Thursday Items

Yes, Republican Senators are pleading with the Bush Administration for political cover on Iraq.

Louisiana: The daily David Vitter update includes the Shreveport Times reporting that the Louisiana Republican Party is trying to hammer out a deal to present Governor Blanco with regarding the removal of Vitter from office. Not a big demonstration of support from the base. Why are the LA-GOP especially up in arms? The Evans-Novak Political Report suggests that Republicans are worried that Vitter could harm Bobby Jindal's gubernatorial bid. MyDD's Singer rightfully asks, "Will Bobby Jindal call for Vitter to step down, as he has with [Democratic Congressman William] Jefferson?" Further, The Daily Advertiser, in analyzing the sex scandal's shockwaves, notes that, "Democrat Mary Landrieu is up for re-election for a third term in the fall 2008 elections. Vitter, a bitter Landrieu rival, was expected to play a key role in the uphill Republican effort to unseat her. Most political scientists now say Vitter can't be effective in the anti-Landrieu effort." Meanwhile, Scholars & Rogues urges us not to forget about Vitter's money trail, looking at the massive federal contracts received by top Vitter donors.

Montana: Perhaps starting a trend, Republican State Senator John Brueggeman will be supporting popular Democratic Senator Max Baucus for re-election over disgraced Republican Michael Lange. Meanwhile, Baucus reports having raised $1.6 million in Q2, bringing his cash-on-hand to about $4 million. That should make it an all-the-more difficult task for Lange to "win over naysayers" like Brueggeman.

Texas: Mikal Watts' deep pockets and proficient fundraising may have John Cornyn worried, so worried that he's trotting out Karl Rove to help him raise money.

Colorado: Apparently, the CO-GOP is very concerned about Bob Schaffer's fundraising capability. We'll know more when Schaffer releases his Q2 figure.

Maine: Republican Susan Collins took in $1.26 million in Q2, a little more than Democratic Congressman Tom Allen's $1.1 million take, but not much more. Collins' cash-on-hand stands at $2.3 million, with Allen close behind at $1.7 million. Meanwhile, Collins is desperately trying to tie herself to Senator Olympia Snowe, but the bottom line is that Snowe supports setting a troop withdrawal timeline and Susan Collins does not, disingenuously as Collins may try to muddy that fact.

Minnesota: MN Publius offers a chronology of Norm Coleman's support for Bush's Iraq War. Meanwhile, the Pioneer Press reports that Democratic public-interest lawyer and environmental activist Jim Cohen is entering the 2008 Senate race.

New Jersey: Republican Anne Evans Estabrook announced the formation of her Senate exploratory committee.

Kansas: In another sign that Republican Pat Roberts could be vulnerable against the right Democrat, following the defection of two now-former-Republicans to the Democratic Party, the KS-GOP is forcing asking Party members to take an obedience a unity pledge.