| Commentary | custom-built by the american people |
|
| Home | Mission | Invitation | Essays | Resources | Commentary | PoliticWiki | Convention Floor | Quorum | Member Login | |
PA Republican Joins CP, Runs for State House |
Member Login |
Continue Reading August 18th, 2006
A former local Republican official and Alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention has jumped ship and launched a campaign for State House on the Constitution Party ballot line.
From The Morning Call…
The race for state representative of the 183rd District just got a little more crowded.
Carl C. Edwards, 61, a …
Continue Reading August 18th, 2006
From Ballot Access News…
Two Marxist parties in the U.S. have increased their involvement in the 2006 congressional elections, compared to previous years.
The Socialist Workers Party this year will be on the ballot for U.S. House in at least one district in Iowa, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. By contrast, in 2004, …
Continue Reading August 16th, 2006
THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE.
P2008: A PREVIEW OF A POSSIBLE McCAIN PRESIDENCY.
Campaigning in Iowa, a resident asked US Senator John McCain (R-AZ) to define his priorities if elected to the White House. According to the Mason City Globe Gazette, here was McCain’s response: “I start by vetoing spending bills. There is just too much pork-barrel spending and we must become fiscally responsible. I would work more closely with our military allies. We need their support in the struggle that is ahead. I would speak every two weeks to the American people. You need to know what is happening — about the war and the many serious issues we face. I would make sure we don’t torture prisoners. I would close Guantanamo Bay.” And, here are some points to McCain for political courage, he went on to share some unpopular views with the Iowa crowd: “I don’t like [farm] subsidies. I am a free-trader, and I believe subsidies do damage, especially to undeveloped countries. And while I support ethanol for its greenhouse effects, I do not support ethanol subsidies.”
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.17.06
BY THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS.
CALIFORNIA - CONGRESS - CD-26: Congressman Dave Dreier (R) - 48%, environmental consultant Cynthia Matthews (D) - 35%. (KABC-TV/SurveyUSA).
COLORADO - CONGRESS - CD-4: Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave (R) - 46%, State Representative Angie Paccione (D) - 42%, former Reagan Administration EPA official Eric Eidsness (Reform) - 8%. (KUSA-TV/SurveyUSA).
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.17.06
TEXAS: GOP DISUNITY TURNS CD-22 WRITE-IN EFFORT INTO POLITICAL WRITE-OFF.
According to the New York Times, no write-in candidate has every won office before in Texas history. Thus, Texas Republican leaders understand their only was of having any chance of holding former Congressman Tom DeLay’s vacant US House seat is unifying behind a single candidate. “Candidates need to set aside personal agendas and do what is best for the Republican family,” said State GOP Chairwoman Tina Benkiser. That’s where the agreement ends. State GOP leaders have called a meeting, saying the party must decide in a single candidate against former Congressman Nick Lampson (D). Sugar Land Mayor David Wallace (R) already announced his write-in candidacy, as did Houston City Councilwoman Shelley Sekula-Gibbs (R) and GOP State Committeeman Tim Turner (R). State Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and former Congressman Bob Barr (R-GA) both openly suggested the GOP unify behind electrical engineer Bob Smither (Libertarian), as he has ballot status and pledged to caucus with the Republicans if he wins. Both view a successful write-in effort as a near impossibility. The GOP write-in hopefuls are further complicating the race. One candidate — Wallace — is balking at any plans to unify behind a single candidate if the single candidate is not himself. Wallace said Texas “is not Moscow” and he cannot be forced out of the race. Wallace said he will continue his write-in candidacy no matter what party leaders decide. “It would be a great disappointment if Mayor Wallace choose to put himself ahead of the Republicans in this district. That would be an unfortunate event and won’t be forgotten,” responded Turner. None of this likely matters, as a leading Texas GOP consultant told the Times that Lampson has raised millions and is now guaranteed of winning the House seat this year. Instead, the consultant explained, the 2006 race is just about forcing Lampson to spend enough of his money so he won’t start his 2008 re-election race with $3 million in the bank.
Writer: David McAvoy -08.17.06
VIRGINIA: SENATOR ALLEN SPINNING FURTHER INTO DEEP MACACA.
US Senator George Allen (R) has found a way to keep the “macaca” story in the news for yet another day. First, his campaign manager said no apology was owed and Allen’s “macaca” comments were only referring to the mohawk hairstyle of a Democratic campaign worker stalking and filming Allen’s every public move. Note: While some claim college senior S.R. Sidarth has a mullet, not a mohawk, I side with those classifying Sidarth’s ‘do as an extra-wide mohawk. On Tuesday, Allen reversed course and publicly apologized — explaining he made up the word “macaca” and that it was not based upon Siddarth’s hair or ethnic heritage. He strongly denied he meant the word — apparently used in French as an insult towards dark-skinned people of African descent — in any racial way. On Wednesday, Allen kept explaining the incident. Here’s the latest version, according to The Hotline: The word macaca — pronounced “mocaca” — was a composite bantered about by his campaign aides: mo was short for mohawk, “and ‘caca,’ [is] Spanish slang for excrement or shit.” Allen’s press secretary said Wednesday that he didn’t believe the Senator “would ever try to publicly embarrass or demean a young person even if that person was working on an opposing campaign. The Senator has apologized sincerely and repeatedly over the last two days to the young man and to the public in general.” Responded the challenger Jim Webb (D) campaign’s spokeswoman: “I don’t know what’s worse: calling this innocent 20-year-old a ’shit head’ or a racist slur that was debatable that it wasn’t.” Allen may be moving towards a run for President in 2008, but this inept follow-up shows Allen is clearly not ready yet for the big leagues.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.17.06
FREE SPEECH ZONE.
Our quote of the day comes from embattled US Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT), who candidly talked to the Billings Gazette about his frequent ability to say things that land him in political trouble: “And just like I say, I’m the only guy in the world [who could] probably [be] getting beat running unopposed. But I can self-destruct in one sentence. Sometimes in one word.”
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.17.06
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.
WRITERS WANTED: WRITE FOR POLITICS1.
Claim your 15 minutes of online fame with the political crowd. Click here to learn more about writing for Politics1.
Continue Reading August 16th, 2006
WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE.
NEVADA: GIBBONS, TITUS WIN GOV PRIMARIES, HELLER WINS CD-2 GOP PRIMARY.
US Senator John Ensign (R) and businessman Jack Carter (D) will face-off in November, as both easily won landslide victories in their respective primaries. While Carter is running an effective campaign, Ensign still is strong and polls continue to give the incumbent an advantage in November. In the open gubernatorial race, both parties saw bitter primary contests. Congressman Jim Gibbons won the GOP nomination with 48%, defeating his nearest opponent State Senator Bob Beers by 19 points. During the primary campaign, Beers attacked Gibbons as a liar, a coward and an extortionist. Still, Beers endorsed Gibbons Tuesday night, explaining that “politics is often the case of having to choose between two less-than-perfect candidates.” On the Dem side, State Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus scored a surprisingly easy win over well-financed Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson by a 54% to 36% vote. Gibson was still angry Tuesday night, saying that he didn’t like the negative “for sale” TV spots Titus had run against him. The November contest — which also features environmental activist Craig Bergland (Green) and Religious Right activist Christopher Hansen (Independent American) — is expected to be competitive. In the hot race for Gibbons’ open US House, Secretary of State Dean Heller — a GOP centrist — narrowly edged out State Assemblywoman Sharron Angle by a 36% to 35% vote, a difference of just 428 votes. State Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons, the early frontrunner and wife of the current incumbent, was third with 25%. The Club for Growth spent roughly a million dollars on the race to support of Angle, running a sustained barrage of attacks labeling Gibbons and Heller as a pro-tax “liberals.” Factoring in the CFG money, Angle outspent her opponents by better than 4-to-1. In the end, Heller probably won the close vote by using an inexpensive tool: he personally called every absentee voter in Washoe County, Angle’s homebase, to help improve his numbers there. Heller will face State University System Regent Jill Derby (D) and three others in November. GOP voters in the race for State Treasurer decided against nominating the late State Auditor Kathy Augustine — perhaps deciding her lack of aspiration was a negative — and instead nominated financial consultant Mark DeStefano. Still, Augustine finished second with 20%. Click here to view all of the Nevada nominees.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.16.06
BY THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS.
ALASKA - GOVERNOR - GOP PRIMARY: Former Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin - 40%, former State Senator John Binkley - 29%, Governor Frank Murkowski - 17%. (Anchorage Daily News).
COLORADO - CONGRESS - CD-3: Congressman John Salazar (D) - 53%, pottery company owner Scott Tipton (R) - 42%, mechanical engineer Bob Sargent (Libertarian) - 4%. (KUSA-TV/SurveyUSA).
DC - MAYOR - DEM PRIMARY: City Councilman Adrian Fenty - 48%, City Council Chair Linda Cropp - 27%, former Verizon CEO Marie Johns - 7%, City Councilman Vincent Orange - 5%, attorney Michael Brown - 4%, Others - 1%. (WUSA-TV/SurveyUSA).
MICHIGAN - GOVERNOR: Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) - 47%, businessman Dick DeVos (R) - 46%. (Rasmussen Reports).
MICHIGAN - US SENATE: US Senator Debbie Stabenow (D) - 49%, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard (R) - 44%. (Rasmussen Reports).
MISSOURI - US SENATE: State Auditor Claire McCaskill (D) - 47%, US Senator Jim Talent (R) - 46%, Frank Gilmour (Libertarian) - 2%. (KCTV-TV/SurveyUSA).
PENNSYLVANIA - US SENATE: State Treasurer Bob Casey Jr. (D) - 45%, US Senator Rick Santorum (R) - 39%, railroad consultant Carl Romanelli (Green) - 5%. (Quinnipiac University).
PENNSYLVANIA - US SENATE: State Treasurer Bob Casey Jr. (D) - 47%, US Senator Rick Santorum (R) - 40%. (Quinnipiac University).
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.16.06
OHIO: SPECIAL PRIMARY SET TO REPLACE NEY IN CD-18.
One day after embattled Congressman Bob Ney (R) officially submitted paperwork withdrawing from his race for reelection, Secretary of State Ken Blackwell (R) set September 14 for a special GOP primary to select a replacement nominee. Former Taft Administration official and State Senator Joy Padgett (R) — Ney’s endorsed successor — has already announced her intention to run. Democrats plan legal action to disqualify Padgett from the contest under Ohio’s “sore loser” law, which states a candidate who lost an election cannot run for any other office in the same election. Padgett was Attorney General Jim Petro’s runningmate for Lieutenant Governor during their unsuccessful run against Blackwell in the May 2 primary. Petro — yes, the same former runningmate Petro — declared this week in his official capacity that Padgett is eligible to run for Ney’s seat. While Padgett is heavily favored for the nomination, although others could jump into the race. Filing for the primary closes this Thursday afternoon.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.16.06
VIRGINIA: SENATOR ALLEN UNDER FIRE FOR SEEMINGLY RACIST REMARKS.
US Senator George Allen (R) — a likely 2008 Presidential candidate — is under fire for making seeminly racist comments about a campaign supporter of Allen’s Democratic opponent. On Friday, college senior S.R. Sidarth, a 20-year-old Webb volunteer, was doing what he usually does: following Allen from event to event, videotaping Allen’s comments. Sidarth, born and raised in Virginia, is of Indian descent and was reportedly the only non-white person in the audience at Friday’s campaign event. During his remarks, Allen spotted Sidarth and broke from his prepared remarks. “This fellow here over here with the yellow shirt, Macaca, or whatever his name is. He’s with my opponent. He’s following us around everywhere … Lets give a welcome to Macaca, here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia.” You can view the brief video of the incident online. Macaca is a word which refers to a type of monkey, and has also been used to insult dark-skinned Africans. Allen’s campaign manager has said that it was meant to refer to Sidarth’s mohawk — although Sidarth’s haircut is a mullet. Sidarth said he was offended that Allen presumed him to be an immigrant because of his dark skin. Allen apologized Tuesday for the comments, saying “Macaca” was a meaningless word he “just made up.” Allen told the AP: “In no way was it meant to demean him, and I’m sorry if he was offended.” Allen has previously been accused of racial insensitivity for wearing a Confederate flag pin in his high school yearbook photo, keeping a Confederate flag in his living room, and having a noose hanging from a ficus tree in his law office — but Allen said he has “grown” since then.
Writer: David McAvoy - 08.16.06
FREE SPEECH ZONE.
The congressinal earmark process appears to be at the root of the Abramoff scandal — and subsequent similar scandals — that apparently ensnared Duke Cunningham, Bob Ney, Conrad Burns, John Doolittle, Jerry Lewis, Katherine Harris, Alan Mollohan and others purportedly the focus of ongoing federal investigations. Kudos, then, to the the Sunlight Foundation, Club for Growth and other groups across the political spectrum for launching this new Exposing Earmarks online project.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.16.06
Continue Reading August 15th, 2006
TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE.
NEVADA: A PRIMARY DAY WHERE EVEN A DEAD CANDIDATE IS POLITICALLY ALIVE.
Voters go to the polls Tuesday to cast ballots in several hotly contested races. In the open gubernatorial contest, Congressman Jim Gibbons will win the GOP primary by a comfortable margin over Lieutenant Governor Lorraine Hunt, State Senator Bob Beers, a porn star, and a frequent candidate. On the Democratic side, State Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus is facing off against Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson. Titus seems to be holding a fairly solid advantage in recent weeks, so look for her to win. In the open race for Lieutenant Governor, State Treasurer Brian Krolicki leads a field of six-GOP hopefuls. The marque race of the day is the GOP primary for the open CD-2 seat being vacated by Congressman Gibbons. Secretary of State Dean Heller, State Assemblywomen Dawn Gibbons and Sharron Angle, and two others are facing off. Gibbons, a conservative, is the wife of the departing incumbent. Heller is a popular GOP centrist who has held statewide office for years. Angle is a conservative backed by a over a $1 million in independent expenditures by the Club for Growth and other groups. Angle started the race at a distant third place, but appears to have the momentum to narrowly win. Finally, the oddest race on the ballot is clearly the open State Treasurer contest, in which state GOP leaders fear a dead person — the late State Controller Kathy Augustine — will defeat two live candidates to win the nomination. To avoid this, election officials are posting signs in all precincts announcing Augustine is deceased. The autopsy toxicology report is not yet back, so it is still uncertain whether Augustine died of a purported heart attack on July 11 or was possibly murdered. Her husband, a critical care nurse, remains the top focus of the state police investigation. State GOP leaders appear so certain Augustine will win that they’ve already scheduled a special meeting for this upcoming Saturday to select a replacement nominee.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.15.06
BY THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS.
COLORADO - GOVERNOR: Former Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter (D) - 48%, Congressman Bob Beauprez (R) - 39%. (Rasmussen Reports).
HAWAII - US SENATE - DEM PRIMARY: US Senator Dan Akaka - 47%, Congressman Ed Case - 45%. (Rasmussen Reports).
MARYLAND - GOVERNOR: Governor Bob Ehrlich (R) - 41%, Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley (D) - 41%. (Credit Union Association/Public Opinion Strategies-R).
MARYLAND - CONGRESS - CD-3 - DEM PRIMARY: Attorney John Sarbanes - 34%, Baltimore Health Commissioner Peter Beilenson - 16%, State Senator Paula Hollinger - 14%, TV news reporter Andy Barth - 11%, Others/Undecided - 25%. (Credit Union Association/Public Opinion Strategies-R).
NEVADA - GOVERNOR - GOP PRIMARY: Congressman Jim Gibbons - 47%, State Senator Bob Beers - 25%, Lieutenant Governor Lorraine Hunt - 17%, Others - 3%. (KVBC-TV/SurveyUSA).
NEVADA - GOVERNOR - DEM PRIMARY: State Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus - 57%, Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson - 33%, liberal activist Leola McConnell - 3%. (KVBC-TV/SurveyUSA).
NEVADA - CONGRESS - CD-2 - GOP PRIMARY: State Assemblywoman Sharron Angle - 32%, Secretary of State Dean Heller - 32%, former State Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons - 19%. (Las Vegas Review-Journal/Mason-Dixon).
OKLAHOMA - CONGRESS - CD-5 - GOP RUN-OFF: Lieutenant Governor Mary Fallin - 58%, Oklahoma City Mayor Kirk Cornett - 39%. (KFOR-TV/SurveyUSA).
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.15.06
OHIO: CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE ARRESTED, SUSPENDS CAMPAIGN.
Veterinarian Stephanie Studebaker — the Dem nominee against Congressman Mike Turner (R) in CD-3 — suspended her campaign Monday after she was arrested on domestic violence charges Sunday night. Police responded to calls about a fight, and observed visible injury marks on both. In response, police ended up arresting both Studebaker and her husband. Both signed complaints against each other, and both were released Monday morning on $25,000 bond apiece. Hours later, her campaign posted a notice on her campaign site: “Due to personal issues, the Studebaker for Congress campaign is suspending all campaign activities for the time being. We … request that the privacy of our campaign be respected during this time.” Turner was already rated a fairly safe bet to win reelection before these developments, but he can now be moved to the new “Super Safe” category.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.15.06
OHIO: BLACKWELL REALLY OVER-REACHES WITH LATEST ATTACK ON DEM.
Two weeks ago, a consultant working with Secretary of State Ken Blackwell’s gubernatorial campaign was fired by the Ohio Republican Party for fabricating a rumor that Congressman Ted Strickland (D) was secretly gay. Well, if you thought Blackwell couldn’t get more desperate — as most polls show him running nearly 20-points behind Strickland — you’d be wrong. Check out this desperate posting on the Blackwell campaign site mockingly comparing Strickland to … ailing Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. Castro??!! The item was posted by Matt Naugle, the campaign staffer who runs the official campaign blog site. With three months to go, and with a well-executed plan like this latest caper, Blackwell still has enough time to alienate nearly all the rest of those voters in the state who still support him.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.15.06
HAWAII: NO COFFEE BOOST FOR ALOHA STATE REPUBLICANS.
Hawaii Republicans’ very slim hopes of taking advantage of Democratic Party strife in the US Senate race faded further as motivational speaker Jerry Coffee suspended his campaign. According to the Honolulu Advertiser, Coffee, 72, a former Vietnam prisoner of war and retired Navy captain, suspended his campaign after undergoing heart bypass surgery last week. A statement on Coffee’s website states he is expected to make a full recovery. However, Coffee’s son and campaign spokesman told the Advertiser that Coffee was unlikely to revive the campaign even if he had a speedy recovery. Coffee was supported by most of the state’s prominent Republicans, including Governor Linda Lingle. The five remaining Republicans are virtual unknowns. On the Democratic side, incumbent Senator Dan Akaka continues to face a competitive primary challenge from Congressman Ed Case.
Writer: Steve Urey - 08.15.06
FREE SPEECH ZONE.
Anything else going on in politics?
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.15.06;
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: Farmer and liberal activist Jean Hay Bright, Democrat for US Senate in Maine.
WRITERS WANTED: WRITE FOR POLITICS1.
Claim your 15 minutes of online fame with the political crowd. Click here to learn more about writing for Politics1.
Continue Reading August 14th, 2006
A bit of news from The New York Observer, it appears that former Democratic Senator and 1992 Presidential candidate Bob Kerrey is going to be supporting Senator Joe Lieberman’s independent bid for re-election.
While most of Joe Lieberman’s Democratic colleagues flock to his opponent, at least one prominent former senator is …
Continue Reading August 14th, 2006
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has decided to back Senator Joe Lieberman’s independent re-election campaign. The story, from NewsMax, includes quite a bit of speculation on Bloomberg’s own plans for the 2008 Presidential election.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s endorsement of Sen. Joe Lieberman’s re-election run as an …
Continue Reading August 14th, 2006
From Ballot Access News:
The Natural Law Party was organized in the United States in 1992, and it ceased to exist as a national organization in 2004. All of its state units will be dropping off the ballot in November 2006, except for the Michigan unit. The Michigan branch of the …
Continue Reading August 14th, 2006
A new poll out from Rasmussen has Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman winning re-election as an independent, though the margin is not quite what you could call comfortable.
Senator Joe Lieberman’s decision to run as an Independent sets up a lively campaign season for Connecticut voters. In the first General Election poll …
Continue Reading August 13th, 2006
MONDAY NEWS UPDATE.
LOUISIANA: CANDIDATE FILING CLOSES.
Embattled Congressman Bill Jefferson (D) — who faces a looming federal indictment on bribery and other corruption charges — drew a dozen challengers by the time candidate filing in the state closed Friday evening. Of his CD-2 challengers, three are significant: State Representative Karen Carter (D), former State Representative Troy Carter (D), and State Senator Derrick Shepherd (D). The two Carters are not related. All thirteen candidates, including Jefferson, will compete in the November 7 open primary. If no candidate captures a majority of the vote, the top two finishers — regardless of party — will face-off in a December run-off. The CD-2 seat is safely Democratic. Congressman Charlie Melancon (D) is facing a competitive rematch against State Senator Craig Romero (R) in CD-3. Melancon narrowly defeated Romero in the 2004 open seat election. While all of the other congressional incumbents drew opponents, none face any serious challenge. Voters will also cast ballots September 30 in special elections for Secretary of State and State Insurance Commissioner. Republicans are certain to win the Insurance Commissioner race, as no Democrats filed for the job.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.12.06
BY THE NUMBERS: LATEST INDEPENDENT NUMBERS.
CONNECTICUT - US SENATE: US Senator Joe Lieberman (Independent) - 46%, businessman Ned Lamont (D) - 40%, former State Representative Alan Schlesinger (R) - 6%. (Rasmussen Reports).
FLORIDA - GOVERNOR - GOP PRIMARY: Attorney General Charlie Crist - 50%, State CFO Tom Gallagher - 26%. (St. Petersburg Times/Schroth).
FLORIDA - GOVERNOR - DEM PRIMARY: Congressman Jim Davis - 35%, State Senator Rod Smith - 21%. (St. Petersburg Times/Schroth).
FLORIDA - US SENATE- GOP PRIMARY: Congresswoman Katherine Harris - 28%, attorney Will McBride - 11%, retired Navy Admiral LeRoy Collins Jr. - 9%, developer Peter Monroe - 5%. (St. Petersburg Times/Schroth).
HAWAII - US SENATE - DEM PRIMARY: US Senator Dan Akaka - 47%, Congressman Ed Case - 45%. (Rasmussen Reports).
KENTUCKY - CONGRESS - CD-4: Congressman Geoff Davis (R) - 46%, former Congressman Ken Lucas (D) - 44%. (WCPO-TV/SurveyUSA).
MASSACHUSETTS - GOVERNOR - (Rasmussen Reports):
Former US Assistant Attorney General Deval Patrick (D) - 39%, Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey (R) - 29%, businessman Christy Mihos (Independent) - 14%.
Venture capitalist Chris Gabrieli (D) - 47%, Healey (R) - 27%, Mihos (Independent) - 10%.
Attorney General Tom Reilly (D) - 40%, Healey (R) - 28%, Mihos (Independent) - 16%.
MONTANA - US SENATE: US Senator Conrad Burns (R) - 47%, State Senate President Jon Tester (D) - 47%. (Rasmussen Reports).
NEVADA - US SENATE: US Senator John Ensign (R) - 54%, businessman Jack Carter (D) - 33%. (Las Vegas Review-Journal/Mason-Dixon).
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.12.06
FLORIDA: OFF-BEAT NEWS FROM TWO STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES.
RANDALL TERRY (R): State Senate candidate Randall Terry (R) — best known for founding the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue in the 1980s — has taken a lesson from the comedy playbook of various successful races over the last few years. Terry has begun a series of automated calls going to the 43,000 Republican homes in the district. The recorded messages feature a voice impersonation of former President Bill Clinton “endorsing” Terry’s GOP primary opponent, centrist incumbent State Senator Jim King. “I’m a Ronald Reagan conservative; Senator King is a Ted Kennedy Republican,” quipped Terry. “Who better to tell the story than Bill Clinton and Ted Kennedy?” Terry and Clinton crossed paths during the 1992 Presidential campaign, when Terry arranged to have one of his followers unexpectedly hand an aborted fetus to Clinton. Terry served five months in jail for that stunt. Since then, Terry ran for office several times in New York before moving to Florida. Terry is trying to use the Terri Schiavo case — as King did not support state efforts to interfere in the Schiavo matter — as his wedge issue in the primary. Writer: Bill Greene.
IRV SLOSBERG (D): Wealthy State Representative Irv Slosberg is running for an open State Senate seat in the upcoming primary. To win support, he is taking to spending money on outrageous gifts to win voter support. He’s taken large groups of 75 seniors to free dinners as Chinese restaurants. Since he picks up the tab, Slosberg refers to the outings as “Irvy Bird Specials.” Slosberg has also announced his own hurricane relief plan if South Florida is hit again with serious storms. He purchased four refrigerated trucks and claims he placed them on “stand-by” status — all part of what he calls the “Slosberg Emergency Management Aid (SEMA) ” — to distribute ice and water to residents. The self-aggrandizing spending goes on and on, which is why local newspapers have endorsed his primary opponent.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.12.06
FREE SPEECH ZONE.
This weekend produced little political news related to the upcoming elections — so I’ll instead amusingly note a new political party: The Pirate Party. They group is already fielding a congressional candidate this year in Iowa’s CD-1. FYI, the name does not refer to any Johnny Depp or Blackbeard style pirates. “We’ve chosen to adopt the Pirate name so as to pay homage to the creative artists of the past, or as they would now be known, Pirates, thieves, and copyright infringers,” the group explains.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.12.06
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: Retired college professor and economist Bill Peirce, Libertarian for Ohio Governor.
WRITERS WANTED: WRITE FOR POLITICS1.
Claim your 15 minutes of online fame with the political crowd. Click here to learn more about writing for Politics1.
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| « Jul | Sep » | |||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | ||