Weldon, Ney, Jefferson, Taylor congressional corruption updates; new polls; more
October 15th, 2006
MONDAY NEWS UPDATE.PENNSYLVANIA: CONGRESSMAN WELDON TARGET OF FBI CORRUPTION PROBE.
Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA) was already locked in a competitive contest before the news broke this weekend he is the subject of an FBI corruption investigation. The story -- originally reported by the McClatchy Newspapers, and later confirmed by the AP -- says the "Justice Department is investigating whether Weldon traded his political influence for lucrative lobbying and consulting contracts for his daughter. The FBI, which opened an investigation in recent months, has formally referred the matter to the Department's Public Integrity Section for additional scrutiny. At issue are Mr. Weldon's efforts between 2002 and 2004 to aid two Russian companies and two Serbian brothers with ties to strongman Slobodan Milosevic." Weldon's spokesman said the timing of the leak is suspect -- even though the Justice Department is directed by Bush Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez. Suspect or not -- and coupled with Weldon's other past problems including his long-standing ties to Messianic cult leader Sung Myung Moon's Unification Church -- this adds serious complications to Weldon's re-election fight against retired Navy Admiral Joe Sestak (D). Based upon this latest news, we're changing our race rating from Lean GOP to Toss-Up.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 10.16.06
LOUISIANA: STATE DEMS SEEK TO DUMP BILL JEFFERSON BEFORE HE'S INDICTED.
The only question involving Congressman Bill Jefferson (D-LA) is when he will be indicted on bribery charges. It's been over a year since the FBI search warrant uncovered nearly $100,000 of cash hidden in Jefferson's home freezer. Since then, one of his top aides already pled guilty to facilitating the bribes and agreed to cooperate with the prosecutors in exchange for sentencing leniency. An FBI affidavit, made public after the search, detailed the bribery scheme. On Saturday, the Louisiana Democratic Party passed over Jefferson in his bid for a ninth term. Instead, the Democratic State Central Committee endorsed State Representative Karen Carter for the seat by a 69-53 vote for the upcoming November 7 primary. Carter said she was "humbled" by the symbolic endorsement. Jefferson, by contrast, bitterly responded that "Karen Carter -- as she has always done -- has sold out the interests of local people for those of people elsewhere in our state." In addition to Carter, eleven others -- including a few other prominent political figures -- are also in the race against Jefferson. Race rating: Safe DEM (but not necessarily Jefferson).
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 10.16.06
NORTH CAROLINA: WALL STREET JOURNAL ACCUSES REP. TAYLOR OF CORRUPTION.
The Wall Street Journal -- a generally pro-Republican newspaper -- last Wednesday ran a front-page story alleging that wealthy Congressman Charles Taylor (R-NC) "added [federal budget] earmarks to legislation to widen two highways near property he owns, to give millions to nonprofit groups run by his business partners and supporters, and to provide $3.8 million for a park in front of a downtown Asheville bank he owns." Taylor responded on Friday by threatening the sue the newspaper for libel if it did not immediately retract the story. In response, the WSJ did not retract the story. Taylor -- who has previously faced federal scrutiny for questionable foreign and banking business deals -- is locked in a highly competitive race in North Carolina's CD-11 against former pro football player Heath Shuler (D). Race rating: Toss-Up.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 10.16.06
BY THE NUMBERS: US SENATE RACES.
MARYLAND: Congressman Ben Cardin (D) - 53%, Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele (R) - 44%. (Rasmussen Reports).
MICHIGAN: US Senator Debbie Stabenow (D) - 48%, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard (R) - 35%. (Detroit Free Press/Selzer).
MINNESOTA: Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar (D) - 55%, Congressman Mark Kennedy (R) - 34%, former public access TV organization executive director Robert Fitzgerald (Independence) - 3%. (Minneapolis Star-Tribune).
VIRGINIA: US Senator George Allen (R) - 49%, former Navy Secretary Secretary Jim Webb (D) - 47%, businesswoman Gail Parker (Ind. Green) - 2%. (Washington Post).
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 10.16.06
BY THE NUMBERS: GOVERNOR RACES.
ARKANSAS: Attorney General Mike Beebe (D) - 50%, former Congressman Asa Hutchinson (R) - 40%. (Rasmussen Reports).
CALIFORNIA: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) - 49%, State Treasurer Phil Angelides (D) - 40%. (Rasmussen Reports).
GEORGIA: Governor Sonny Perdue (R) - 57%, Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor (D) - 32%. (Rasmussen Reports).
ILLINOIS: Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) - 43%, State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka (R) - 29%, attorney Rich Whitney (Green) - 9%. (Chicago Tribune ).
ILLINOIS: Blagojevich (D) - 49%, Topinka (R) - 43%. (Rasmussen Reports).
IOWA: Secretary of State Chet Culver (D) - 46%, Congressman Jim Nussle (R) - 39%. (Des Moines Register/Selzer).
MASSACHUSETTS: Former US Assistant Attorney General Deval Patrick (D) - 46%, Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey (R) - 33%, businessman Christy Mihos (Independent) - 7%, affordable housing activist Grace Ross (Green) - 1%. (Suffolk University).
MICHIGAN: Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) - 49%, businessman Dick DeVos (R) - 41%. (Detroit Free Press/Selzer).
MICHIGAN: Granholm (D) - 51%, DeVos (R) - 42%. (Detroit News/EPIC-MRA).
MINNESOTA: Attorney General Mike Hatch (D) - 46%, Governor Tim Pawlenty (R) - 37%, former State Finance Commissioner Peter Hutchinson (Independence) - 7%. (Minneapolis Star-Tribune).
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 10.16.06
BY THE NUMBERS: US HOUSE RACES.
FLORIDA - CD-16: Venture capitalist Tim Mahoney (D) - 48%, State Representative Joe Negron (R) - 41%. (South Florida Sun Sentinel/Research 2000). [Note: This poll was worded as a choice between Mahoney and Negron, although Mark Foley's name -- not Negron's -- will actually appear on the ballot.]
MICHIGAN - CD-7: Former State Representative Tim Walberg (R) - 43%, paralegal Sharon Renier (D) - 35%. (Glengariff Group-R).
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 10.16.06
OHIO: NRSC WITHDRAWS FINANCIAL SUPPORT, WRITES-OFF DeWINE SEAT.
The New York Times reported Sunday nigth that "senior Republican leaders have concluded that US Senator Mike DeWine of Ohio, a pivotal state in this year's fierce midterm election battles, is likely to be heading for defeat and are moving to reduce [NRSC] financial support for his race and divert party money to other embattled Republican Senators, party officials said ... The decision about Mr. DeWine's seat came after recent internal polls showed Mr. DeWine's Democratic challenger, Representative [Sherrod] Brown, jumping to a large lead. Mr. Brown's surge came despite a barrage of Republican advertisements intended to portray him as weak on national security -- the very line of attack that had given party officials confidence earlier this year that Mr. DeWine would be re-elected ... Republicans are now pinning their hopes of holding the Senate on three states -- Missouri, Tennessee and, with Ohio off the table, probably Virginia -- while trying to hold on to the House by pouring money into districts where Republicans have a strong historical or registration advantage, party officials said Sunday. Republicans also said they would run advertisements in New Jersey this week to test the vulnerability of Senator Robert Menendez, one of the few Democrats who appear endangered."
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 10.16.06
OHIO: NEY ENTERS GUILTY PLEA, BUT DOESN'T SUBMIT RESIGNATION.
Congressman Bob Ney -- former House Administration Committee Chair -- pled guilty on Friday to felony corruption charges related to the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. Ney admitted he accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal gifts and trips in exchange for helping Abramoff's clients in his official capacity. Despite the guilty plea, Ney did not submit his resignation from the House. Instead, he merely said he would resign "soon." The move angered the House Republican Leadership, who wanted Ney to be gone from Congress before the mid-term elections. The Republican Leadership issued a statement that Ney would be expelled as the first order of business upon Congress returning in November following the elections if he does not immediately resign. Even Ohio State GOP Chair Bob Bennett -- who was one of Ney's strongest defenders -- said Friday that Ney is a "cancer in the Congress who needs to be removed." Ney is believed to be holding on the his job for as long as possible because of personal financial problems in the wake of the federal charges.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 10.16.06
CONNECTICUT: ABU GHRAIB PRISON SCANDAL DID NOT INVOLVE TORTURE, SAYS SHAYS.
Congressman Chris Shays (R-CT) has been under fire recently from challenger Diane Farrell (D) and Amnesty International for comments he made about Abu Ghraib prison during a debate last week. "Now I've seen what happened in Abu Ghraib, and Abu Ghraib was not torture," the Congressman said. Shays also said the abuse inflicted on prisoners at Abu Gharib was about sex, not torture. "I saw probably 600 pictures of really gross, perverted stuff. The bottom line was it was sex ... It wasn't primarily about torture," claimed Shays. A spokesperson for Amnesty International responded it was "outrageous for a sitting Congressman who was shown pictures [of Abu Ghraib] that were not even available to the public because they were supposed to be more provocative. The photographs did not only depict humiliating and degrading treatment of prisoners. They showed prisoners who were killed." The Shays-Farrell race -- a rematch of the 2004 contest -- is rated a Toss-Up.
Writer: David Jimenez - 10.16.06
FREE SPEECH ZONE.
Yup, I made it one entire day without a Foley page sex scandal update. Also, retired Congressman Gerry Studds (D-MA) -- who was censured for his role in the 1983 House page scandal -- died on Saturday at age 69. To the surprise of many, he was re-elected to six-more terms in the US House after the sex scandal. Studds was also the first out gay person to serve in Congress.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 10.16.06
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