Big Saturday Round-Up

Tennessee: The Volunteer State's filing deadline is April 3, and Nashville attorney Kevin Doherty is currently the only Democrat publicly considering a 2008 Senate challenge to Republican incumbent Lamar Alexander. I contacted Mr. Doherty to inquire about his decision-making timeframe, and he personally informed me yesterday:

I hope to have a decision within a week or two.

So we should know by the end of the month. For more information on Doherty's interesting background (including succeeding now-Governor of New York Eliot Spitzer as student body President of Princeton University), check out this profile by WKRN-2 Nashville's political blog VolunteerVoters.com.

Kentucky: Immediately after Mitch McConnell's own partisan pollster tried to convince us that McConnell's approval is over sixty percent, the non-partisan Survey USA reminds us that Mitch's approval is under fifty percent. Meanwhile, McConnell dishonestly presents himself as an environmental champion because he secured some pork dollars for a few Kentucky parks, while conveniently overlooking his 0% rating from the League of Conservation Voters, his fight to block renewable fuels standards, and his opposition against steps to address global warming, as well as numerous other blemishes on his hideous record.

South Carolina: Another prominent, credible South Carolina Republican is stepping forward to challenge Lindsey Graham in the 2008 Republican Senate primary. Former Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride, who ran for Senate in 2004 to succeed Senator Ernest Hollings, will of course focus on immigration, among other issues.

North Carolina: State Senator Kay Hagan raised over half a million dollars, $560,000 to be exact, in just her first two months as a candidate looking to oust Elizabeth Dole in 2008.

Mississippi: This news is not about the special election for the Senate seat from which Trent Lott resigned! There will be Democratic opposition to Thad Cochran in 2008: former state Representative Erik Fleming and "perennial candidate" Shawn O'Hara. While I consider Cochran among the safest Republican incumbents, you never know what can happen, so it's important to have somebody running on the Democratic side. Fleming, who garnered 35% of the vote in his 2006 Senate challenge to Trent Lott, has a preliminary website up.

Virginia: Republican state delegate Bob Marshall, Jim Gilmore's 2008 Senate primary opponent, has a thorough campaign website up and running. (HT: RK)

Maine: While Maine has made it clear as a state that it opposes Real ID, and Susan Collins inexplicably continues to support the policy, Tom Allen has demonstrated actual leadership in working to repeal Real ID.

Oklahoma: Andrew Rice continues to promote responsible tax-cutting legislation and get terrific press in his campaign to oust Jim "In Denial" Inhofe.

Nebraska: Scott Kleeb continues to sound more and more like a 2008 Senate candidate.

George W. Bush is basically calling every Republican running for President who declares themselves some kind of "agent of change" a disingenuous liar.