Hot races in TN; New Polls; Iraq War hits Congressional families
August 2nd, 2006
THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE.TENNESSEE: SEVERAL HOT RACES IN THURSDAY'S PRIMARY.
As always, Tennessee voters will see a crowded primary ballot this year. Governor Phil Bredesen (D) and State Senator Jim Bryson (R) will easily win their respective gubernatorial primaries. Bredesen is a safe bet to win big in November. In the open US Senate contest, wealthy former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker -- who styles himself as a GOP centrist in the mold of former US Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker -- is expected the capture the Republican nomination. GOP conservatives are split between former Congressmen Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary, splitting the anti-Corker vote. Congressman Harold Ford Jr. (D) will easily defeat his four minor opponents. There are also hot contests for two open Congressional seats: CD-1 (safe GOP) and CD-9 (safe DEM). Thirteen Republicans are facing-off for the CD-1 seat being vacated by retiring Congressman Bill Jenkins (R). Of the large pack, the frontrunners are State Representative David Davis, wealthy businessman Richard Roberts, Johnson City Commissioner Phil Roe and Sullivan County Executive Richard Venable. Any of these four could win -- and will likely do so with less than 25% of the primary vote. In CD-9 -- a largely African-American dominated district currently held by Ford -- the racial mathematics related to the fourteen candidates appears likely to determine the winner. State Senator Steve Cohen is the only white candidate in the race, and will certainly benefit by the 13-way split of the black vote by his primary opponents. Local black leaders pleaded with the candidates to coalesce behind one or two black candidates, but it never happened. Although a distant cousin of Ford is running in the primary, the Ford machine seems split between airline executive and former Ford campaign manager Nikki Tinker (endorsed by EMILY's List) and attorney Ed Stanton. The largest newspaper in the district, the Memphis Commercial Appeal, endorsed Cohen. Look for Cohen and Tinker to place ahead of the field, with Cohen likely to squeak out a narrow victory with less than 20% of the vote. In an interesting twist, the Congressman's brother -- Jake -- also filed for the seat as an Independent.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.03.06
BY THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS.
GEORGIA - CONGRESS - CD-4 - DEM RUN-OFF: DeKalb County Commissioner Hank Johnson - 49%, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney - 34%. (Insider Advantage-R).
MAINE - GOVERNOR: Governor Janet Napolitano (D) - 52%, businessman Don Goldwater (R) - 37%. (Rasmussen Reports).
MAINE - US SENATE: US Senator Jon Kyl (R) - 53%, former State Democratic Chair Jim Pederson (D) - 34%. (Rasmussen Reports).
MICHIGAN - GOVERNOR: Businessman Dick DeVos (R) - 48%, Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) - 44%. (Rasmussen Reports).
MAINE - GOVERNOR: Governor John Baldacci (D) - 43%, State Senator Chandler Woodcock (R) - 37%. (Rasmussen Reports).
MAINE - US SENATE: US Senator Olympia Snowe (R) - 69%, liberal activist Jean Hay Bright (D) - 22%. (Rasmussen Reports).
NEVADA - US SENATE: US Senator John Ensign (R) - 46%, investment consultant Jack Carter (D) - 39%. (Rasmussen Reports).
NEW HAMPSHIRE - CONGRESS - CD-1: Congressman Jeb Bradley (R) - 55%, State House Minority Leader Jim Craig (D) - 27%. (University of New Hampshire).
NEW HAMPSHIRE - CONGRESS - CD-1: Bradley (R) - 58%, Democratic activist Carol Shea-Porter (D) - 24%. (University of New Hampshire).
NEW HAMPSHIRE - CONGRESS - CD-2: Congressman Charlie Bass (R) - 53%, attorney Paul Hodes (D) - 25%. (University of New Hampshire).
TENNESSEE - US SENATE - GOP PRIMARY: Bob Corker - 45%, Ed Bryant - 31%, Van Hilleary - 20%, Tate Harrison - 1%. (WBIR-TV/SurveyUSA).
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.03.06
CONGRESS: IRAQ WAR HITS HOME WITH TWO LAWMAKER FAMILIES.
Over the weekend in Iraq's Al Anbar province, Marine Corporal Phillip Baucus -- nephew of US Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) -- was killed in combat operations. Corporal Baucus is the first relative of a member of Congress to be killed in the Iraq War. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid informed the Senate during the debate of a defense spending bill today, after the information was released by Senator Baucus. The death was met by condolences and recognition from both sides of the aisle. In related news, the 18-year-old son of US Senator John McCain (R-AZ) volunteered for service in the Marine Corps. Jimmy McCain will enter boot camp in September and could be in Iraq as soon as next summer, according to Time magazine. "I'm obviously proud of my son, but also understandably a bit nervous," said Senator McCain. Jimmy McCain is carrying on a family tradition, as his father was a decorated pilot and POW from the Vietnam War, and his grandfather was a Navy Admiral.
Writer: Ben Meyers - 08.03.06
FREE SPEECH ZONE.
Whatever.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.03.06
SEND A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE.
Here's my open offer for every campaign (and campaign supporter): send me a button or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional, Statewide Office, etc., campaign you are involved in -- feel free to add a sticker and brochure -- and I'll place a link to official campaign site here on our homepage in a daily "thank you" note. My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. TODAY'S THANKS GO TO: State Claims Commissioner Vance Cheek Jr., Republican for Congress in Tennessee's CD-1.
Entry Filed under: Contributions