Senate 2008 Guru: Following the Races

Keeping a close eye on developments in the 2008 U.S. Senate races

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Wednesday Night Items

  • And the Republican pessimism builds:

    From the latest Evans-Novak Political Report: "The decision not to run by Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) now raises to five the possible losses of Senate seats by Republicans. Democrats also are targeting Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) for a sixth seat. If 2008 turns into a Democratic landslide, Senators Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) and even Mitch McConnell (R-KY) could be in danger."
    And with pending resignations, further possible retirements, and ongoing investigations surrounding Republican Senators, it will likely get worse for the GOP. So agrees the New York Times.

  • Virginia: The Richmond Times-Dispatch, The Washington Post, The Hill, CQPolitics, and The Politico are in agreement that we can expect popular former Governor Mark Warner to enter the 2008 Senate race tomorrow morning, and that he will inform the media via an e-mail announcement at 9am. We'll know tomorrow morning, but it's looking pretty good. But that's not even the wildest news of the night in this race. Raising Kaine and Wonkette are noting that conservative pundit Pat Buchanan is considering a VA-GOP Senate primary challenge. Could we see a Tom Davis-Jim Gilmore-Pat Buchanan three-way primary?!? Speaking of Tom Davis, it is being reported that Republican former Virginia Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Jerry Kilgore, along with several local GOP officials, has endorsed Tom Davis' Senate bid.

  • Oregon: John Frohnmayer, George Bush 41's appointee to Chair the NEA and the brother of Republican former state Attorney General Dave Frohnmayer, has formally announced that he will enter the 2008 Senate race as an independent candidate. While the micro-debate occurs as to whether he will take more votes from the Republican or the Democrat, I will remind you that he was a Bush 41 appointee and that his brother is a Republican former state AG. We'll see how it plays out in future polling.

  • Kentucky: Bajillionaire businessman Owsley Brown II is rumored to be considering a Senate bid. Brown's personal fortune would make Mitch McConnell's campaign bankroll look like pocket change. For now it's just a rumor, and we have yet to hear much about Brown's politics, but he has contributed to just about every candidate to ever run for office.

  • New Mexico: Pajamas Pete Domenici must be less than thrilled that the local media is making comparisons between him and scandal-plagued Larry Craig. However, I'm OK with it.

  • 4 Comments:

    Blogger Hokie Guru said...

    I would love to see a three-way primary between Pat Buchanan, Jim "Fiscal Train Wreck" Gilmore, and Tom "I Vote With the Christian Coalation 70% of the Time" Davis.

    11:21 PM, September 12, 2007  
    Blogger Anthony_Distler said...

    Frohnmayer would take votes from the arts supportive Democratic community, though. And I don't care. I know if I was given the choice between the three, I'd vote for Frohnmayer.

    11:45 PM, September 12, 2007  
    Blogger NMC said...

    Do Oregon Democrats include a lot of single-issue voters whose single issue is arts funding? That sounds unlikely to me somehow. I'm sure they all like a good ballet as much as anyone but it is hard to imagine them bolting the party based on that.

    12:54 AM, September 13, 2007  
    Blogger Josh I said...

    http://www.markwarner2008.com/

    Guess he's in.

    9:14 AM, September 13, 2007  

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