Midterm Roundup
Taylor heads to November, McKinney heads to a runoff, and Reed heads home on his shield. It was quite a day in Georgia!
First in the gubernatorial race, Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor (D) defeated Secretary of State Cathy Cox (D) in the Democratic primary, 51.7% to 44.0%. Taylor now faces an uphill battle against Governor Sonny Perdue (R), who won his primary easily.
In Georgia’s 4th district – Runoff Time! In a surprisingly close Democratic primary, Representative Cynthia McKinney (D) took only 46.9% of the vote. DeKalb County Commissioner Hank Johnson (D) took 44.5%, meaning McKinney and Johnson will now go 1-on-1 in a runoff, scheduled for August 8.
Well, perhaps McKinney can take heart. No runoff appears necessary in Politics1’s biennial congressional bad hair contest, where McKinney is cruising to victory thanks in no small part to the admirable efforts of the upstanding readers of freerepublic.com.
And now, ladies and gentlemen, the Midterm Roundup is proud to present to you! The one and only man who will ever be able to lay claim to the title, First Election Casualty of the Jack Abramoff Scandal! Mr. Ralph Reed!!!
This was no squeaker, folks. State Senator Casey Cagle (R) waxed the former Christian Coalition Executive Director Reed, 56.1% to 43.9%. “Right hand of God,” huh? The Midterm Roundup will refrain from any more cheeky a response than, “Mm, no, apparently not.”
Justin Rood helps explain the cause of Reed’s collapse (teaser: it rhymes with shmabramoff). First and last hurrah? Reed said in his concession speech, “I’m not focused on being a candidate in the future, but I’m glad I ran.” Charles Bullock, a political scientist at the University of Georgia, had a slightly harsher assessment: “We’ve witnessed the final implosion of Ralph Reed.”
Alas, like Josh Marshall, the Midterm Roundup sheds a tear for muckrakers the world over. The real question is this: Does Reed’s defeat mean that the culture of corruption tack has legs for Democrats (in contrast to the implication of Bilbray’s win in California’s 50th district special election), or does it mean one less Abramoff character for Democrats to target in the fall, and hence a further dissolution of the corruption message?
Full election results here. More from: WaPo, NYTimes, AP, and for serious saturation, check out the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Election Day blog here. And of course there’s the uncannily thorough Hotline. Those guys are good.
And in Alabama, attorney Luther Strange (R) defeated state PSC Commissioner George Wallace, Jr. (R) in the Republican runoff primary for lieutenant governor, 55% to 45%.
Ah yes, muck is in the air this Wednesday morning. Ralph Reed’s exit stage right may have created a muck vacuum, but what is it they say about a vacuum? Nature abhors one?
Justin Rood reports.
The Hill reports.
The Hill reports some more.
The Hill won’t stop cuz it can’t stop.
Justin Rood reports some more, and CQ takes a statistical look at the 23rd district remap proposals currently before a federal district court in Austin. In accordance with the Supreme Court’s June 28 ruling that the 23rd district violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting the Hispanic vote, 9 major parties have submitted proposals to redraw the district, with the court to hear oral arguments on August 3.
The AP reports.
CA-04, -11: Pombo, Doolittle Corrupt, Carefree
The AP reports some more.
Greg Sargent makes note of a Political Wire piece alleging that two “prominent Republicans” think it might be a good idea to put Joe Lieberman on the GOP ballot if they can nudge off card shark-cum-candidate Alan Schlesinger (R).
Meanwhile Kevin Rennie reports exclusively via Hotline that Lieberman, in a sign of anxiety, has hired Washington pro Tom Lindenfeld to “put together an organization to call, identify and inspire Lieberman primary voters for the August 8th showdown.”
Wait a minute… didn’t Kevin Rennie report exclusively via Political Wire too? Kevin Rennie a news exclusive polygamist? The Midterm Roundup knows how to play that game. Kevin, the Roundup has a proposition for you: exclusive rights to all your breaking news out of Connecticut in exchange for a handsome incentive package: $40, a $10 gift certificate to Cole Haan, 2 upper level tickets to tonight’s Jovi concert at the Stadium, and 1 free backrub. If you’re willing to play ball, a liaison will meet you in the subbasement of the parking garage near your office tonight at exactly 9:30 PM. No cops.
Still ayawn at the paltry volume of stories coming out of the Connecticut Senate race? Maybe try this one on for size.
The Midterm Roundup doesn’t know Sherrod Brown (D) from Adam, but it’s heartened by this no-nonsense response from the Ohio Democratic Party to Senator Mike DeWine’s (R) 9/11 inspired attack ad.
FL-GOV: Democrats File to Succeed Jeb
Representative Jim Davis (D) and state Senator Rod Smith (D) filed to run for governor Monday, setting the stage for what should be a heated September 5 primary. Hotline has a funny tidbit about Davis – like cocksure… is google-sure a word?
MN-SEN: Uncertainty the Only Certainty At this Point
The Fix runs down the state of the open seat Senate race in Minnesota between Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar (D) and Representative Mark Kennedy (R), dissecting the recent Minnesota Star Tribune poll to which the Kennedy camp has taken exception.
IYI (If You’re Interested)
NATIONWIDE: Reynolds predicts 36 tight races (The Hill)
NATIONWIDE: Congressional GOP push conservative agenda (AP)
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