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Massachusetts Special Election
Democratic Nominee:
-State Attorney General Martha Coakley
-Coakley ActBlue Page
Election Day:
-JANUARY 19
Resources:
-Kennedyseat.com
-Blue Mass Group
-Boston Globe

Election Day 2010 is in:

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Democratic Senators and Candidates
Alabama:
-unknown
Alaska:
-unknown
Arizona:
-Tuscon City Councilman Rodney Glassman (considering)
Arkansas:
-Senator Blanche Lincoln
California:
-Senator Barbara Boxer
Colorado:
-Senator Michael Bennet
-Former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff
Connecticut:
-Senator Christopher Dodd
Delaware:
-Attorney General Beau Biden (considering)
Florida:
-Congressman Kendrick Meek
-North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns
-Former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre
Georgia:
-unknown
Hawaii:
-Senator Daniel Inouye
Idaho:
-unknown
Illinois:
-Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias
-Chicago Urban League CEO Cheryle Jackson
-Chicago Inspector General David Hoffman
-Attorney Jacob Meister
Indiana:
-Senator Evan Bayh
Iowa:
-Attorney Roxanne Conlin
-Former State Senator Tom Fiegen
-Former State Representative Bob Krause
Kansas:
-Retired newspaper editor Charles Schollenberger
Kentucky:
-Attorney General Jack Conway
-Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo
-Former Customs Agent Darlene Fitzgerald Price
Louisiana:
-Congressman Charlie Melancon
Maryland:
-Senator Barbara Mikulski
Missouri:
-Secretary of State Robin Carnahan
Nevada:
-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
New Hampshire:
-Congressman Paul Hodes
New York-A:
-Senator Chuck Schumer
New York-B:
-Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
-Activist Jonathan Tasini
North Carolina:
-Former State Senator Cal Cunningham
-Secretary of State Elaine Marshall
-Attorney Kenneth Lewis
-Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy (considering)
North Dakota:
-Senator Byron Dorgan
Ohio:
-Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher
-Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner
Oklahoma:
-unknown
Oregon:
-Senator Ron Wyden
Pennsylvania:
-Congressman Joe Sestak
-Arlen Specter?
-State Representative Bill Kortz
South Carolina:
-Attorney Chad McGowan
South Dakota:
-unknown
Texas (when KBH resigns):
-Houston Mayor Bill White
-Former Comptroller John Sharp
-Doctor Alma Aguado
Utah:
-Liquor Control Commission Chair & Businessman Sam Granato
Vermont:
-Senator Patrick Leahy
Washington:
-Senator Patty Murray
Wisconsin:
-Senator Russ Feingold

Republican Retirements, Resignations & Passings
Sam Brownback (R-KS): Announced retirement, 12/18/08
Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-MO): Announced retirement, 1/8/09
George Voinovich (R-OH): Announced retirement, 1/12/09
Judd Gregg (R-NH): Announced retirement (we think), 2/12/09
Jim Bunning (R-KY): Announced retirement, 7/27/09
Mel Martinez (R-FL): Officially resigned, 9/9/09

Primary Challengers to GOP Incumbents
Arizona (John McCain):
-Minutemen founder Chris Simcox
-Businessman Jim Deakin
-Former Congressman J.D. Hayworth (rumored)
Georgia (Johnny Isakson):
-Congressman Paul Broun (rumored)
Louisiana (David Vitter):
-Louisiana Secretary of State Jay Dardenne (considering)
-Retired Lieutenant General Russel Honore (rumored)
-Retired State Supreme Court Justice Chet Traylor (rumored)
Utah (Robert Bennett):
-Businesswoman Cherilyn Eagar
-Businessman James Williams
-Businessman Tim Bridgewater
-Former Juab County Attorney (and gubernatorial brother) David Leavitt (rumored)
-Former gubernatorial counsel Mike Lee (rumored)

Primary Challengers to GOP Establishment-Anointed Candidates
Colorado (Jane Norton):
-Weld County DA Ken Buck
-Businessman Cleve Tidwell
-Former State Senator Tom Wiens
-Attorney Luke Korkowski
Connecticut (Rob Simmons):
-Businesswoman Linda McMahon
-Economist Peter Schiff
-2004 Senate Nominee Jack Orchulli (considering)
Florida (Charlie Crist):
-Former State House Speaker Marco Rubio
-Former U.S. Senator Bob Smith
-Former Chief Medical Officer Marion Thorpe Jr.
Illinois (Mark Kirk):
-Real estate developer Pat Hughes
-Businessman Robert Zadek
-Former Alderman John Arrington
-Businessman and Minister Eric Wallace
-Political activist Andy Martin
Kentucky (Trey Grayson):
-Anti-tax activist Rand Paul
-Businessman and Veteran Bill Johnson
-Teacher Brian Oerther
-Engineer Roger Thoney
-Former Ambassador Cathy Bailey (considering)
Missouri (Roy Blunt):
-State Senator Chuck Purgason
New Hampshire (Kelly Ayotte):
-1996 Gubernatorial Nominee Ovide Lamontagne
-Businessman Jim Bender
-Republican National Committeeman Sean Mahoney (considering)
-Businessman William Binnie (considering)
Ohio (Rob Portman):
-Businessman Tom Ganley

Right-Leaning Candidates
Colorado:
-Businessman Maclyn Stringer (Libertarian)
Florida:
-Professor Marshall DeRosa (Constitution)
-Veteran Alex Snitker (Libertarian)
Georgia:
-Radio personality Eric Von Haessler (Libertarian)
Louisiana:
-Anthony Gentile (Libertarian)
-Vietnam veteran William Robert Lang (independent)
Nevada:
-Conservative activist Jim Duensing (Libertarian)
New Hampshire:
-Businessman & veteran Ken Blevens (Libertarian)
North Carolina:
-Business analyst Mike Beitler (Libertarian)
Ohio:
-Electrical engineer Eric Deaton (independent)
Pennsylvania:
-Businessman Mike Yilit (independent)
Texas:
-Veteran Jon Roland (Libertarian)
Wisconsin:
-Software engineer Rob Taylor (Constitution)

Links
-Democratic National Committee
-Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
-Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
-DSCC's YouTube Page

-CQPolitics Balance of Power Scorecard (regularly updated)
-Swing State Project Competitive Senate Race Ratings (8/11/09)
-Cook Political Report Senate Race Ratings (7/30/09)
-Rothenberg Political Report 2010 Senate Ratings (7/27/09)
-Rasmussen Reports 2010 Election Polls
-Real Clear Politics' 2008 Senate Latest Polls
-Pollster.com 2008 Senate Elections
-National Journal 2008 Senate Race Rankings (7/23/08)
-Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball: Senate Sensibilities (6/19/08)

-The Hill
-Politico
-Roll Call

-2010 Senate Elections Wikipedia Page
-U.S. Senate Seat-Holders Chart, 1978-present
-Pollster.com
-Project Vote Smart
-An Inconvenient Truth
-Senator Chuck Schumer's Positively American
-Americans United for Change
-Empowering Veterans
-Vote Vets
-Electoral-Vote.com
-Memeorandum

Blog Roll
Senate 2008 Guru

-All Spin Zone
-AmericaBlog
-Atrios
-Bob Geiger
-Booman Tribune
-Campaign Diaries
-The Caucus (NY Times)
-Common Ground (DSCC)
-Congress Matters
-CQPolitics
-CQPolitics Eye on 2010
-Crooks and Liars
-Daily Kos
-The Democratic Daily
-Digby
-Down with Tyranny!
-Elect Blue
-Electile Dysfunction
-Firedoglake
-First Read (MSNBC)
-FiveThirtyEight.com
-The Fix (Washington Post)
-The Gavel (Speaker Pelosi)
-The Group News Blog
-Gun Toting Liberal
-Hotline Blogometer
-Hotline On Call
-The Huffington Post
-Kicking Ass (DNC)
-Left in the West
-Liberal Values
-Marc Ambinder
-MyDD
-Open Left
-The Plum Line (Greg Sargent)
-Political Animal
-Political Base
-The Political Carnival
-Political Ticker (CNN)
-Political Wire
-Politics1
-Progressive Blog Digest
-Progressive Blue
-Real Clear Politics Blog
-Real Clear Politics: Politics Nation
-The Rothenberg Political Report
-Scholars & Rogues
-Senatus
-The Stakeholder (DCCC)
-Swing State Project
-Talking Points Memo
-Think Progress
-VetVoice
-War Room (Salon)
-Wonkette

-43rd State Blues (ID)
-The Albany Project (NY)
-AZ Netroots (AZ)
-Barefoot and Progressive (KY)
-Bleeding Heartland (IA)
-Blogging Blue (WI)
-Blue Arkansas (AR)
-Blue Hampshire (NH)
-Blue Indiana (IN)
-Blue NC (NC)
-Blue Oklahoma (OK)
-Blue Oregon (OR)
-Buckeye State Blog (OH)
-Burnt Orange Report (TX)
-Calitics (CA)
-Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis (AK)
-Colorado Pols (CO)
-The Daily Gotham (NY)
-Delaware Liberal (DE)
-Daily Kingfish (LA)
-Ditch Mitch KY (KY)
-Doc's Political Parlor (AL)
-Fired Up! Missouri (MO)
-FLA Politics (FL)
-Forward Kansas (KS)
-Free State Politics (MD)
-Green Mountain Daily (VT)
-Horse's Ass Seattle (WA)
-Indigo Journal (SC)
-Kansas Jackass (KS)
-Left in Alabama (AL)
-Legum's New Line (MD)
-The Locust Fork Journal (AL)
-Maryland Politics Watch (MD)
-The MountainGoat Report (ID)
-My Left Nutmeg (CT)
-North Decoder (ND)
-Ohio Daily Blog (OH)
-The Pennsylvania Progressive (PA)
-Prarie State Blue (IL)
-Progress Illinois (IL)
-Progressive Alaska (AK)
-Public Policy Polling (NC)
-Red State Rebels (ID)
-Show Me Progress (MO)
-Square State (CO)
-Texas Kaos (TX)
-Tondee's Tavern (GA)
-Uppity Wisconsin (WI)
-The Wasatch Watcher (UT)
-Washblog (WA)


Cheering Them On
-Draft Coop (NC)
-Draft Elaine Marshall (NC)
-Draft Jane Kidd (GA)

Revealing Their Record
-Cut and Run Charlie Crist (FL)
-Doing a Vitter! The David Vitter Hypocrisy Watch (LA)
-The Idiot Factor: Todd Tiahrt's Folly (KS)
-Not One Red Cent (NRSC)
-Peter King Watch (NY)
-The REAL McCain (AZ)
-Republican Against Richard Burr (NC)
-Rob Portman: Architect of the Bush Economy (OH)
-Turncoat Trey (KY)

YouTube Video Library

The Hall of Fame YouTube Political Video: George Allen and "Macaca"


On Republican Obstructionism


Republican Scandals of 2007


DSCC Chair Bob Menendez Says Hello


MO-Sen: Robin Carnahan Enters the Race


GA-Sen: Georgia can't afford Johnny Isakson


Google Ads

Amazon Ads



Informative Widgets





Senate Guru

End of Week Rundown

by: Senate Guru

Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 18:11 PM EST


  • NRSC Chair John Cornyn addressed the wingnut convention at CPAC and listed some NRSC targets for 2010:

    He identified open seats in Ohio, Missouri and Florida that the party will target and added that "unexpected opportunities" to gain Senate seats may arise in New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Arkansas, Colorado, Nevada, and California.

    Pssst, John, Ohio, Missouri and Florida are already Republican-held seats.  Republicans are not working to pick those seats up, but rather simply to retain them due to upcoming Republican retirements.  As for Republicans' dim prospects in those other states, I'll be elaborating soon on Republicans' weakness when it comes to potentially picking up seats in 2010, from top-tier Republicans turning down Senate bids to Republican candidates under indictment to simply empty GOP benches.

  • National Journal ranked the members of the U.S. Senate based on liberal-conservative ratings.  Extract from it what you will.

  • Electronic filing for Senate campaign finance reports?  Yes!  Please!  (It's telling that the obstacle for the legislation was a hold on it placed by last cycle's NRSC Chair, John Ensign of Nevada.)

  • Louisiana: Enter a new possible Republican primary opponent to prostitute-lovin' David Vitter.  Former Congressman John Cooksey appears to be interested:

    Moreover, sources close to the Monroe Ophthalmologist say that the retired member of Congress is very interested.  So interested, in fact, that he is willing to commit a sizable portion of his personal savings to a campaign against the incumbent Republican Senator.

    "John is willing to put up $200,000 of his own money to take on Vitter.  He only wants to know that there is public support for a run," said a senior advisor to the former Congressman-who asked not to be named.

    Cooksey may be most notoriously remembered for his racist comments on how to profile for possible terrorists:

    Cooksey told media members that the investigation should focus on someone wearing a "diaper on his head and a fan belt wrapped around the diaper," a reference to turbans worn by some Muslims.

    When you couple that with reports that David Vitter indulged in a diaper fetish when spending time with the prostitutes he solicited, you have to ask, "What is this obsession Louisiana Republicans have with diapers?!"

  • Minnesota: From the thousands of properly rejected absentee ballots that Republican Norm Coleman wanted re-reviewed for inclusion in the vote tally, it looks like an estimated 1,500 will be re-reviewed.  While this may give Coleman a glimmer of hope, he shouldn't get too excited.  While these 1,500 or so may be re-reviewed, they still contain significant problems that could likely lead to many/most of them being re-tossed out.

    Meanwhile, though it looked like the Coleman camp caught a break regarding certain testimony, they may have shot themselves in the foot by continuing to withhold evidence and information.  Bear with me because this may be confusing - translating Coleman hijinks often is.  The Coleman camp's evidence-free theory that some votes were double counted rests largely on the testimony of Minneapolis poll worker Pamela Howell.  Howell's testimony was thrown out earlier this week when it was revealed that she had a series of e-mail correspondences with the Coleman camp that was not disclosed to the legal team for Senator-elect Al Franken.  However, the three-judge panel gave Coleman a break when they allowed Howell's testimony back in after deeming the Coleman lawyers' wrongdoing to be an honest mistake.

    Well, an honest mistake it wasn't.  Howell was put back on the stand, her testimony now counting; and, in the Franken camp's re-cross examination of the already-questionable witness, it comes out that there was further correspondence that was not disclosed!  The Coleman lawyers are very clearly trying to sneak as much as they can under the radar of the three-judge panel and the Franken legal team.  It's simply ridiculous.  The Franken legal team responded that the witness' testimony should be re-tossed along with the entire notion of double-counting of ballots:

    Lillehaug demanded that not only should Howell's testimony be re-stricken, but that Coleman's entire claim about double-counting be tossed.

    "And it is clear from contestants strategy in this regard that Ms. Howell was their star witness on the issue of original and duplicate ballots," Lillehaug said. "They picked out one election judge from one precinct -- she's the only election judge they're presenting on this claim - and then yesterday documents were offered and admitted into evidence based on that precinct and nine other precincts. It is clear that her testimony was the linchpin for the Coleman original and duplicate ballots claim."

    Lillehaug said they should not have to go back to the drawing board to figure out how to cross-examine her, and thus her testimony must be struck, and with it the entire double-counting claim for all precincts.

    Like I've said before, Norm Coleman's credibility is down to zero.  It would seem that Coleman's lawyers are doing all they can to remind the three-judge panel of this.  A decision on the Franken motion of re-striking Howell's testimony may come on Monday.

  • Missouri: Republican Roy Blunt may already be violating campaign finance standards by not collecting the proper donor disclosure information on online contributions.  That's just how Jack Abramoff Republicans like Roy Blunt roll.  Oh, also, Blunt repeatedly lies about what is in President Obama's economic stimulus bill.  Stay classy, Roy.  Penrose hits the nail on the head:

    Blunt/Delay/Abramoff for Senate?

  • Illinois: Governor Pat Quinn continues to talk up a special election if Roland Burris resigns or is removed from office.  Meanwhile, former Commerce Secretary and Mayoral brother William Daley is rumored to be preparing a 2010 Senate bid.  That would be massive in terms of IL-Dem politics.

  • Kentucky: Perhaps he was half-joking (you never know with this guy), but Republican Jim Bunning seemed to suggest that, if Republican leadership hindered him in his re-election effort (as GOP chieftains have made no secret of their preference for his retirement), he would resign his seat, allowing Kentucky's Democratic Governor to appoint a (presumably Democratic) replacement.  That would certainly give Bunning "the last laugh," as Bunning put it.  In other news, if Bunning does wind up retiring, Ron Paul's son will run for the seat.

  • Utah: Republican state Attorney General Mark Shurtleff confirms that he is considering a 2010 Senate primary challenge to Bob Bennett.  It may be difficult for Democrats to directly benefit from this, but, anytime there's a circular political firing squad in the GOP, it's helpful.

  • New Hampshire & Florida: If former U.S. Senator from New Hampshire Bob Smith makes another run for Senate, it would be from Florida, not New Hampshire, if at all.
  • Senate Guru :: End of Week Rundown
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    Kentucky
    It's been hypothesized (on SSP if I'm not mistaken) that Beshear would go ahead and elevate Lt. Gov Dan Mongiardo to the senate.  I hope that doesn't play out.  Mongiardo is a strong opponent of gay rights and an advocate of mountain top removal.  There are much better options for us in the Bluegrass State.

    Check out Blue Arkansas:
    http://bluearkansas.blogspot.com/


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