Schwarz at risk in MI primary; MO primary preview; polls; OH & KY Gov news; more
Continue Reading August 6th, 2006
MONDAY NEWS UPDATE.
MICHIGAN: CENTRIST GOP CONGRESSMAN MAY LOSE PRIMARY.
Republicans are gleefully wagging their fingers at progressive Democrats, scolding them for trying to dump US Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) in favor of an unapologetic liberal on Tuesday because of the incumbent’s support for the Iraq War. Yet, in Michigan’s CD-7, the opposite is happening. GOP social conservatives are trying to dump centrist Congressman Joe Schwarz because they complain he’s too moderate. Outside groups have already spent over $1 million in primary advertising. The freshman Schwarz — a surgeon, Vietnam War veteran and former CIA agent — is a close ally of US Senator John McCain (R-AZ). Schwarz is being challenged by social conservative minister and former legislator Tim Walberg, whom Schwarz defeated in the six-way primary in 2004. Two years ago, Schwarz won with just 28% of the vote when a large pack of social conservatives split the Religious Right base. Walberg finished third in 2004 with 18%. This year Walberg is running one-on-one against Schwarz and he’s argues Schwarz is not a true conservative. The Club for Growth is unapologetic in backing primary challengers against Schwarz and other GOP moderates. “The more races in which we’re able to help good, pro-growth, limited government candidates win, the better the chances Republicans have of holding the House … We’re the voice out there saying ‘Hey guys, the Republican Party’s got to stand for something,’” said CFG President Pat Toomey. In fact, McCain, President Bush and the NRA have all endorsed Schwarz in the primary. Despite the heavyweight backing for the incumbent, Walberg’s pitch seems to gaining support on among hard-core Republican primary voters. “I would not be surprised to see Walberg win by 55-45 or so vote [if the] turnout is below the 73,500 votes cast in 2004,” said a reliable source associated with Schwarz’s campaign.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.07.06
MISSOURI:PRIMARY PREVIEW.
Tuesday’s Missouri primary is the calm before the storm of the November election. After disposing of token opposition incumbent, US Senator Jim Talent (R) and State Auditor Claire McCaskill (D) will square off in what will be one of the most hotly contested and nasty races in the country. Recent polls show the race at a dead heat and Democrats have targeted Missouri as one of their best chances to pick up a seat. Another issue that is gearing up for November is a state initiative to protect stem cell research, an issue that will figure into the Senate race as well. Other than the US Senate race the only statewide contest on the ballot is the primary for State Auditor. The candidates, five Republicans and two Democrats, have more interest in the race than the voters. The only candidate to stand out in the quiet scrabble is Republican Jack Jackson, a former test pilot and legislator. Jackson’s campaign had an unexpected boost when his campaign plane hit a deer on takeoff. One of his campaign aides — with him on the plane — is married to St. Louis anchorwoman Mandy Murphy, who reported on the near crash live on the air. The small number of “Show Me” state voters who turn out for the primary will be the first to try new electronic voting machines. Unless a challenge form the ACLU succeeds, it will be the last election in which voters will not have to show state photo IDs, a matter of great concern to older voters who no longer drive or have access to obtain new cards.
Writer and attorney Greg Bailey is the St. Louis correspondent for The Economist - 08.07.06
BY THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS.
CONNECTICUT - US SENATE - DEM PRIMARY: Businessman Ned Lamont - 53%, US Senator Joe Lieberman - 43%. (New London Day/Research 2000).
CONNECTICUT - GOVERNOR - DEM PRIMARY: Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy - 48%, New Haven Mayor John DeStefano - 38%. (Quinnipiac University).
FLORIDA - GOVERNOR - (Rasmussen Reports):
Attorney General Charlie Crist - 47%, Congressman Jim Davis - 42%.
Davis (D) - 44%, State CFO Tom Gallagher (R) - 41%.
Crist (R) - 48%, State Senator Rod Smith (D) - 35%.
Gallagher (R) - 45%, Smith - 40%.
FLORIDA - GOVERNOR - GOP PRIMARY: Crist - 41%, Gallagher - 21%. (Miami Herald/Zogby).
FLORIDA - GOVERNOR - DEM PRIMARY: Davis - 21%, Smith - 16%, Three Others - 6%. (Miami Herald/Zogby).
GEORGIA - GOVERNOR: Governor Sonny Perdue (R) - 53%, Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor (D) - 39%. (Rasmussen Reports).
NEW JERSEY - US SENATE: US Senator Bob Menendez (D) - 44%, State Senator Bob Kean Jr. (R) - 38%. (Rasmussen Reports).
NEW YORK- GOVERNOR: Attorney General Eliot Spitzer (D) - 62%, former State Assembly Minority Leader John Faso (R) - 22%. (Rasmussen Reports).
NEW YORK- US SENATE: US Senator Hillary Clinton (D) - 61%, former Yonker Mayor John Spencer (R) - 31%. (Rasmussen Reports).
NEW YORK- US SENATE: Clinton (D) - 61%, former Defense Department official K.T. McFarland (R) - 31%. (Rasmussen Reports).
PENNSYLVANIA - GOVERNOR: Governor Ed Rendell (D) - 51%, former pro football player Lynn Swann (R) - 35%. (Morning Call/Muhlenberg College).
PENNSYLVANIA - US SENATE: State Treasurer Bob Casey Jr. (D) - 45%, US Senator Rick Santorum (R) - 39%. (Morning Call/Muhlenberg College).
SOUTH CAROLINA - GOVERNOR: Governor Mark Sanford (R) - 47%, State Senator Tommy Moore (D) - 38%. (Rasmussen Reports).
WEST VIRGINIA - US SENATE: US Senator Robert C. Byrd (D) - 56%, businessman John Raese (R) - 31%. (Rasmussen Reports).
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.07.06
OHIO: STATE FUNDRAISING RECORD BROKEN … TWICE ON SAME DAY.
Secretary of State Ken Blackwell’s (R) gubernatorial campaign website reported Thursday that he broke the Ohio record for two month fundraising, with $2 million raised during June and July (or about $35,000 a day). The record stood for about ten minutes until rival candidate Congressman Ted Strickland (D) reported he had collected $2.5 million during the same period (or about $44,000 a day). This gives Strickland a slight advantage in the overall fundraising battle at $8.8 million to Blackwell’s $8.6 million. However, Strickland enjoys a far larger advantage in cash-on-hand: $5.1 million versus $3.3 million.
Writer: Charley Kidder - 08.07.06
KENTUCKY: ANOTHER POSSIBLE PRIMARY RIVAL FOR EMBATTLED GOVERNOR.
At one of the Bluegrass State’s most significant political events, Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R) on Saturday floated his own name as a possible candidate for Governor in 2007. The annual Fancy Farm picnic — which draws elected state officials and candidates — is the state’s premier event for politicos. Grayson became the prime Republican speaker after embattled Governor Ernie Fletcher (R) announced he would not attend the annual gathering. “A lot of people have concerns about [Fletcher’s electability]. I have concerns about it,” said Grayson, in response to a question by a Louisville Courier Journal reporter. The newspaper also reported Grayson is being actively recruited by some party leaders to lead a Republican ticket against Fletcher in the 2007 primary. No Republican one has yet to announce a challenge to Fletcher, although Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence (R)
Writer: Ben Harrison - 08.07.06
FREE SPEECH ZONE: A BIT OF EDITORIALIZING BY RON.
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Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.07.06
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Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.05.06