Thursday Round-Up

Mississippi: As expected, the Mississippi state Supreme Court, packed with supporters of Republican Gov. Haley Barbour, overturned a lower court's decision and gave Barbour what he wanted, a November date for the special election to succeed Trent Lott. (Props to MS blogger Will Bardwell for being way on top of the story.) While it would have been politically beneficial for Democrats if the election was within 90 days, this isn't a large setback. Why? Amongst other reasons, Republican Roger Wicker has a very ethically-questionable record, highlighted in the new website The Real Wicker.com.

New Mexico: The latest poll on the 2008 Senate race sees Democrat Tom Udall beating Republican Steve Pearce 53-31 and beating Republican Heather Wilson 58-30. Lookin' good!

Minnesota: Al Franken's camp has released data that they themselves recognize as not very scientific, but serve as an indicator that he had a very big day at the caucuses. Meanwhile, both MN Publius and MN Blue remind us that Norm Coleman's support for John McCain wasn't enough to help him beat Mitt Romney in Minnesota, a sign of Coleman's political impotency.

Maine: Turn Maine Blue highlights yet another effect of Susan Collins' inability to provide oversight on Iraq while Chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Texas: Is there any question that John Cornyn is an obedient and unquestioning rubber stamp for George W. Bush?

Massachusetts: How strong of a candidate does the NRSC think Republican Jim Ogonowski can be?

if Ogonowski can get resources, we really think that he can be a very serious candidate

Really? Well, I think the NRSC has some resources they can send Ogonowski, if they think that that is the only thing standing in the way of an Ogonowski victory. Or maybe that's just empty talk. C'mon, NRSC. Pony up!

Oklahoma: GOP Rep. Mary Fallin, deep down, seems to agree with the sentiment that Jim Inhofe is an anachronism in the Senate.

One Republican blogger is skeptical of how committed to Republican ideals NRSC Chair John Ensign is:

Me: Senator Ensign, you talked before about Republican principles and how fundraising affecting donations due to Republicans not being fiscally Conservative and fallout from the Senate Amnesty bill. Another major part of Republican principles is traditional values and here in New Jersey we have a Senate candidate, Anne Estabrook, who is both Pro-choice and pro-Gay Marriage and yet you donated $1,000 to her. How do you justify that after what you just talked about 5 minutes ago and the party not acting on their Republican principles. There are also 2 other candidates in the race, Murray Sabrin and Joe Pennacchio, and I am hearing that neither one of them been welcomed by the NRSC with open arms like Anne Estabrook has.

Senator Ensign: It’s important to have a GOP majority in Congress, because that means we get Conservative judges approved. Estabrook is a strong candidate, and moderate Republicans have voted to confirm Conservative judges.

{Update: While I said $1,000, it was actually $10,000 that Senator Ensign donated to Anne Estabrook’s campaign}

Please forgive me if I am a little skeptical, but I have trouble believing that she will be on the right side of voting for Conservative judges. She has also has donated to Democrat candidates like Senator Bob Menendez and others. But my bigger concern is the NRSC recognizing that not standing up for Republican principles has hurt them and then they go out and stand behind a liberal Republican. Makes no sense to me.

Way to rally the troops, Ensign!