Appalachia Politics
The midterms: Dems' Appalachia problem
Posted: Thursday, February 18, 2010 9:26 AM by Domenico Montanaro Filed Under: 2010
The Washington Post looks at how Democrats could struggle to carry congressional districts in Appalachia and focuses on vulnerable Virginia Democrat Rick Boucher.
But the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee will announce today it raised $5.1 million last month, “its biggest monthly haul of the cycle -- and the best January we've ever had,” says spokesman Eric Schultz. It now has almost $13 million cash on hand. Its biggest January haul previously was $3.9 million in 2008.
COLORADO: The Wall Street Journal previews Obama stumping today for Sen. Michael Bennet (D) and tomorrow for Harry Reid. “President Barack Obama visits Western battleground states this week in a show of support for two of his party's vulnerable 2010 candidates, in particular embattled Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. The Western swing, an unusual effort so early in an election year to bolster a top party figure, begins with a fund raiser Thursday for Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet, who is running a tight race.”
FLORIDA: At a discussion in Naples on Tuesday night, former President George W. Bush and his brother, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, gave their non-endorsements in the Florida governors’ race: “Jeb Bush says he is officially neutral, but is disappointed in Crist's embrace of the stimulus bill. George W. Bush joked, "Who the hell is Marco Rubio?”
INDIANA: No, He Cannot Forget From Where It Is That He Comes From… “There's a small but growing movement to draft John Mellencamp for Senate in Indiana.”
KENTUCKY: “Republican Rand Paul is taking his Senate campaign to Christian radio in hopes of winning the support of Kentucky's most ardent social conservatives, many of whom choose political candidates based on their stand against abortion,” the AP reports. “Paul calls abortion ‘an abomination’ in a political ad that will begin airing on Monday. He goes on to say he would vote for any law or constitutional amendment that would stop it.”
MASSACHUSETTS: The Boston Globe asked the Republican candidates for governor who criticized Gov. Deval Patrick’s budget proposal last month “to come up with five ways they would close the more than $2 billion budget gap the state is facing next year as it continues to grapple with the economic crisis.” “Charles D. Baker Jr. would lay off 5,000 state workers, reduce the number of health and human services agencies, and ask chains like CVS, Wal-Mart, and Walgreens to take over some of the transactions handled by the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Christy Mihos would cut the governor’s staff by 50 percent, lay off 300 toll takers, and legalize sports betting at stores that sell lottery tickets. And state Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill, although he promises to cut spending on health care, education, and local aid, says he cannot offer more details about his plans until he is elected governor.”
NEVADA: Reid’s gamble: “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's poll numbers make him look like an easy mark, but casino owners who have a history of disregarding party and going with the winner in Nevada politics are putting their money on him winning re-election,” AP writes. “While his leadership is under assault in Washington and the GOP has made him its No. 1 target in November's election, Reid is counting on decades of close ties with the gambling industry and the nearly one in every three jobs it supports in the state to win over disapproving voters.”
NEW YORK: It just gets better and better for David Paterson: “As he struggles to save his flailing campaign, Gov. Paterson has told people he's taking counsel from the man responsible for him being in charge in the first place -- Eliot Spitzer,” the New York Post reports, adding, “Sources said the advice has largely gone through an intermediary, instead of direct strategy sessions.”
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The midterms: Dems' Appalachia problem
Posted: Thursday, February 18, 2010 9:26 AM by Domenico Montanaro Filed Under: 2010
The Washington Post looks at how Democrats could struggle to carry congressional districts in Appalachia and focuses on vulnerable Virginia Democrat Rick Boucher.
But the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee will announce today it raised $5.1 million last month, “its biggest monthly haul of the cycle -- and the best January we've ever had,” says spokesman Eric Schultz. It now has almost $13 million cash on hand. Its biggest January haul previously was $3.9 million in 2008.
COLORADO: The Wall Street Journal previews Obama stumping today for Sen. Michael Bennet (D) and tomorrow for Harry Reid. “President Barack Obama visits Western battleground states this week in a show of support for two of his party's vulnerable 2010 candidates, in particular embattled Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. The Western swing, an unusual effort so early in an election year to bolster a top party figure, begins with a fund raiser Thursday for Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet, who is running a tight race.”
FLORIDA: At a discussion in Naples on Tuesday night, former President George W. Bush and his brother, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, gave their non-endorsements in the Florida governors’ race: “Jeb Bush says he is officially neutral, but is disappointed in Crist's embrace of the stimulus bill. George W. Bush joked, "Who the hell is Marco Rubio?”
INDIANA: No, He Cannot Forget From Where It Is That He Comes From… “There's a small but growing movement to draft John Mellencamp for Senate in Indiana.”
KENTUCKY: “Republican Rand Paul is taking his Senate campaign to Christian radio in hopes of winning the support of Kentucky's most ardent social conservatives, many of whom choose political candidates based on their stand against abortion,” the AP reports. “Paul calls abortion ‘an abomination’ in a political ad that will begin airing on Monday. He goes on to say he would vote for any law or constitutional amendment that would stop it.”
MASSACHUSETTS: The Boston Globe asked the Republican candidates for governor who criticized Gov. Deval Patrick’s budget proposal last month “to come up with five ways they would close the more than $2 billion budget gap the state is facing next year as it continues to grapple with the economic crisis.” “Charles D. Baker Jr. would lay off 5,000 state workers, reduce the number of health and human services agencies, and ask chains like CVS, Wal-Mart, and Walgreens to take over some of the transactions handled by the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Christy Mihos would cut the governor’s staff by 50 percent, lay off 300 toll takers, and legalize sports betting at stores that sell lottery tickets. And state Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill, although he promises to cut spending on health care, education, and local aid, says he cannot offer more details about his plans until he is elected governor.”
NEVADA: Reid’s gamble: “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's poll numbers make him look like an easy mark, but casino owners who have a history of disregarding party and going with the winner in Nevada politics are putting their money on him winning re-election,” AP writes. “While his leadership is under assault in Washington and the GOP has made him its No. 1 target in November's election, Reid is counting on decades of close ties with the gambling industry and the nearly one in every three jobs it supports in the state to win over disapproving voters.”
NEW YORK: It just gets better and better for David Paterson: “As he struggles to save his flailing campaign, Gov. Paterson has told people he's taking counsel from the man responsible for him being in charge in the first place -- Eliot Spitzer,” the New York Post reports, adding, “Sources said the advice has largely gone through an intermediary, instead of direct strategy sessions.”
