Tuesday’s political round-up

January 16, 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:

* In very big 2008 news of a non-presidential variety, two-term incumbent Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.), recently named by Time magazine one of the Senate’s five worst members, announced yesterday that he will honor a term-limits pledge and not seek re-election in 2008. It offers Dems yet another opportunity to expand their Senate majority. Rep. Mark Udall (D) had been planning to take on Allard, and will be the early favorite to win the Dem nomination. Among the likely GOP candidates are Rep. Scott McInnis, Rep. Tom Tancredo, and state Attorney General John Suthers.

* Rudy Giuliani’s presidential campaign picked up a key supporter yesterday when former Rep. Jim Nussle (R) of Iowa joined Giuliani’s team. Nussle, Iowa’s 2006 Republican gubernatorial nominee, will back the former NYC mayor despite disagreeing with him on gun control, abortion rights, and gay rights. According to the AP, “Nussle said he’s focusing on Giuliani’s accomplishments and suggested Giuliani’s actions after the 2001 terrorist attacks impressed voters who want a strong leader.”

* New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) said he will decide on the presidential race by the end of the month. “Well I am going to make a decision this month, as I have always said Wolf, whether I am going to run or not,” Richardson told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. The New Mexico governor also indicated he would appear at the country’s first presidential debate co-hosted by CNN, New Hampshire’s WMUR-TV and the New Hampshire Union Leader, if he decides to seek the presidency.

* Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced yesterday that he will co-chair Sen. John McCain’s presidential exploratory committee. The move fuels speculation about a possible McCain/Pawlenty ticket in 2008.

* And Hillary Clinton’s presidential hopes got a boost yesterday when Emily’s List, the largest political action committee in the nation, announced it will endorse Clinton’s presidential bid shortly after her campaign kick-off. It will be the PAC’s first-ever presidential endorsement.

“Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced yesterday that he will co-chair Sen. John McCain’s presidential exploratory committee. The move fuels speculation about a possible McCain/Pawlenty ticket in 2008.”

Although Pawlenty had No New Taxes tattooed across his chest he also is in the process of promoting and working with Democrats to insure all children in Minnesota. There is no way he will survive the taliban wing of the GOP. He might at well be Teddy Kennedy. My guess is that he will be offered a cabinet position in the McCain administration but not VP. Think more Tommy Thompson and less Hubert Humphrey.

  • From the proffered link: “EMILY’s List, the Democratic fundraising juggernaut that helps women candidates who support abortion rights, is poised to endorse Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton…”

    Do we really want that (positively or negatively) as the central focus of our 2008 Democratic Presidential campaign? Abortion was settled as a legal matter in 1973, and every poll since then has shown overwhelming popular support for non-criminalization. Aren’t CURRENT issues — the Iraq Quagmire, global warming, loss of jobs, falling Middle Class household wages, health care, our growing indebtedness to China, etc. — of much greater importance NOW?

  • According to the AP, “Nussle said he’s focusing on Giuliani’s accomplishments…”

    what accomplishments? turning all of NYC into vanilla touristy neighborhoods, boosting all the rents until long-time generations of fams couldn’t afford to live in Manhattan anymore (especially in the traditional ‘melting pot’ of the lower east side) and blatantly parading his then-mistress down 5th avenue during one of the Easter Sunday wingdings in front of his own kids and then-wife?

  • ***Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.)….***

    Damn. Now I have to go and revise my “Hack-sus of Evil” card collection again….

  • Emily’s List is going to get a beat-down for the endorsement. Hill will lose, plain and simple.

    That was a spectacularly dumb move to endorse a candidate.

  • It’s a sad commentary on our political system when “one of the Senate’s five worst members” is thought to have a better chance than a new candidate would.

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