Midterm Roundup
It was a day of drop-outs and add-ons in nationwide gubernatorial races. First, the drop-outs…
MD-GOV: Surprise Exit Smoothes Path for Ehrlich
Underdog but aggressive candidate Doug Duncan (D) abruptly drops out of Maryland’s gubernatorial race following a diagnosis of clinical depression. Here’s Duncan’s announcement. And Jay Antenen has more.
After a long battle and appeal to get on the November ballot for Colorado’s open governorship, candidate Marc Holtzman (R) gets the final shutdown courtesy of the Colorado Supreme Court. A little more from the AP.
Next, the add-ons…
TX-GOV: Independents Round Up Signatures for November Rodeo
In a red-letter day for Texas Independents, gubernatorial candidates Kinky Friedman (I) and Carole Keeton Strayhorn (I) both collect sufficient signatures to be placed on November’s ballot. But not so fast Texas nickname lovers – Strayhorn’s “Grandma” sobriquet might not be allowed on the ballot. Regardless, this will surely provide for an awesome episode of Friedman’s campaign trail reality TV show “Go Kinky.” That is, if the show is still running. The show’s website lists only the first two pilot episodes. Can anyone tell me if this show is actually on in Texas and approximately how entertaining it is on a scale from “very entertaining” to “ludicrously entertaining”?
And in other midterm news…
OH-18: Incumbent: Bob Ney (R) vs. Challenger: Federal Investigation
Yesterday’s report by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee on the dealings of convicted ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff brings damning evidence against a number of people, but for the most part spares members of congress. Oh, except for Representative Bob Ney (R) of Ohio’s 18th district. WaPo has more. (N.B. This time he actually goes by “Congressman Ney,” not “Representative #1.”)
CT-SEN: Aw, Jeezis… Did She Have to Say My Name?
As if Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman (D) didn’t already have enough problems on his hands, now he gets to enjoy a little name association with a one Ann Coulter. I wouldn’t worry Joe, I’m sure all those liberal bloggers will let this one slide…
But hey, Coulter isn’t Lieberman’s only pal these days. Let’s see, let’s see… hey there’s also Senator John Warner (R) of Virginia… and, uh… Rick… Santorum… from Pennsylvania…
WaPo columnist George Will offers up some thoughts on New Jersey’s hotly contested Senate race and the candidate you could bring home to your parents.
WA-SEN: Cantwell Slides, But Won’t Wobble
Seattle’s Post Intelligencer (sweet name) analyzes Washington Senator Maria Cantwell’s (D) recent slide in polls. Cantwell has taken loads of criticism from her party for not renouncing her 2002 vote to authorize the Iraq war. A Seattle Weekly op-ed responds: cram it.
In Polling News…
AL-GOV: Riley Rising
ME-GOV: Woodcock Risi-, er… Doing Better
ME-SEN: It’s a Whiteout!
NY-SEN: Just Slightly Less of a Blowout than NY-GOV
PA-GOV: Swann Drowning
RI-GOV, RI-SEN: Both Races Close, AP analyzes, and Hotline breaks it down further.
And of course if all these piffling little individual polls don’t satisfy your larger-than-average poll appetite, don’t forget to check out that 72-oz. steak of polls, this week’s WSJ/Zogby poll. I’m sorry Zogby, but you’re going to need to include Montana and Rhode Island before I call you the Sir Loin-a-Lot of polls.
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