Senate 2008 Guru: Following the Races

Keeping a close eye on developments in the 2008 U.S. Senate races

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Wednesday Tidbits

  • Minnesota: This is outstanding. An old college buddy of Norm Coleman's has taken out an ad wondering what Norman Coleman, the pot-smoking college student, would think of Norm Coleman, the hypocritical politician. You must read this.

  • Mississippi: The Guru was raising this issue over a month ago, and the Project on Government Oversight (POGO) blog even earlier. And now, finally, the Washington Post and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington are picking up on the all-too-cozy relationship between Senate-appointee Roger Wicker and the Aurora Corporation. In a nutshell, Aurora was Congressman Wicker's top contributor in 2006; then, in 2007, Wicker secured a juicy earmark for Aurora; and, to top it off, the lobbyist working for Aurora was Wicker's former Chief of Staff. So there you go. As John Pruett of POGO mentions in the WaPo article:

    John Pruett, a fellow at the Project on Government Oversight, said: "There are a thousand companies out there that make unmanned vehicles. Why did he choose Aurora? It points out that [it should not be] . . . left to the inclinations of a representative. There should be some standard."
    Indeed. Not only contracting standards but ethical standards, too.

  • Oregon: Given that the Democrats looking to oust Republican Gordon Smith are within single digits of Smith in the polls despite very low name ID, The Hill chronicles what a promising pick-up opportunity Oregon is for Democrats.

  • Montana: Senator Max Baucus raised $1.5 million in Q4-2007, bringing his cash-on-hand to a massive $6.3 million.

  • Louisiana: With GOP Rep. Richard Baker, the dean of Louisiana's congressional delegation, definitely resigning from Congress, it serves as another reminder to Louisianans just how valuable Senator Mary Landrieu's seniority is.

  • New Hampshire: This just in: Sprintin' John Sununu is still way out of touch with Granite State voters.

  • Kentucky: This just in: Mitch McConnell and George W. Bush are, in fact, best friends forever.

  • North Carolina: Senate candidate Jim Neal sits down for a chat at Pam's House Blend.

  • Alaska: GOP Gov. Sarah Palin sends a subtle rebuke Ted Stevens' way.

  • Idaho: Veteran Scott Syme and businessman Richard Phenneger have put up nifty campaign websites, joining rancher Rex Rammell and former Caldwell City Councilman Kent Marmon, along with Lt. Gov. Jim Risch, in the 2008 Republican Senate primary. The winner of the crowded Republican primary, of course, faces Democratic former Congressman Larry LaRocco.

  • Oh, to be a fly on the wall of this get-together of Republican Senators.

  • Hooray for Mitt Romney and the continuation of the Republican circular firing squad!

  • 3 Comments:

    Blogger Hokie Guru said...

    Alright, Guru... I made a donation to Mr. Texas.

    10:48 PM, January 16, 2008  
    Blogger JN said...

    That Anti-Coleman ad is amazing. Thanks!

    10:53 AM, January 17, 2008  
    Blogger Michael Westmoreland-White, Ph.D. said...

    I think we have an excellent chance of taking out McConnell IF Chuck Schumer and the DSCC quit trying to recruit millionaire DINOs (Bruce Lunsford, Greg Fischer) and get behind the progressive grassroots campaign of Andrew Horne! Horne's kickoff party was very crowded and the checkbooks were open. He's the only Dem candidate to be circulating the state, too and not staying in Louisville.

    His status as a veteran of 2 wars (Gulf Wars 1 & 2), who worked on reconstruction projects in Iraq and saw the stupidity factors that led to the insurgency, is getting him a hearing in more conservative parts of the state--who are normally suspicious of anything from Louisville. He is a true progressive populist--but is able to speak the language of the people. He can and will take down Big Money Mitch if the DSCC will get out of the way. His story is very similar to Noriega's in Texas or Jim Webb's in VA.

    But, if we win, it will probably be as razor thin as was Jon Tester's in '06. McConnell is a toad, but a canny campaigner with lots of cash who has taken down many folks far more well known than Horne. (Of course, he's never had such low approval ratings when starting a campaign, before.)

    2:52 PM, January 17, 2008  

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