In an op-ed today in the New York Times, coincidentally a publication reviled by wingnuts, the U.S. Senate's last moderate Republican, Olympia Snowe, laments the departure from the GOP of Arlen Specter, saying that the Republican Party "failed to learn the lessons of Jim Jeffords's defection in 2001." Snowe suggests that the GOP can't function as a national Party while remaining unwelcome to moderates. Given Republican leadership's dogmatic intolerance of dissent in its ranks, I don't imagine that the GOP will begin welcoming moderates anytime soon. In fact, Fox News seems eager for Snowe to leave the GOP.
Illinois: New Public Policy Polling numbers. Here are approve-disapprove numbers among Democratic primary voters: Roland Burris 27-49; Jan Schakowsky 42-8; Alexi Giannoulias 53-10; Lisa Madigan 74-13. Head-to-head, Giannoulias leads Burris 49-20. When Schakowsky is added in, the result is Giannoulias 38, Schakowsky 26, Burris 16. However, when Madigan is added, the result is Madigan 44, Giannoulias 19, Burris 13, Schakowsky 11. With state Attorney General Madigan reportedly more interested in a gubernatorial bid (and leading Gov. Pat Quinn 45-29 according to PPP), she may not be a factor in IL-Sen. Tomorrow, PPP will release numbers matching up the Democrats against Republican Rep. Mark Kirk, considered the GOP's strongest possible candidate.
Pennsylvania: Comically, Republican Orrin Hatch, Vice Chair of the NRSC, has declared that fellow Republican Pat Toomey can't win (note Hatch's hilarious attempt at a backtrack):
"I don't think there is anybody in the world who believes he can get elected senator there," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, the vice chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Asked if the NRSC would back Toomey, Hatch said, "I don't think so" and that the party should look for "someone who can win there." ...
Hatch later equivocated and said, "I'm not saying he can't win - nobody gave me a chance when I ran."
Too freakin' funny. Some Republicans are making noise about reaching out to Republican former Gov. Tom Ridge to run for Senate in 2010. No word yet on whether the 63-year-old is even remotely interested. However, Republican Congresscritter Jim Gerlach, currently focused on a gubernatorial bid, says that he is not going to "rule anything out" regarding a possible 2010 Senate bid. In other news, Democratic Governor Ed Rendell is calling on Joe Torsella, a Rendell protege, to step aside for new-Democrat Arlen Specter. For now, Torsella is pressing forward. In related news, Adam Green, the brains behind the "One Dollar a Day to Make Norm Coleman Go Away" effort, asks "Would YOU step up to help a progressive challenger to Specter?" The following words of Steve Benen may prove prescient: "It's obviously still very early, but I wouldn't be shocked if neither Specter nor Toomey were on the general election ballot in November 2010."
Florida: The DSCC unveils its first TV ad of the cycle, pre-emptively hitting Republican Charlie Crist for considering bolting Florida from Washington D.C. while leaving Florida with a budget mess:
Louisiana: A new Southern Media & Opinion Research poll suggests that Hookerlover David Vitter's overall approval is in OK shape, but that he is vulnerable. Vitter enjoys a 58% job approval, but:
But the pollster said Vitter should be particularly aware of opinions among the white voters who dominate Republican primaries. Fewer than 35 percent of white voters said they will definitely vote to re-elect Vitter; 39 percent said they would consider someone else; and 22 percent said they will definitely vote for someone else.
A Republican primary challenge to Vitter could gain significant traction.
Minnesota: Despite Republican Norm Coleman holding the Senate seat hostage through endless legal appeals, Senator-elect Al Franken has begun moving forward with staffing so that he'll be ready to go as soon as he is sworn in. It was announced today that he has hired a Chief of Staff.
