Crist: 47 Rubio: 37

A new DailyKos/Research 2000 poll in Florida shows Marco Rubio (R) surging in his race with Gov. Charlie Crist (R) for the Republican Senate nomination.

Crist now leads Rubio, 47% to 37%. In January, Crist led 57% to 11.

Rubio's biggest problem could be peaking TOO SOON.

Crist is looking like the melting witch in Wizard of Oz.  

---

by: vicupstate @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 15:12:28 PM CST

Very true

Another thing that could be an issue IMO is additional entries into the race.  When Crist jumped in it scared all the other repubs out of the race except Rubio.  But now that Rubio is showing how weak Crist is with the base I wouldn't be shocked if another big name conservative or two also jumped in.  Of course that would help Crist by diving the conservative vote.  I still hope Crist wins the primary.  He's much better than Rubio would be in the Senate and Meek ain't beating either one in a general.

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by: ChadInFL @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 15:35:56 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Debbie Wasserman-Schultz vs. Marco Rubio??????

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by: jmartin4s @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 15:54:18 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Sadly

I don't think Wasserman-Schultz is much more electable than Meek.

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by: ChadInFL @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 15:55:09 PM CST

[ Parent ]

DWS is on her way to speaker

Id love to see her in the Senate and all, but Id hate to lose her.

Shit, I was about to argue that I bet DWS is considerably more electable, but then saw that the comment was from Chad so I better take your word for it.

---

by: Andrew @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 16:05:51 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I like Wexler too

Hate to see him leacingthe house.

---

by: ChadInFL @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 16:11:43 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Another FL poll - this one on FL-02

Sounds like an internal poll done by The Research Group.  No idea if this company has any real track record.  I really doubt Boyd loses that primary.  If he does we're in serious trouble.  Lawson is probably unelectable against even a 3rd tier repub candidate.

http://allawsonforcongress.com...

2010 Democratic Primary (FL-02)    
Al LAWSON  34.9%    
Allen BOYD  30.7%

The poll was conducted by The Research Network. Four hundred and forty-one likely voters in Florida's Congressional District 2 were interviewed in a random sample taken November 12-16. Respondents were screened for their likelihood of voting in the August 2010 primary election. The sample was balanced according to all demographic factors. The margin of error for this survey is ± 4.6% with a 95% confidence level.

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by: ChadInFL @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 15:54:18 PM CST

Somehow, I doubt this is true

Unless Boyd has been flooding the airwaves with commercials, and I doubt that's the case given his meager fundraising so far.

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by: Johnny Longtorso @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 18:04:24 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Make that "Unless LAWSON..."

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by: Johnny Longtorso @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 18:04:39 PM CST

[ Parent ]

seems hard to believe

but I sure hope it's accurate! Boyd is horrendous.

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by: desmoinesdem @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 20:35:03 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Oh come on

Lawson will get crushed if he is our nominee.  I don't like Boyd either but he's the best we're going to get in a district that is red and getting redder.  Also, Lawson isn't exactly a solid progressive.  He probably would not be much better than Boyd.

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by: ChadInFL @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 21:27:47 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Will he?

He's not that much more left than Boyd, although he may be by a hair.  His race may play a role and Boyd might not win anyway, but I thought Lawson was also a pretty darn conservative southern Dem.

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by: Tiger in BlueDenver @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 13:29:13 PM CST

[ Parent ]

but in a larger sense...

If/when the Blue Dog caucus gets trimmed down, Reps like Boyd and Old Southern districts like his are exactly the kind of politicians and districts Democrats will lose.  And 2010/12 looks like a partisan realignment election cycle to me- Boyd will have a tough time at best.  

The southernmost real town of the Confederacy, with Southern social establishments, during the Civil War was Ocala.  South of Ocala were small outlier settlements, ranches, and Indians- sort of a Wild West.  A cultural demographic (and political) boundary zone seems to persist to this day that runs east-west maybe twenty to fifty miles south of Ocala.  Reality might be that with the Old South making the Republican Party its possession, the foreseeable future for Florida Democrats lies almost entirely south of that line.

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by: Baystater @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 13:49:09 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Sounds about right

And the good thing is the parts of Florida south of Ocala are growing at a much faster clip than the areas north of it.  Though I do expect Florida's population to slow considerably over the next few decades.  Those models showing Florida gaining another 10+ congressional seats over the next few decades sound far-fetched to me.  Florida actually dropped in population in 2008 for the first time in something like 100 years.

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by: ChadInFL @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 13:55:47 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Go, Lawson, go.

Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.

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by: TheUnknown285 @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 20:37:45 PM CST

[ Parent ]

At the end of the day

Not much difference between the right and left on these things.

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by: conspiracy @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 09:28:09 AM CST

[ Parent ]

There is a big difference

Between someone who votes with the party 70%+ of the time versus a republican who votes with you 2% of the time.  Nominate Lawson and you will only have a moral victory until November 2010 when he gets rolled by a 3rd tier repub.

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by: ChadInFL @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 09:40:18 AM CST

[ Parent ]

That was my point

Purity tests lead in one direction - the minority.

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by: conspiracy @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 09:44:47 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Yep

I've long believed primary challenges from the left should only happen in extreme cases.  Namely in cases where the district is solidly democratic (about D+8 or better) and the incumbent is far too moderate/conservative.  Al Wynn was an abvious example of a case where this rule applies.  Lipinski is another, though I've all but given up hope on ousting him.

I would also add Kucinich to the list from a different angle.  The guy consistently votes agaisnt his district's interests because he won't vote for anything that's not 100% liberal.

Anyone who thinks it's a good idea for Boyd to lose a primary obviously does not know FL-02.  It's one of the very few districts in Florida growing more conservative and a seat Dems will likely lose when Boyd is gone.

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by: ChadInFL @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 10:03:36 AM CST

[ Parent ]

My position also

Kucinich in particular.

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by: conspiracy @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 10:18:33 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Yep.

I too know that people like Lawson are unelectable in the "Redneck Riviera".

Check out the 2010 California races (http://2010californiaracetracker.wetpaint.com) and help us take back Red California! (http://www.takebackredcalifornia.org)

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by: californianintexas @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 10:41:52 AM CST

[ Parent ]

What Does That Mean Exactly?

Why is Lawson unelectable? Is it because he's black? This district voted for McCain, sure, but it's not like we are talking about Utah or Idaho margins. This is the district that includes Tallahassee. I'm unclear on why Lawson is so unelectable here when Boyd's held the seat in Democratic hands for years.

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by: armand @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 11:20:09 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Incumbency

The only color that is important here is the district has got redder since Boyd was first elected in 1996. And if there ever was a right time 2010 is not the year to open this seat.

---

by: conspiracy @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 11:25:50 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Right.

Since Boyd was elected, the region has only gotten more Republican, and outside Tallahassee, there are no elected Democrats in the region at all I think. Though that probably isn't a bad thing, since the panhandle has little to no growth. If Florida gets a new district, it will probably be in Central or South Florida.

Check out the 2010 California races (http://2010californiaracetracker.wetpaint.com) and help us take back Red California! (http://www.takebackredcalifornia.org)

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by: californianintexas @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 11:30:12 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Debbie Boyd

I believe she is Boyd's daughter or wife who holds a right-leaning state house seat which I believe is based outside of Tallahassee.  But she just barely won re-election in 2008.

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by: ChadInFL @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 11:54:40 AM CST

[ Parent ]

I did find a Debbie Boyd in the FL HoR.

I have no idea how she is related to Allen since his wife is named Stephanie and his daughter Suzanne.

Check out the 2010 California races (http://2010californiaracetracker.wetpaint.com) and help us take back Red California! (http://www.takebackredcalifornia.org)

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by: californianintexas @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 12:09:30 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Debbie was born in 1957

and Allen in 1945 so maybe she is a sister or cousin or something.

Check out the 2010 California races (http://2010californiaracetracker.wetpaint.com) and help us take back Red California! (http://www.takebackredcalifornia.org)

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by: californianintexas @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 12:16:11 PM CST

[ Parent ]

open seat + race

Even if you took race out of it I don't think anyone but Boyd could win that district.  Our bench is very bare in FL-02.  Boyd does have a relative (daughter I think?) who holds a state house seat within FL-02, but even she just barely held on to her seat in 2008.  It's doubtful even another Boyd could hold the 2nd.

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by: ChadInFL @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 11:52:29 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Sanford Bishop could win here

but this is a black guy ousting a white incumbent in a district where the longtime Democratic base is becoming more Republican.

So no Lawson wouldn't win here.  

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by: DTOzone @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 11:56:52 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Not so sure

Sanford's district is 45% AA while FL-02 is only 22%.  

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by: ChadInFL @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 12:01:40 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Lawson is pretty much unelectable bc he is black

yeah, this district has been voting Republican for quite some time while also voting for a Dem congresscritter.  But this is the Florida panhandle, its pretty much the old confederate south and Lawson would get creamed.

And just because Im too lazy to find a specific comment to reply to, wasnt Lawson running on Boyd's right for his primary challenge?

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by: Andrew @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 14:41:24 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Doesn't sound like it

If you look at Lawson's website it is a laundry list of issues designed to attract primary support from Dems to the left of Boyd.  It may help him in the primary but would get him crushed in the general.

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by: ChadInFL @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 14:56:01 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Whatever.

We'll be in the minority a hell of a lot faster by doing nothing or doing things half-assed to placate so-called moderates like Allen Boyd.  And we'll be without the ability to effectively criticize Republicans when so many our own support the same policies they do and when we can't lay out an agenda or build a message because we have our own actively undermining it.

Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.

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by: TheUnknown285 @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 12:55:00 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Then we're headed for the minority regardless

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by: DTOzone @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 19:06:42 PM CST

[ Parent ]

We're in the majority

Perhaps reality should temper theory.

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by: tommypaine @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 20:19:22 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Decapitating the Blue Dog coalition (figuaratively) is worth it.

Getting rid of someone with a history of voting adding bi-partisan credence to Republican policies and stances (e.g. Social Security, Lilly Ledbetter, health care reform) is worth it.

Getting rid of someone who's actions distract from
messaging and building an agenda is worth it.

Preventing a Blue Dog from becoming Appropriations Chair or Budget Chair is worth it.

And the 30% of votes where he's against us are the ones that are on matters that are supposed to make Democrats different from Republicans: Lilly Ledbetter, healthcare, war, etc.

Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.

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by: TheUnknown285 @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 13:01:42 PM CST

[ Parent ]

That is the mirror image of the CfG

Lunacy.

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by: conspiracy @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 13:18:23 PM CST

[ Parent ]

No, running conservatives is the mirror image of the CfG.

Now, THAT is lunacy.

Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.

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by: TheUnknown285 @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 13:21:49 PM CST

[ Parent ]

And withoutthe Blue Dogs

Democrats have exactly 204 seats right now.  Where do you to pickup the additional 14 seats just to get a simple majority?

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by: ChadInFL @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 13:25:27 PM CST

[ Parent ]

You replace the Blue Dogs like Harman, Lipinski, Barrow, etc.

You go after red-held blue and purple (or purpling) seats like Bono Mack, Castle, Kirk, Gerlach, Wolf, etc.  And you build for the future by promising a clear agenda of populism and civil rights etc., deliver on it, and attack the Republicans for being what the anarchists, hatemongerers, and fearmongerers they are.  You build a bigger majority by showing a CLEAR difference between yourself and your opponents in areas that matter.  

Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.

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by: TheUnknown285 @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 13:30:18 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I disagree with the overall strategy you mention

However one way to increase the standing of progressive within the caucus is outright redistricting.  There are a handful of states (namely IL and CA) that can produce another 6-12 additional democratic seats in 2012.  Hopefully we can pull out a few more key Gubernatorial and state legislature wins to control Michigan, Minnesota, etc.  

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by: ChadInFL @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 13:37:50 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Yet at the same time, people are saying not to do that.

Because the map won't be pretty or because artificial boundaries may be split.  

So, taken with the attitude that we can't primary bad Democrats in blue districts because it may make us like Republicans (although being like Republicans in policy and results is apparently okay), that we can't go after Democrats in not so friendly districts because we may have only a ten or twenty seat majority, we're boxing ourselves in.  

We've spent the past several years saying we have something to offer, that can play, that we can't be Republican-lite (same bad taste, just faker!), that we have to fight back, yet we same to be falling back into the rutts of a few years ago.

Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.

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by: TheUnknown285 @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 15:24:13 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Who cares what the boundaries look like

People give up too easily. And I say primaries in blue districts are fine. Not in R+9 deep south seats. Also, Repub-lite is ridiculous. The American people now think Obama and the Dems are too liberal just as much as they think the GOP is too conservative.

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by: conspiracy @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 15:36:50 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Impossible to pick and choose

Where seats can be won.

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by: conspiracy @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 13:38:24 PM CST

[ Parent ]

And there are feww options left

Right now there are extremely few seats held by R's with a democratic lean.  Long-term demographic trends and redistricting in 2012 may open up a few opportunities at a progressive pickup, but it doesn't make up for 50+ Blue Dogs.

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by: ChadInFL @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 13:58:03 PM CST

[ Parent ]

And most of them are pretty reliable anyway

I agree about what you said with regard to redistricting. I don't think progressives can do anything about conservative Democrats without doing something about all the wasting votes in urban districts. Most strikingly signified by the mosr Republican district being +29 while the most Democratic is +41.

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by: conspiracy @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 14:08:04 PM CST

[ Parent ]

No it's not. It's done all the time.

The DCCC isn't going to spend a time going after the likes of Phil Gingrey or Marsha Blackburn.  But they'll go after open seats like Castle's, Gerlach's, etc.

Unless I'm misunderstanding what you're saying.

Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.

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by: TheUnknown285 @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 15:18:23 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I meant

You can't pick and choose where you win. Thinking of the senate - of the thirty best Obama states there are ten GOP senators and Lieberman. And a similar number of Dems in the other twenty. My point was that in an ideal world Dems could pick the the 230 most progressive seats in the House but it doesn't work like that.

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by: conspiracy @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 15:26:21 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Hopefully in 2012 we can have more of a say

Most of the big state maps right now were drawn by republican legislatures in 2002.  That will likely not be the case in 2012.  California alone could yield a half dozen more Dem seats and Illinois 2-3 seats.  And in states like MI and PA (hopefully FL too with Sink as Gov) we should get a compromise map protecting our 2006 and 2008 pickups at the very least.  All repubs will have is Texas and maybe TN, GA, SC and possibly a couple other states.  And Texas is basically maxed out for them already.  All in all a big improvement from the current maps.  If we can just ride out 2010...

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by: ChadInFL @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 15:33:33 PM CST

[ Parent ]

FL-24

Yay, a candidate with a fun name!

Speaking of which, the whole NY-23 business these past few months kind of made me miss Tedisco...

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by: sapelcovits @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 16:05:38 PM CST

NY-23 update

Owens now leads by more votes than outstanding absentee ballots.

http://www.watertowndailytimes...

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by: conspiracy @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 16:18:09 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Awesome

Thanks again ACORN!  You really came through for us.  

---

by: ChadInFL @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 16:40:27 PM CST

[ Parent ]

That old chestnut again!

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by: conspiracy @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 16:41:38 PM CST

[ Parent ]

NY 23

The Watertown Daily Times reports that Owens has clinched the election.  He now leads by 3,105 with 3,072 absentee ballots left to count.  Owens' lead is likely to grow because a majority of the uncounted absentees are from counties that he carried.

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by: jward373 @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 16:17:18 PM CST

But, but, but

There was a virus in the machines!!!!

http://www.gouverneurtimes.com...

---

by: conspiracy @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 16:19:43 PM CST

[ Parent ]

It reminds me of that episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm from a few weeks ago

Waiter: "So, you're... you're protesting math?"

Larry David: "I'm protesting math. Exactly."

---

by: JFM110 @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 17:46:27 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Haha

One of my favirote shows on TV.  Seen every episode.  This season has been spectacular.  

Leon is probably my favorite character on any TV show to date.  Every line he speaks is epic win.

---

by: ChadInFL @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 18:20:19 PM CST

[ Parent ]

The only counties left

look to be Jefferson, Oswego and Clinton with the most coming from Jefferson, then Clinton, then Oswego.

Jefferson is essentially a tie between Owens and Hoffman...Hoffman leads by 224 votes out of 21,500 votes cast. Oswego has a small Hoffman lead of 1,748 votes out of a little under 25,000 cast. Owens absolutely ran away with Clinton County, his home county, with a lead of 3,006 votes out of around 18,500 cast.

If this holds that means Owens will definitely gain votes as most of the absentees are coming out of Jefferson and Clinton.  

---

by: DTOzone @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 16:23:33 PM CST

[ Parent ]

And St. Lawrence

Owens won there by several thousand votes.

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by: conspiracy @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 16:30:11 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Absentees

St. Lawrence, Franklin, Essex, and Lewis have not started counting their absentees.  Owens carried all but Lewis which is the smallest of the four.

---

by: jward373 @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 16:54:56 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I missed them

as they were listed as 0, I assumed they were already counted, but 0 as in "number counted" instead of "number outstanding"

---

by: DTOzone @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 17:16:52 PM CST

[ Parent ]

hopefully Hoffman turns on more of the crazy

and runs again like he promises and gets the Republican nomination in 2010. Hoffman lives in Essex county (but outside the district) and he couldn't even win his home county.  

---

by: gomer @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 17:45:19 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I have to chuckle

Whoever's ox is being gored gets obsessed with computerized voting.  

---

by: andgarden @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 16:25:07 PM CST

[ Parent ]

What? You can't come up with a good pun on Scozzafava?

---

by: Marcus @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 18:21:43 PM CST

[ Parent ]

R2k FL poll has good news for Gov race.

Sink loses 32 to 35.
However a majority of the undecided voters are Democrats.
The undecided are:
36% Dems, 23% GOP 37% I (sink wins I 32% to 31%).

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by: Hamtree @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 16:44:19 PM CST

I have always maintained Sink will win

McCollum's favorable are inflated right now because people forgot why they hate him.  He's a multiple time statewide loser who only won the 2006 AG race because the Dems put up a horrible candidate.  Sink has a very good background in finance, but never involved with any of the shady companies that crashed with the financial economy  over the past year.  The more people hear about McCollum in the next year the more his favorables will fall.

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by: ChadInFL @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 16:49:58 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Hopefully Dems come home this time.

Unlike Virginia.  And hopefully Sink doesn't run to the right so they don't come on.  Again, unlike Virginia.

Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.

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by: TheUnknown285 @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 20:38:49 PM CST

[ Parent ]

MN-6

Franken's former Deputy Finance Director, Lauren Beecham, whose also a friend from college, was announced as Clark's new Finance Director a couple of days ago.

Wonder if she worked Franken for the endorsement at all.

Remember when everyone poo-poo'd Clark because she was the cause of Tink dropping out of the race.  Case in point.  You dont get the endorsement from your state's sitting Senator in a contentious primary/endorsement without being the real deal.

In fact, can I finally be done trying to convince the poo-poo'ers on this one?  Im not saying Clark will win but she is certainly running the campaign Tink didnt.  Its not some feel good love-fest of lets work together and get things accomplished message but rather, this woman is an absolute embarrassment and is doing nothing for the folks of MN-6.  (I love calling constituents folks.)  

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by: Andrew @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 16:47:47 PM CST

Tink was a bad candidate

And not even because he couldn't use up all that money he received at the end of the race (that I understand, as that short of a compressed timeline would be extremely difficult for any finance/compliance team).  He simply wasn't an strong personality who could clearly articulate why Bachmann needed to go.  Clark has a lot more charisma, knows the district a lot better, and is also a woman which could help down the road (although god knows it didn't help Patty Wetterling).  She can also directly compare her record of constituent service to Bachmann's (or lack thereof, she's too busy grandstanding in Washington to do anything for her district).

Maureen Reed also needs to go away.  If she were a serious Democrat she wouldn't have been on the Independence ticket that effectively threw the Governor's election to Pawlenty in 2006.  Give Clark a clear path so we can send another message to the teabaggers that their antics aren't acceptable to the majority of Americans.

On a side note, wasn't there a potential primary challenger to Bachmann a few months back?  Whatever became of that?  

---

by: DFLer @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 18:15:22 PM CST

[ Parent ]

What do you think are Clark's chances?

And what is the plan of the Independence Party in 2010.  Without neutralizing them, I fear that Bachmann will slide to another plurality win.

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by: JSmith @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 20:44:25 PM CST

[ Parent ]

MN-01

Former GOP gubernatorial candidate and three-term Rep. Allen Quist officially launches his campaign against U.S. Rep. Tim Walz

http://www.politicsinminnesota...

Quist was teabagging before teabagging was cool. He ran against moderate sitting governor Arne Carlson in 1994, winning the Republican convention endorsement before getting crushed in the Primary. FWIW his wife is Michelle Bachmann's state director.

Candidates like Quist are why I don't worry to much about 2010. Maybe a moderate Republican would have a small chance against Walz in 2010 if it was a wave year but a wingnut like Quist will get crushed no matter the national mood.

---

by: MinnesotaMike @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 18:12:27 PM CST

Walz just seems like a great politician

He just seems to do everything right.  Doesn't he even refuse to take the congressional health care plan because all Americans don't get similar coverage?  I don't see Walz losing even if 2010 is a complete disaster.

---

by: ChadInFL @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 18:23:01 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Walz was the one candidate

who wouldve cleared the DFL field for Gov if he had chosen to run.  He was heavily rumored at the start of 09 but he quickly squashed the speculation.  Him not announcing a decision right away while being rumored would have left a giant question mark for the entire time.  And the reason he wouldve cleared the field quite easily is that he has the rural, Greater Minnesota charm and home-base while governing like a Twin Cities liberal.  He wouldve done quite well statewide while in MN, in such a large field like the current one, a candidate is essentially forced to only being able to carry a base.  The MN convention will be insanely exciting.

All of that is indicative of his strength as a Congressman in MN-1.  And he probably could be given a safer district, even.  Give him Rice and Goodhue county while getting rid of the southeastern part of his district, maybe even give him some of Dakota county like Hastings and even up to Stillwater.  Its hard for me to consider them "suburbs'.  I dunno, their political history, geography and culture seem more like the river cities of Red Wing, Wabasha, Winona, La Crescent.  Probably would look weird but I dunno, call it a St Croix, Rochester, Mankato district and call it done.  (St. Croix is the river that runs along the border of MN and WI, and the regions on it are all pretty democratic.  Ha, save for St Croix county in WI, always voting Republican.)

---

by: Andrew @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 21:57:41 PM CST

[ Parent ]

There's a blast from the past

I haven't heard Allen Quist's name in probably over a decade.  You're right -- he was crazy before crazy was cool.  Teabagging and birth certificates seem to have given a new lease on life to more than a few long-dormant loonies!

---

by: IndianaProgressive @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 19:32:50 PM CST

[ Parent ]

This guy seems like a Grade A...

@$$h*le

During his legislative career in the 1980s, he drew controversy by launching undercover investigations of gay bath houses and pornographic book stores.

In an interview with the Mankato Free Press announcing his campaign intentions, he said that he "likes the idea of providing some reinforcements for Bachmann" and her political agenda.

I hope Walz disposes of this chump with ease and DFL gets their act together and upends Bachmann and whoever the Republican gubernatorial nominee is.  

http://www.politico.com/blogs/...

---

by: JeremiahTheMessiah @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 13:00:10 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Oprah ending her talk show in 2011

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBI...

Wonder how long before the talking heads start questioning whether Oprah will be Obama's running mate in 2012.

---

by: ChadInFL @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 18:25:40 PM CST

50-state sweep!

---

by: SC @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 21:52:45 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I'm sure an Obama/Winfrey ticket would play well in Alabama.

---

by: andyroo312 @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 22:23:01 PM CST

[ Parent ]

It would get 90% among Alabama whites

er. the GOP would.

---

by: JSmith @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 22:36:33 PM CST

[ Parent ]

the Republican nominee is going to get 90% of the

white vote in Alabama anyway.  McCain-Palin got 88%.

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/20...

---

by: bennytoothpick @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 07:41:41 AM CST

[ Parent ]

The interview with Palin threw her over the edge.

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by: JeremiahTheMessiah @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 12:56:29 PM CST

[ Parent ]

IA-03: Zaun says he's also in

State Senator Brad Zaun of Urbandale told CQ Politics today that he plans to run against Boswell too. Zaun said he will formally announce his candidacy sometime after December 1.

Zaun was just re-elected to the Iowa Senate in 2008, so he won't have to give up his seat in the upper chamber if he loses the GOP primary or the general election.

What puzzles me is why so many Republicans are seeking this position. Even if a Republican beats Boswell, he is likely to be thrown into a 2012 primary against Tom Latham in a redrawn IA-03. Few people would choose a freshman over a nine-term incumbent with a seat on the House Appropriations Committee.  

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by: desmoinesdem @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 20:33:55 PM CST

A seat in Congress is still a seat in Congress.

Even if it's only for that space, raises the profile; could lead to bigger things.  And hey, who knows what might happen to Latham (or his priorities) between now and then?

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by: SC @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 21:55:41 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Congressional Wrestling Caucus

Actually your proposed caucus already has a member.  Jim Jordan (R-OH) was a two-time NCAA wrestling champion at the University of Wisconsin.

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by: LanceS @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 09:42:45 AM CST

re: Jordan

I wonder what weight class he wrestled in.  He seems to be somewhat skinny in his congressional bio.  

And what's with most wrestling types being arch-conservative.  Must be that whole manly-man, macho-man thing that comes with the territory.  

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by: StephenCLE @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 10:35:23 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Sheesh

From Wikipedia:

Jordan was born and raised in Champaign County, Ohio and attended Graham High School, graduating in 1982. While at Graham, he was a four-time state wrestling champion with a career record of 150-1. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1986, obtaining his bachelor's degree in Economics and was a two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion.

A record of 150-1 in high school wrestling in addition to 2 national championships in college Division I.  That is incredible.

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by: ChadInFL @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 10:43:52 AM CST

[ Parent ]

From the Wikipedia

"[Dan] Gable has perennially been on the wishlist for a Republican candidate for Governor of Iowa or Congressional positions."

I wonder if female wrestlers are Republican too?

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by: tommypaine @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 20:26:01 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Female wrestlers?

Is there any such thing as female wrestling outside of the WWE?  I've never heard of female wrestling anywhere in Central FL either at the high school or college level.

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by: ChadInFL @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 22:49:45 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Female wrestlers and Jordan's weight class

Women's wrestling is fairly new, but they have had four weight classes in freestyle at the last two Olympics.  Most high school girls wrestlers compete on boys teams.

Also, since it was asked, Jordan won both of his titles at 134 pounds.

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by: LanceS @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 10:12:02 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Paul Wellstone could have also been a member

when he was in the Senate.

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by: JSmith @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 16:05:16 PM CST

[ Parent ]

CA-Sen: Boxer up 9 (over Fiorina)

http://www.rasmussenreports.co...

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by: andyroo312 @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 11:34:11 AM CST