Say hello to two possible new senators in 2011: Robin Carnahan and Paul Hodes. Both confirmed today that they will be running in 2010, Carnahan in Missouri and Hodes in New Hampshire.
Missouri Sec. of State Carnahan will be running for the seat left open by Kit Bond’s retirement; her opponent won’t be known for a while (there will probably be a competitive GOP primary, with Rep. Roy Blunt, ex-Sen. Jim Talent, and ex-Treasurer Sarah Steelman eyeing the race), but a recent PPP poll shows her ahead of all of them. Her announcement video is here.
Rep. Paul Hodes is running for a seat that may or may not be open; it’s still unclear who Gov. John Lynch will appoint to replace Judd Gregg (who will become Commerce Secretary), although sources point to Gregg’s former chief of staff Bonnie Newman. The Union-Leader reports: “She is not expected to run for a full term in 2010.”
Hodes had already been considering an uphill battle against an incumbent Gregg, but with the Gregg’s departure and the expectation that Newman will serve two years and not run for re-election, it looked like too good an opportunity for Hodes to pass up.
The developments surrounding that surprising appointment by President Obama “has sped up his timeline and he will make a formal announcement within the week,” the source said.
But we’re looking at you Governor Sebelius…
cos events may alter the view that 2010 would be good for democrats. Obama’s “stimulus” or “recovery” sales job is terrible? Worse, he seems unprepared for the GOP faux spin (duh!..what did he expect? didn’t he learn anything from Clinton 1993?).
Clinton remained popular through August 1993 but after the weight of “a thousand cuts” his poll numbers had collapsed by the fall and you all know what happened in 1994. It would be a tragedy of immense proportions for events to repeat themselves.
I hope Katrina Swett doesn’t run for the Senate in NH, though I am not sure what to think about Shea-Porter. I really like her, would want her to be Senator, but would not want to lose her in the House either…
Campaign Diaries
Next!
Is Cooper interested in NC? And will anyone but Mongiardo run in KY?
Newman confirms she will not seek re-election in 2010.
Rep. Hodes, prepare for your ascension!
There’s literally nothing he can do to avoid another cycle of losses. 21 months out and already they’re looking at likely losses in NH, MO, and KY. OH and NC should soon follow.