A couple of small changes.

Stumbo is still an exploratory committee, I'm sure he'll run, but it isn't official yet. 

Kenneth Corn is no longer considering a bid against Inhofe

Quote:
"Sen. Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau, said Thursday that he will not seek the Democratic nomination to challenge U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla. He said a race for the U.S. Senate is secondary to returning the split Oklahoma State Senate to Democratic control."
Article: http://www.tulsaworl...

Tennessee:
Attorney Mike Doherty (considering)
Although from the sounds of it, if Mike McWherter decides for a run against Lamar Alexander, Mike Doherty and Bob Tuke will both decline to run. 

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by: JeremiahTheMessiah @ Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 23:14:35 PM CDT

Thanks! (nt)

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by: James L. @ Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 23:25:45 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Rice v. Corn

You mean there was almost a Rice vs. Corn primary??? That could have inspired some delicious bake-offs.

Visit Election Inspection for analysis, polls, and predictions!

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by: X Stryker @ Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 09:07:46 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

what, no state senator Wheat?

then there would be a candidate for each type of chex cereal.

being normal is for the mediocre.

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by: doug_tuttle @ Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 10:44:42 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

one thing

Former Lt. Gov. Don Beyer is a Democrat. Although Mark Warner's running so it'll soon be a moot point.

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by: zt155 @ Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 23:35:14 PM CDT

Thanks

Just a typo on my part.  Didn't mean to offend Mr. Beyer. :)

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by: James L. @ Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 23:36:07 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

On the Virginia front... Warner is reported to be entering

Says this article here.

I'm hoping for his entry into the race.

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by: MrMacMan @ Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 23:35:23 PM CDT

McCrery said no.

So has Tom Udall and Ben Chandler. I would also take Mike Moore and Mike Castle off the list, and Estabrook I'm pretty sure has announced.

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by: Unabridged @ Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 07:11:02 AM CDT

Chandler

Chandler said no, then later said he wouldn't rule it out.

Visit Election Inspection for analysis, polls, and predictions!

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by: X Stryker @ Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 09:08:51 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Castle

Delaware: Rep. Mike Castle (R)

That's patently absurd. I guess you could clarify that this would only happen if Biden actually got the Democratic nomination for President, which itself is patently absurd. If Biden doesn't get the nomination (and possibly even if he does), he's running for re-election, he's already started preparing for it. If Biden runs, Castle will not. Run. Against. Biden. Ever. Castle, Carper, and Biden are best friends who ride the train together. They are buddies. They won't run against each other, nor oppose each other's continuing incumbency by supporting the challenger from their own party. That's Delaware for you. The Roth vs. Carper election was a once in a quarter-century exception, because Roth was too stubborn to retire when everyone knew he should have (and thus fell asleep during a debate).

Visit Election Inspection for analysis, polls, and predictions!

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by: X Stryker @ Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 09:16:15 AM CDT

Absurd, yes...

...but not impossible.  And he did leave the door open:

Castle said he doesn't want to upset the "delicate balance" in his working relationship with Biden and expressed reservations about taking on a six-year term at his age. The former governor will be 69 in 2008.

He said he is content to wait until 2008 to make a decision, a luxury he has because of his popularity and the small state he represents: "This is my year to focus on work."

Look, I gave a caveat that said that many of these guys are extreme longshots to run (Moore, Udall, Castle, Ford, Chandler, etc.)  But no use taking them off the big board until we know conclusively.

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by: James L. @ Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 09:28:49 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Lets not forget- Carper was term-limited from Governor.

Carper needed another office to run. He picked US Senate- against Roth- who could have retired.

Castle has a safe House Seat. why give it up for a highly competive or unwinnable Senate Race.

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by: CMBurns @ Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 10:10:44 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Just to play devil's advocate . . .

. . . a similar case could have been made regarding Ben Cardin last year.

Let's hope Castle does not jump in!

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by: The Caped Composer @ Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 12:00:28 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Cardin was running for an open seat-

Cardin's old CD MD-3 was represented by the Maryland US Senate Delegation. Sarbanes and Mikulski represented MD-3.
Maryland and Delaware are both blue states. It is unlikely they will send a Republican to the US Senate especially in a pro Democratic Year.

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by: CMBurns @ Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 12:17:46 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Castle

Wasn't there some serious question about Castle's health not long ago?  Between that and the prospect of giving up 16 years of House seniority (which puts him just ahead of all the '94 Republicans), I have a hard time believing he'd be all that interested in a Senate run.  He might lose, and if he wins he'll be starting out again at the bottom of the ladder at an age when many senators are at least starting to consider retirement.

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by: RamblinDave @ Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 10:24:06 AM CDT

Kentucky potentials

You forgot to add George Clooney who may come back home and sweep the filth of McConnell away.

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by: kentuckydave @ Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 10:50:07 AM CDT

He pretty much conclusively said no, didn't he?

And besides, the guy's a fine actor who has yielded a lot of great flicks in recent years.  Why take him out of action in his prime?

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by: James L. @ Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 12:54:43 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

LA-Sen Vitter

While it seems likely that the Kennedy party switch was in anticipation of a Senate challenge to Landrieu is it possible that it may instead have to do with the Republican's Vitter problem?  Should Jindal win the Governor's race and Vitter resign would Kennedy have a shot at being appointed?  If he isn't appointed wouldn't it make more sense for him to run for the other seat?  He could announce he is running for Senate but not announce that he is challenging Landrieu.

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by: mstaley3000 @ Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 11:50:29 AM CDT

I don't see why he would.

Since Kennedy is apparently willing and eager to challenge Landrieu--and has a very good chance of beating her--I don't see why he'd be tapped to fill Vitter's seat. I would guess it would probably go to some of the names that were originally floated around--Baker, McCrery, Boustany, etc.

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by: Unabridged @ Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 12:31:52 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Well...

It could be that Kennedy may decide he'd rather run against an appointed Republican with a smaller war-chest than Landrieu.

I'm not saying that's what would definitely happen, but it's certainly a possibility.

Your go-to source for great sarcasm

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by: DGM @ Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 19:52:01 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Alaska and New Mexico

Is there some reason (aside from the veteran if scandal-tarred incumbents) that it's taking so long to get well-known Democratic challengers in these two races? There are multiple possibilities in both cases. What's with the delay?

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by: armand @ Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 12:53:23 PM CDT

No smoking gun

This is much more the case in New Mexico, where Domenici's numbers have stabilized and voters remain fiercely loyal to him. If he remains the GOP nominee, then its doubtful he'll get a strong challenge.

In Alaska, there's the lack of a smoking gun in addition to the very strong redness of the state. Begich has a promising career ahead of him. Why taint it with a loss against the grandfather of Alaska?

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by: Unabridged @ Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 13:22:58 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Domenici

Well, they've "stabilzed" at about 52%, way down from his usual numbers in the mid to upper 60s. Don't discount newcomer Don Wiviott. He's declared, he's putting in $400,000 of his own money for starters, he's traveling all over the state and he has excellent green bona fides:

http://donfornewmexi...

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by: barbwire @ Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 19:27:18 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Alaska Begich

He is being courted by both the DCCC and the DSCC.  Big decision, run against corrupt Ted Stevens for Senate or corrupt Don Young for the House seat.  While they cover the same voters maybe Young would be easier to take down then go for the Senate in the future.

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by: mstaley3000 @ Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 15:15:21 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Longshots, but not to give up hope

With two (2) seats up in 2008, Wyoming could still possibly see a Democratic challenger. Indeed, WY could see a nice, dirty, primary fight among the Repubs before the general election.

I know, I know. For a long time, Gov Dave said he would not challenge the incumbents, because as Gov he had a good long working relationship with them. Well, in one case that no longer applies, so is there wiggle room? Maybe. And Gary Trauner made a good race against the at-large House member last year. He could be tempted this time to go for a Senate seat, with two of them open in a Democratic year. I note that Trauner has left his website up, unchanged since just before election day 2006.

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by: WoodyNYC @ Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 13:53:15 PM CDT

Tennessee

Harold Ford is definitely not running.  He's going to run for Governor in 2010.  If he were running for Senate, he would have announced it by now.

If Mike McWherter decides to run, it's not likely that either Tuke or Doherty would challenge him in a primary.  Although McWherter was supposed to announce Labor Day weekend, so I don't know what's going on there.  Doherty is a true progressive, I hope he runs.

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by: GoldnI @ Thu Sep 13, 2007 at 17:57:48 PM CDT

Kentucky - Col. Andrew Horne

http://www.DraftHorn...

Kentucky has suffered for too long with Mitch McConnell's corporate cash fed brand of politics, and his shameful enabling of Bush's failed policies. Next year, Senator Mitch McConnell will be running for reelection. This will be no easy race -- anyone opposing Sen. McConnell will surely face some of the nastiest political attacks seen in our state.

Which is why it is so important that the Democratic Party put forth a candidate with impeccable character. A family man. An accomplished lawyer.

A man who has served this country with selfless courage in the battlefield, and carried that sense of duty back to the community he lives in.
We believe Andrew has the strength of character to challenge the incumbent, and to win.
If you believe as we do, that Andrew is the one potential candidate who can stand up to the GOP political machine, then please sign our petition. Our party does not need a contentious primary election. Several other deserving politicians have indicated their interest in running, however, if we generate enough grassroots support, we can show Andrew that he has a great chance at finally ditching Mitch.

If you support the troops, if you think members of Congress are more worried about saving their own skin than passing quality legislation supported by the majority of Americans, then put someone in office who has earned the right to be there. That person is Andrew Horne.

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by: blackwednesday @ Thu Sep 13, 2007 at 21:02:57 PM CDT