|
|
"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource."
|
2010 Preview: Hottest Senate Races for Republicans
|
|---|
| Parent(s) |
Race
|
| Contributor | Jason |
| Last Edited | Jason Sep 17, 2009 02:31am |
| Logged |
0
|
| Category | Analysis |
| Author | Katie Connolly |
| News Date | Friday, September 4, 2009 06:15:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | 'Tis the season to retire, if you are a moderate Republican senator. Judd Gregg, George Voinovich, and Mel Martinez all announced they would vacate their Senate seats by 2010, leaving Democrats covetously eyeing their seats. GOP primaries for vacant seats will be an interesting signal of whether party faithful approve of the rightward trend of their Senate caucus, or if they value the presence of a few moderates. And whether Democrats can knock off any Republicans in general races will provide clues as to whether the Obama effect was a one-off, or a longer-term shift in the American electorate. But if Dems do grab a GOP seat or two, what sort of Democrats will they be─Al Frankens or Ben Nelsons? (Clue: not Frankens.) Whichever way these races go, it's unlikely that Harry Reid will have any fewer headaches. As for deadpan Mitch McConnell, he might be cracking a smile or two.
Louisiana: Former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards once famously declared, “The only way I can lose this election is if I'm caught in bed with either a dead girl or a live boy.” In 2010, Sen. David Vitter will put this Louisiana adage to the test again. Vitter’s involvement in the 2007 D.C. Madam escort-service scandal is likely to resurface as he faces Democratic Congressman Charlie Melancon, a pro-life, pro-gun blue dog who’s already positioning himself as a family man. This will be the first time Vitter has been on the ballot since he was embroiled in the prostitution scandal, which Louisiana Democratic Party spokesman Kevin Franck believes he hasn’t fully accounted for. Franck told Newsweek that Louisiana voters still have questions about the extent of Vitter’s involvement with the D.C. Madam, which the senator has been reluctant to answer. Still, the scandal hasn’t hurt Vitter’s fundraising─he had $3.2 million cash on hand by the end of the second quarter. And his vocal criticisms of the Obama administration, particularly on spending, are playing well in a conservative |
| Share |
|
|
2¢
|
|
| Article | Read Full Article |
|
| Date |
Category |
Headline |
Article |
Contributor |
|
|
