ND: White House's pet for Conrad

The White House is targeting North Dakota and trying to convice Republican Gov. John Hoeven to run against Conrad.

Hoeven attended the State of the Union, then spent time with the President on Air Force One back to his home state. According to White House political sources and a staffer on the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), Hoeven's political future was discussed.

PA: Santorum...taking money from smut

ABC News last night "outed" a number of conservative Republicans for continuing to take campaign contributions:

The supplier of that smut, Adelphia has, according to ABC News "given $166,000 to Republican committees, and $12,000 to Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa.

Typical Red-State hypocrisy. Seriously.

RI: Chafee gettting hit from the right

Club for Growth (R) plans to spend $10 million harassing Chafee and other "Republicans in Name Only" (RINO) in 2006. We gladly accept the pressue for Chafee to switch camps or retire. RI will elect a Democrat.

WI: Kohl gearing up and running

U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl has hired a Democratic organizer to begin coordinating his run for re-election in 2006.

The Wisconsin Democrat said Tuesday that he hired Michael Teter to start putting the campaign together.

MN: Franken in...

Al Franken told AP he would make a MN SEN announcement on his radio show today (Fargo Forum).

MN: BIG NEWS

Minnesota Sen. Mark Dayton, a first-term Democrat atop the Republicans' 2006 target list, said Wednesday he won't run for re-election next year.

VT: Jeffords finally has someone willing to lose

"Fresh off his losing candidacy for Congress," Greg Parke (R) has announced he wants to take on VT Sen. Jim Jeffords (I) in '06 (Rutland Herald).

NY: Clinton winning

From the Wake-up Call!:

Quinnipiac poll shows Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) defeating both Gov. George Pataki (R-NY) (61%-30%) and ex-NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) (50%-44%) among regis. voters in Clinton's bid for re-election in '06.

FL: GOP misguided

From the Sun-Sentinel:

More than retirement security is at stake as President Bush pitches his new plan for Social Security investment accounts.

The success of his campaign to change the federal retirement system could have a direct bearing on the job security of Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida.

The Bush administration and the GOP areare betting that the 17% of Floridas population that are retirees just don't care about their grandchildren. The re-election of Nelson will prove them wrong.

MI: and yet another...

This field of GOPers in Michigan is getting exhuasting!

Oakland County Sheriff and former State Senator Mike Bouchard announced on WJR News Radio this morning that he'll seek the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow in 2006.

Bouchard, Sheriff since 1999, served in the State Senate from 1991 until his appointment to the Oakland Countywide position that became vacant due to the longtime Sheriff's death.

PA: Santorum in deeper water

The Bush budget eliminates all funding for Amtrak. [Bush Budget]

The DSCC has:

Santorum is "Stuck Between a Track and a Hard Place "

The Bush budget that came out today puts Rick Santorum between a track and a hard place. Santorum, who is up for re-election in 2006, will feel the heat during the upcoming fight over Amtrak funding. Republicans have had it out for Amtrak for years, and now during an election year, Bush has pushed an issue that cuts two ways for Santorum.

Either he supports Bush’s budget plan to eliminate Amtrak and continues to walk in lock step with Bush or he breaks with Bush over Amtrak funding and risks angering the White House. Santorum has already cast a vote to hurt Amtrak that he will be forced to explain during his re-election bid. Now the White House has landed him between a track and a hard place.

Want to help contribute news? Let me know...

As the number of hits to this site increase, I feel a greater responsibilty to post stories more often. For me to maintain this site, allow it to grow and keep my job, I am asking for interested people to email if you want to contribute to the postings.

eventstaff8@bigfoot.com

Thanks.

MI: Stabenow, here's another

Jane Abraham, 43, said it won't be a grudge match if she decides to run against Stabenow, adding that Abraham wouldn't have become a Cabinet secretary if he'd won re-election.

"Certainly I have strong feelings about that race, as one would expect, and feel that my husband should have won the race. But that's history," Jane Abraham said.


A. I am sure that Michigan Voters will AGAIN vote against an Abraham...

B. What is this like the 15th person who has voiced interest in challeneging Debbie? Sheesh, this GOP primary is going to be blooooody. :) yay.

MT: Burns wants horse for dinner

I know this has a lot of press, but this is truely tragic:

Senator Conrad Burns (R-Montana) inserted into this spending bill a provision (Section 142) that removed from the Wild Free- Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 protective measures that would have prevented the wild horses and burros from being sold for slaughter.

What slime.

RI: It's official -- Brown v. Chafee

From providence Journal:

Secretary of State Matt Brown announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate today, saying "it's going to take new leadership to tackle the problems people are facing in Rhode Island."

Brown, a Democrat, says he has already raised more than $212,000 for his bid to unseat Republican Lincoln Chafee in 2006.

More on Brown later...

NV: Ensign -- not worried about the Safety of Nevadans.

From the Casper, WY Star-Tribune:

Security has been beefed up at the Nevada Test Site after guards failed to stop a mock terrorist attack on a bunker built to safeguard weapons-grade nuclear material.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was notified shortly after the failed test. Ensign aide Jack Finn provided no details about steps taken to improve security afterward, but said Thursday that Ensign was satisfied after sending two national security aides to meet with test site officials.

(emphasis supplied)

- This and his pro-yucca postion -- wow, clearly he doesn't plan on living in Nevada. Too bad his constituents do. Vote him out. He is bad for Nevada's safety.

MO: Talent ... out of touch...way

From the news-leader:

U.S. Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo., said the president was setting the stage for continued prosperity.
"He laid out a pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda that includes a comprehensive energy bill, liability reform and tax relief for workers and families," Talent said in a statement. "These measures will build on the economic momentum of the last few years."

Does he really think the last 4 years have been prosperous? Wow, this guy is so out of touch with the people of Missouri. Pro-jobs agenda? C'mon!

NE: Put the pressue on Nelson

Senator Nelson of Nebraska said Bush's visit to his state won't be decisive in whether he will support private accounts.

``I've never felt the pressure of a presidential visit,'' Nelson said. ``The only pressure I feel is from the people of Nebraska who sent me back here to represent them and the country. That's politically correct, but it's also true.''

Well Nebraskans, bring on the pressure...

TX: Hutchinson has Radnofsky on her heels

From oursenate:

Barbara Ann Radnofsky has quite an impressive website for her campaign against Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX). Her background in the legal field is extensive and is highly qualified for the job. She has been a lawyer in texas for 25 years and has been listed in "The Best Lawyers of America" from 1993-2004. More candidates will probably surface in the coming months, but Radnofsky should not be overlooked. Texas is conservative, but in politics anything is possible, especially if Hutchison seriously seeks running for Governor.

Check out her excellent website: http://www.radnofsky.com/index.asp

Gonzales Vote

We democrats need to stick together through every fight. We don't condone torture. If one of the below Senators are from your state, call them and voice your high disappointment in their vote today. Unfortunately, Lieberman & Nelson & Nelson are three up for re-election.

Here are the yes votes from our side:
The Democrats voting Yes on Gonzales were:
Senator Ken Salazar (CO)
Senator Joseph Lieberman (CT)
Senator Ben Nelson (NE)
Senator Mary Landrieu (LA)
Senator Pryor (AR)
Senator Nelson (FL)

As kos says: "As for the Republican Senators, who all voted yes, you merely confirm what the Republican Party has become in the era of George W. Bush - un-American. "

WV: Byrd getting ready for record setting time in Senate

Byrd is getting ready for his next re-election. And doesn't seem to have trouble in acheiving it, either.

From The Hill:

Byrd, 87, has been negotiating with Paul DeNino, one of the Democratic Party’s top fundraisers, to assist his reelection efforts.

Byrd won his last race with 79 percent of the vote, and his reelect numbers consistently hover around 70 percent. His popularity has been boosted by his tremendously successful efforts to steer federal aid to the poor state as chairman and ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

now...those are good numbers...

AZ: Our candidate

Valley real estate developer and Democratic state party chairman Jim Pederson is expected to challenge Kyl next year.

As we find out more about him, we will of course post.

PA: Hafer over Casey?

If we want a Democratic Senate, then we should mke sure it is in line with our values. Hafer seems to be more in line with the Democrats than Casey. But, until the polling starts to come out -- we will hold out endorsement. Either way -- I think all parties agree, there will not be a contested primary.

From the Philly Inquirer:
Barbara Hafer, who just concluded two terms as state treasurer, said she met recently with Reid and has hired a pollster who could begin testing public opinion on a possible race as early as next week.

"I'm exploring, trying to find some basic information," Hafer, 61, said. "Everybody's talking but we don't have any hard data. What are each candidate's strengths and weaknesses? What's Rick's vulnerability? Right now, it's just a lot of talk."

Hafer, a staunch supporter of abortion rights, was a Republican long on the outs with her national party's conservative leadership. She became a Democrat after endorsing Gov. Rendell in the 2002 governor's race. "I don't think we're going to have a contested primary," she said.

WY: Craig running

From PSR:

It is widely expected that GOP U.S. Senator Craig Thomas will run for a third term. The conventional wisdom during the 2000 election was that 66 year old Thomas would retire from the U.S. Senate after completing his second term at the age of 72, and make a possible run for governor. However, Thomas has been raising money and traveling the state talking about federal issues facing Wyoming. He has given no indication that he will leave the Senate. Rumors have him confiding in GOP leaders that he plans on running for re-election

PA:RI: A second look needed ... before it is too late?

Pro-abortion rights groups are "voicing frustration" that Senate Dems "appear to be lining up behind anti-abortion rights candidates" in PA SEN and RI SEN (Roll Call).

MI: Stabenow's challengers line up: update

Republicans are gunning for U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow as at least six GOP hopefuls are looking at taking her on.Oakland County Sheriff and former state senator Mike Bouchard is among those. He will announce his formal candidacy within a week or two. Oakland County prosecutor David Gorcyca is also eyeing a bid as is Peter Cummings, the son in law of GOP financier Max Fisher.The election is not until next year, but the GOP believes democrat Stabenow is vulnerable, thus the high interest in running against her.

Status of Funds

From the Washington Post:

DNC: $6 Million in bank
DSCC: paid off $4 million in leftover election debts and is also beginning to accumulate money for the next election. -- no mention of how much, so far.

RNC: $15 Million in bank
NRSC: said Tuesday that it paid the debts in January, thanks in part to a $1 million donation from the Republican National Committee, and is now starting to put money in the bank.

Again -- we don't have the fat cats on our side...and well we like it that way. We can do this. Clean Campaigns are the campagins of the future.

TX: GOP gearing up for Hutchinson's departure?

U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla announced Tuesday that he is laying the groundwork for a Senate run, increasing speculation that Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison will challenge Gov. Rick Perry next year and prompting Perry to urge Texas' congressional delegation to keep their current jobs.

PA: Casey v. Santorum...set?

PA Treas. Robert Casey Jr. met with Senate Min Leader Harry Reid and DSCC Chair Chuck Schumer to discuss a possible run against Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) (Philadelphia Inquirer).

MN: Re-match...

Ex-Sen. Rod Grams (R-MN) "is exploring" an '06 rematch against Sen. Mark Dayton (D-MN) (Minneapolis Star Tribune).

From Hotline.

MN: Signs of trouble in the land of 10,000 lakes?

This is from the Star Tribune. Let's hope this is just temporary. When the Rice nomination dies down, I am prediciting Dayton's numbers will start to come back up. Let's hope that Coleman's continues to fall.

Minnesota Sens. Mark Dayton and Norm Coleman both took hits to their public
image in the past year, with their job approval ratings falling below 50
percent, according to the latest Minnesota Poll.

Dayton, a Democrat who's up for reelection next year, took the heaviest blow: His approval rating declined by 15 points in a year, from 58 percent to 43 percent. The approval rating for Coleman, who just began his third year in office, fell by 7 points, from 54 to 47 percent.

Dayton's job approval decreased among all categories of Minnesotans, grouped by age, education, income, party and ideology, with the largest drop among men -- down 27 points -- and 18- to 24-year-olds -- down 31 points.

"It's been a very politically controversial year," Dayton said. "I made controversial decisions in terms of closing my office to protect my staff and even challenging the confirmation of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. ... I would believe that they are part of the explanation, but I can't know for sure."

The poll, which was conducted from Sunday, Jan. 23, through Wednesday, came during a week in which Dayton was in the headlines. First, Rep. Gil Gutknecht, R-Minn., announced that he was considering a run against Dayton, who is regarded by the Cook Political Report as the most vulnerable Senate Democrat seeking reelection next year. Then Dayton gave a highly publicized speech on the Senate floor, accusing Rice of lying to the American people and Congress while making the case for war against Iraq in 2002. In his Tuesday speech, Dayton said his vote against Rice was "a statement that this administration's lying must stop now."