Last Day of 2007 Rundown

With today being the last day of 2007, it's also the last day of the fundraising quarter, so, if you can, please contribute to some terrific candidates this afternoon. Thanks so so so so much.

Mississippi: Republican Gov. Haley Barbour has appointed GOP Rep. Roger Wicker to fill the vacancy in the Senate caused by Trent Lott's resignation. Now, we should see the debate over the scheduling of the special election come to a head. What needs further highlighting now is Wicker's ethical questions, possibly trading earmarks for campaign contributions.

Louisiana: KALB-5 out of Alexandria, Louisiana, takes a look at the political scene for 2008, closing with a synopsis of the 2008 Senate race. They mention something awfully interesting toward the very end of the article (emphasis added by me):

Landrieu’s already attracted one well-known Republican opponent, state Treasurer John Kennedy, a new convert to the GOP who lost a bid for the U.S. Senate a few years ago as a Democrat. More Republican candidates are eyeing the job as well. Landrieu’s amassed a considerable campaign warchest to launch what is expected to be an expensive campaign.

More Republican candidates are considering a bid? We know that Secretary of State Jay Dardenne hasn't ruled out a bid; and we've heard rumors that Landrieu's vanquished foes Woody Jenkins (1996) and Suzanne Haik Terrell (2002) were considering another shot. But could there be more? Louisiana has one of the latest filing deadlines in the country (7/11/08), so there will be plenty of time for other Republicans to fill out the paperwork and gather the signatures. Stay tuned!

New Mexico: Joe Monahan reports on the latest monkey wrench in Republicans' plans to retain the Senate seat from which Pete Domenici is retiring in 2008:

Tom Benavides, a longtime former ABQ Dem state senator and a candidate for too many offices to list, is at it again. Tom, who must be in his 70's by now, is circulating petitions to make the ballot for the GOP US Senate race. But if he is to join US Reps Wilson and Pearce on the June primary ballot he will have to score 20% of the delegates at the March pre-primary. That is highly unlikely. But Tom will have fun until then.

I'm sure Benavides will have plenty of fun jabbing both Wilson and Pearce right up until the pre-primary.

On a personal note, as the Senate 2008 Guru completes its first full year, let me say that this has been a very rewarding, educational, and fun endeavor, if not also fairly time-consuming and even a little overwhelming at times. I'm very much looking forward to 2008. (And, if you've enjoyed reading the blog all year, the best way you can show your appreciation is by contributing via the Expand the Map! ActBlue page before the clock strikes midnight tonight! Thanks!!!)