make the final decision as to whether he will run. He is thinking about it and is appreciative of all the support he has received.”

    What support? Who would be assinine enough to back this guy. We’re just delighted he’s gone from NY.

  • Every time I read about a Pataki-for-President rumor, I have to fight the urge to double over with laughter.

    This guy defines “empty-suit politician.” He’s the Chauncey Gardner of turn-of-the-century politics: won in 1994 in a huge Republican wave year, won in ’98 on the strength of a solid economy and terrible Democratic opponent, won in ’02 from the post-9/11 halo effect, the backing of the unions and a divided Democratic opposition.

    His approval here in NYS hasn’t cracked 40 percent in years, I believe, and he’s not really known for anything as far as policy or personality. Though I guess we should appreciate how his anemic “leadership” has helped render the New York Republicans almost totally irrelevant; this year, they were swept in all the big races, and all they have left is the state Senate which the Dems were too lazy or unmotivated to fight hard for.

  • Here’s another item:

    -Frank Murkowski left office as Alaska governor Monday the same way he came in: with a special appointment of a family member. Just 90 minutes before his term ended at noon, Murkowski announced a flurry of 35 appointments to various boards and commissions.

    One of them was for his son-in-law, Leon Van Whye, to the board of the state-owned Alaska Railroad. Van Whye is married to Murkowski’s daughter, Eileen.

    Murkowski lost re-election in August by coming in 3rd in the GOP primary. Much of his unpopularity stemmed from his first act as governor in 2002: appointing his daughter Lisa to fill his vacant seat in the U.S. Senate.

  • from firedoglake

    The Boston media were still pondering Governor Mitt Romney’s decision to allow the State Police to arrest illegal immigrants they find during the course of their duties. But as many of you noted here, the day after reporting this, the press discovered that Mitt used illegals to do his lawns. Why are these guys so predictable? But on to more serious stuff.

  • Glad to see Carl Levin wishing to continue in public service. He’s one of the true adults in Congress and one of the real pros that form the best argument against term limits.

  • Steve,
    Has anyone added up the number of “donors” it takes to decide who will get the nomination of each party? This dancing with donors every four years that determines which candidates have the largest war chest at the beginning of the primary season is something that kind of gets little attention, but isn’t it one of the biggest factors contributing to who gets the nomination? Is this donor base the ruling class that some of us suspect really runs America? And is it not this wealthy donor base that most if not all politicians most relate to or aspire to join the ranks of during and after their “service” to their “constituents”?

  • Rumor has it that Team Hillary is divided over what slogan to use for her campaign. One faction favors “Hillary. It’s Her Turn.” The other prefers “Death. Taxes. Hillary. Deal With It.”

    With Kudos to exflatlander over at HuffPo.

  • “One of the donors […] said that he and several others had supported Mrs. Clinton’s Senate campaigns but were not committed to her as a presidential candidate.”

    My own feelings to a T 🙂 I think she’s good where she’s at, and I think she’ll be of more use to the country in the Senate than in the Oval Office.

    At the same time… Meh, I wouldn’t take anything that Ariana writes about Hillary seriously. Ariana’s hatred of Hillary borders on pathological, which is quite obvious very time she mentions Hillary. Don’t know what gives with those two, but it sems worse than the Pelosi/Harmon feud. It was one of the reasons I stopped reading HuffPo entirely. Ariana is a shrill, elitist and stuck up FMK9 and her commenters are about on a par with her.

  • “Ariana is a shrill, elitist and stuck up FMK9 and her commenters are about on a par with her.”
    Ouch! Libra. 😉

    Lou raises a good point that I wish someone would follow. With all due respect to Hillary, I don’t want her to be one of the nominees. I’m tired of all these dynasties. Whose next, Chelsea? I’d like a fresh face/perspective and as Kos says on his site, I’d like to see someone generated through “people-powered” politics rather than someone chosen by the money donors.

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