Wednesday’s political round-up

November 29, 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:

* Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), who was always a long shot as far as 2008 was concerned, has reportedly decided not to run for president. According to National Journal, he will make a formal announcement this afternoon.

* After a few very close state legislative elections were decided, Dems in Pennsylvania have claimed the majority in the State House. In all, Dems won 11 state legislative chambers nationwide in 2006.

* Unfortunately, Victoria Wulsin (D) officially conceded the race against Rep. Jean Schmidt (R) in Ohio’s 2nd, but she may make a soft landing. State party leaders are urging Gov.-elect Ted Strickland (D) to hire Wulsin for a high-level job in his administration.

* In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) can’t seek a third term, and is constitutionally prohibited from running for president, but aides close to the governor have another idea: run for the U.S. Senate. The Sacramento Bee’s Dan Walters explained, “If Schwarzenegger still has the political bug four years hence, and his own popularity remains relatively high, he’ll almost certainly weigh a challenge to [Sen. Barbara] Boxer [in 2010]. But it could be much easier for him to run for a vacant Senate seat in 2012, when [Sen. Dianne] Feinstein will be 79 years old and perhaps contemplating retirement.”

* Wesley Clark (D) told the AP yesterday that, looking back, he waited too long to decide to run for president in 2004, and will avoid making the same mistake in advance of the next campaign. “(There was) an inability to create a staff in a timely fashion,” Clark said. “I didn’t have a campaign manager until the end of November. I had no money. I had no strategy when I started. It was my only faith-based initiative…. It’s one of several mistakes that if I were to run that I would hope I wouldn’t repeat.”

* And in other 2008 news, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) will be the only presidential hopeful to appear at the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s midterm victory celebration on Dec. 10. It will be Obama’s first trip to the Granite State. In related news, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has started an on-line petition asking Obama to enter the presidential race, though Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said an announcement of the senator’s presidential intentions is now “several weeks away.”

If Schwarzenegger goes to the Senate, the Republicans will fall all over themselves trying to hang out with the “cool guy.” I’m not sure Schwarz would be satisfied to be just one of a hundred. He’s been pumping iron and ego for a long time.

  • Arnold mistakes his recent victory as an endorsement of his own popularlity. It was more of a rejection of his opponent, who ran an atrocious race, among the worst I’ve seen in a major state.

    Arnold would not beat Villaraigosa or Newsom for a Senate seat. He would not beat Boxer, though he’d come within 5 points.

  • It’s amusing that Frist feels he needs to call the press to announce that he has decided not to run for President. It will be equally amusing if any feel the need to attend. Seems like a friends and family moment.

  • Wesley Clark (D) told the AP yesterday that, looking back, he waited too long to decide to run for president in 2004, and will avoid making the same mistake in advance of the next campaign.

    GO Clark! General Clark 2008!

    Vote Clark/Obama 2008! Dems in the White House from 2009 through 2024!

  • Arnold mistakes his recent victory as an endorsement of his own popularlity. It was more of a rejection of his opponent, who ran an atrocious race, among the worst I’ve seen in a major state. –Buford P. Stinkleberry

    I agree. If only Angeledes had a pulse or a clue, he could have won against Arnold. He spent so much money and got people disgusted with him, and never did the job. He absolutely snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Was the fix in in Sunny California?

  • I really hope Obama will run. Everyone I’ve spoken to that has only a cursory interest in politics that are discouraged with the amount of corruption/incompetence of government today get really excited about him. He’s the breath of fresh air the country needs.

    I don’t think petitions like this do much good, but it feels good to do something to let Obama know you want him to run.
    Sign it

  • I am proud to say the Pennsylvania State House race came down to my district the 156th and we pulled it out by 23 votes!!!!!!!……I have to remind everyone once again, EVERY VOTE COUNTS!!!!!!

    WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

  • I’d like to see Wes run again, if only to help populate the Democratic field as another intelligent voice against the fools the Repubs will foist on the elctorate.

  • Frist made the decision in recent days after consulting family, friends and advisers, and some old video footage of a complete stranger.
    Comment by The answer is orange

    LOL And his Psychic Friend, Dionne Warwick.

    Ha! I typed in the French word for orange and it fooled the system

  • Congradulations lib4 for having such a “progressive” district. Mine returned Frank Wolfe (R-VA 10th) with hardly a thought.

  • Ha! I typed in the French word for orange and it fooled the system

    …???…???… !

    Oh, a wise guy, eh?

    I took French from fourth grade until I graduated college (with a two-year hiatus for Swedish). It still took me a about five minutes to figure that out.

    ~Le response est orange

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