Pennsylvania: A new Rasmussen Reports poll has damning numbers for Arlen Specter. 2010 Senate Republican primary challenger and former Congressman Pat Toomey leads Specter by a gaping 51-30 margin. Among the PA-GOP, Specter's favorable-unfavorable is in its deathbed at 42-55, while Toomey's favorable-unfavorable is at a vigorous 66-19. If those numbers are accurate and future polls corroborate them, it's hard to see any way in which Specter can claw back. Further, as it becomes likelier that Toomey and not Specter will be the Republican Senate nominee in 2010, I'd expect at least one of the Joe Sestak-Allyson Schwartz-Patrick Murphy trio of Democratic Congresspeople to step forward with a Senate bid.
Illinois: Mayoral brother and former U.S. Commerce Secretary Bill Daley has announced that he will not be a candidate for Senate in 2010, citing his upcoming June wedding and a desire to avoid the "commuter life back and forth from Washington." This makes state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, along with his $1.1 million cash-on-hand, his personal wealth, and his close personal ties with President Obama and Illinois' senior Senator Richard Durbin, the clear frontrunner for the Democratic nomination and the Senate seat in 2010.
The Minnesota Supreme Court will hear Republican Norm Coleman's appeal of the results of his Senate contest with Democrat Al Franken on June 1.
The court's schedule is similar to what Coleman requested. Coleman must file his brief by Thursday. Franken is to file a response by May 11 and Coleman can reply to Franken's brief by May 15.
The court will then hear the argument on June 1 at 9 A.M.
It's April 24. Oral arguments won't begin until June 1. In the interim, Minnesotans will continue to remain underrepresented in the U.S. Senate. And Republicans couldn't be happier. I'll continue to keep an eye out for estimates of how long oral arguments, specifically, could take. It has been estimated that, after oral arguments conclude, it would take two to three weeks for the Justices to write their decision. (Then, the question must be re-raised as to whether or not Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty would prepare an election certificate for Senator-elect Al Franken once state court proceedings have concluded, as is the state's policy.) For a review of Republican Norm Coleman's never-ending appeal, check out this particularly cool interactive timeline from the DSCC. I suppose the best case scenario at this point is a swearing in around the Fourth of July - Minnesota's independence from Republican Norm Coleman's obstructionism. Does this news bother you? Then join the One Dollar a Day to Make Norm Coleman Go Away effort!
But Chacas' Wall Street background during an economic recession probably wouldn't help politically. Even more damaging is the fact that his primary residence isn't in Nevada - he left the state when he was in high school.
Hey, if Chachas doesn't go for the carpetbagging campaign, they might as well give Alan Keyes a call. He's run for Senate in Illinois and Maryland - why not go for the hat trick?
