New York: Governor David Paterson offers some clarification, kind of, on his conversation with Caroline Kennedy:
Ms. Kennedy called Gov. David A. Paterson on Wednesday to discuss the position, Mr. Paterson confirmed Friday. The governor will choose a replacement for Mrs. Clinton upon her expected confirmation as secretary of state next month.
"The conversation was informational," Mr. Paterson said. "She did not express an interest in the Senate, but we talked about the Senate, so I got that she was just trying to get some information to determine whether or not she would like to have an interest in it. And that was it."
He added, "I haven't offered the job to anyone."
To further indicate the seriousness of Kennedy's interest, she will reportedly be meeting with new DSCC Chair Robert Menendez. Elsewhere, the Empire State offers us the hilariously unnecessary headline of the weekend: "Adviser: [Former Congressman Harold] Ford has no interest in NY Senate seat."
Illinois: Fox News has a source saying that Illinois State Senate President Emil Jones is the frontrunner for the Senate appointment to succeed Barack Obama. I'm skeptical. With the recent revelation that Governor Rod Blagojevich's confidant recorded their conversations for federal investigators, it's more likely now that a placeholder would be appointed to allow whoever runs in 2010 to avoid the stigma of Blagojevich's scandal. And Senate President Jones is simply the most oft-discussed placeholder candidate. Maybe Fox News is just playing the odds in the hope of scoring the scoop. We'll see.
Kansas: It appears that Governor Kathleen Sebelius is removing herself from consideration for a Cabinet position in the Obama administration. A 2010 Sebelius for Senate campaign is, therefore, still possible.
Utah: 75-year-old incumbent Bob Bennett is moving forward with a 2010 Senate re-election bid. Bennett's comments suggest he's more concerned about a primary challenge than a Democrat:
Bennett, R-Utah, who will seek a fourth, six-year term in 23 months, says he fully expects to be challenged within the Utah Republican Party.
"I take nothing for granted," he said. And he will win re-election, he believes, through a combination of good organizational work, a healthy campaign war chest, the power of the incumbency and making his case to Utah voters.
"I'm fundraising. We're going to open our campaign headquarters early. We're going to have our strongest grass-roots organization. We're sending a message to anyone who challenges me (in either party): 'You are not going to catch the Bob Bennett forces napping,'" he said.
No word in the article on possible Democratic opposition. In his 2004 re-election, Bennett earned 69% of the Utah vote.
Texas: With Kay Bailey Hutchison preparing a gubernatorial bid, numerous Republicans are circling, eagerly awaiting a Senate campaign. But what of Democrats? One of the Democrats' strongest potential candidates is Houston Mayor Bill White, who says "he'll make a decision about running for governor or for the U.S. Senate in the next week." With the Senate seat far from being "open" at this point, Mayor White making a decision in the next week seems premature, unless he'll offer a clear "No way" or offer a non-decision decision. We'll see. |
