Republican Reports

Republican Reports Up & Running Again

2005-09-04T12:52:00.000-05:00

After a computer problem put Republican Reports offline for some days, all is well again and we are back posting latest political news both home and abroad.

Germany: Election Getting Tighter

2005-09-04T12:51:00.000-05:00

Latest polls in Germany's fast-approaching parliamentary election show the race tightening up a bit. The center-right coalition of the Christian Democratic Party and the Free Democratic Party still holds about a 1% edge over the combined parties of the left (Social Democrats, Greens, and former Communists calling themselves simply "The Left").

The last election in 2002 gave the left a 51%-49% majority, and the first polls in this year's campaign nearly reversed that, with the free-market FDP and the center-right CDU together winning 51%. The DCU-FDP lead grew a little during August to 52%-48%, but in the last ten days the SPD has gained ground. Detailed poll results are here.

GA: Republican Governor Suspends Gas Taxes

2005-09-04T12:45:00.000-05:00

Saying that Georgia residents needed some relief from sky-high gas prices, Republican Governor Sonny Perdue signed an executive order suspending the state's gasoline taxes. He asked the legislature to pass his order into law at a special session starting next week.

The Associated Press said that Perdue's move should save Georgians about 15 cents per gallon, since the state has a relatively low tax on gas.

CO: State Taxpayers May Get Refund

2005-09-04T12:41:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the state's Taxpayer Bill of Rights, Colorado taxpayers may get a rebate check this year, according to the Rocky Mountain News. The rebate is only about $15, but that is far better than the hefty tax increases people in many other states are facing.

However, if the liberal Democratic proposal to have the state government keep $3.7 billion of excess revenue passes this November, even the measly $15 rebate will be cancelled. Aided by Republican Governor Bill Owens, liberal groups are pushing hard to win approval of the ballot measure that would deny TABOR rebates for five years so that the politicians can go on a multi-billion dollar spending spree.

AZ: Poll Analysis of Illegal-Alien Referendum

2005-09-04T12:36:00.000-05:00

The Arizona Republic reports on a survey that analyzes why the state's voters approved a referendum last November that was aimed at controlling the impact of illegal immigration. The most interesting fact turned up in the poll is that 57% of the people said they made up their minds how to vote as soon as they heard of the ballot measure.

That drive homes the emotional impact of the illegal-alien issue, as even liberal Democrats like Hillary Clinton and the governors of Arizona and New Mexico call for stern action.

US: Republicans Making Inroads With Young Black Voters

2005-08-22T10:57:00.000-05:00

A Boston Globe article examines the question of whether Republicans are really making gains among black voters, or simply think they are. It highlights Adam Hunter, a Howard University student, whose father became a Democrat during the civil rights movement.

Hunter says he and his father aren't very different in their beliefs, but he simply rejects the idea that "you have to vote Democratic or don't vote." He favors personal social security accounts, lower taxes, and business development and naturally believes that liberal Democrats are hostile to those goals.

US: Democratic Split Over Iraq Grows Wider

2005-08-21T20:48:00.000-05:00

The Washington Post says that elected Democratic leaders, many of whom supported--and still support--the liberation of Iraq, are coming under increasing pressure within their party. Left-wing Democrats, who never approved the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's socialist party dictatorship, are demanding that Democrats in Congress join them in denouncing President Bush's effort to give 25 million Iraqis a chance for freedom.

So far, however, most Democrats in elective office are insisting that success in Iraq is vital to American interests and that calls for an early withdrawal are not only wrong but politically dangerous. Their criticism has focused not on the wisdom of liberating Iraq but on what they see as the Bush administration's incompetent handling of that vital work.

Egypt: Presidential Campaign Begins

2005-08-21T20:34:00.000-05:00

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, absolute ruler for 24 years, is only one of ten candidates for the presidency in the upcoming September 7 election. Of course, he is virtually certain to be re-elected, but he is hoping the presence of opposition candidates will help convince Egyptians and foreign observers that his country is taking at least small steps toward a more democratic politics.

The New York Times reports that the most serious challenges to Mubarak's National Democratic Party will likely be from the Wafd and the Ghad parties, but several other opposition groups are boycotting the campaign, calling the election a charade.

US: Hate Speech From the Left: Belafonte & Gregory

2005-08-21T13:13:00.000-05:00

The latest outburst of hate speech from left-wing actor Harry Belafonte came at an Atlanta civil rights march, where he denounced black officials in the Bush administration as "black tyrants" and called the president himself a tyrant.

Another left-wing activist, former comedian Dick Gregory, compared the Bush administration and black conservatives to Nazis wearing swastikas, according to a report on CNSNews.com. Gregory also launched into a rant against the U.S., calling it "the most dishonest, ungodly . . . nation that ever existed in the history of the planet."

Haiti: American Going Home to Run for President

2005-08-21T13:06:00.000-05:00

The Christian Science Monitor has a story on Dumarsais Simeus, an American businessman born in Haiti, who is returning to run for president of his native country. Simeus, of illiterate peasant stock, came to the U.S., earned an MBA, and rose to be CEO of food giant Beatrice Foods.

Today he runs one of the biggest black-owned companies in America, but he thinks Haiti needs him more. He will face numerous roadblocks, however, in his run for president of Haiti. Even if he overcomes constitutional hurdles, he has no political experience and no political base in Haiti. It's not even certain that elections will be held in November as scheduled. Still, Simeus says that taking charge of a failing, bankrupt country requires the same skills as building up a successful business.

MD: Democratic Candidate Welcomes Illegal Aliens

2005-08-21T12:57:00.000-05:00

The Washington Times' "Insider Politics" blog reports that a leading Democratic candidate for governor of Maryland, Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan, welcomed illegal aliens to his state. He said "we should be an open and welcoming community" to criminals who violate immigration laws.

Duncan's welcome mat for law-breakers was in sharp contrast to the reaction of two Democratic governors--Janet Napolitano of Arizona and Bill Richardson of New Mexico--who have taken a tough line on illegal immigration recently.

NJ: Hillary & Giuliani Lead 2008 Nomination Race

2005-08-20T21:44:00.000-05:00

A new Strategic Vision poll of New Jersey voters indicates that N.Y. Senator Hillary Clinton and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani are the runaway leaders for their parties' 2008 presidential nomination in that state. Among Democrats, Clinton polls 42% with John Kerry and Al Gore far behind at 10% each. Republicans go 40% for Giuliani and 24% for Arizona Senator John McCain. No on else in either party breaks the 10% barrier.

US: Most Unpopular Senators are Republicans

2005-08-20T21:40:00.000-05:00

Survey USA is just out with approval/disapproval ratings for all 100 U.S. Senators. The two most popular, ranked by net approval rating, are Maine's Republican Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. Arizona's John McCain ranks 4th, but the rest of the top ten are Democrats.

Meanwhile, Republicans occupy most of the "bottom ten" slots. The least popular Senator in the country is Rick Santorum (PA), with a net -4% rating, and right down there with him are 6 other Republicans among the worst 10. They include conservative Tom Coburn (OK) and two renegades from Ohio, George Voinovich and Mike DeWine.

Among Senators up for re-election next year, the most vulnerable based on their approval ratings would seem to be Santorum and Conrad Burns (MT) among Republicans, and Democrats Mark Dayton (MN) who is retiring, and Debbie Stabenow (MI).

MD: Ehrlich Uses Talk Radio for End Run Around Liberal Newspapers

2005-08-20T21:32:00.000-05:00

David Wissings's Hedgehog Report has a great article on the way Maryland's Republican Governor, Bob Ehrlich, uses the conservative talk-radio station WBAL to get his message to voters without having it distorted by the liberal print media. Previously, the liberal Washington Post and Baltimore Sun had a virtual monopoly on major news reporting in Maryland, and neither paper was kind to Republicans.

But now WBAL offers Ehrlich and other Republicans a forum to reach voters directly and avoid the distortions inherent in relying on liberal-dominated newspapers. Needless to say, Maryland Democrats don't like this competition in political reporting and they whine constantly about WBAL.

US: Begala Says U.S. Was Wrong to Oppose Communists in Vietnam

2005-08-20T21:23:00.000-05:00

If voters need a reminder that liberal Democrats are soft on national defense, Paul Begala provided a classic one in a recent column on TPMCafe.com. The Democratic operative says the left was correct in opposing American resistance to Communist aggression in Vietnam. Begala even said it was "unjust" to fight against the spread of a totalitarian regime in Vietnam.

When a leader of the Democratic party calls resistance to tyranny "unjust," it's no surprise that the majority of American voters continues to think it unwise to entrust the defense of America to the Democrats. It would be far better for their party if the many Democrats who supported--and still support--the liberation of Iraq would speak out and reject the defeatism of left-wing ideologues like Paul Begala.

FL: Republicans Still Trying to Head Off Harris Nomination

2005-08-20T19:35:00.000-05:00

The Sarasota Herald Tribune reports that state and national Republican leaders are still trying to prevent Rep. Katherine Harris from being their candidate against incumbent Democratic Senator Bill Nelson. Their latest would-be recruit is former Congressman and current talk show host Joe Scarborough. He says he will listen to their pitch but he's not eager to battle Harris, who has a massive lead for the Republican nomination.

LA: Democrats Planning Fake Web Site?

2005-08-20T16:57:00.000-05:00

A secret memo to Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco's communications director suggests that Democrats should set up an anonymous web site to push their partisan message. The site would pretend to be run by some "non-partisan do-gooder group," according to the memo written by former journalist John Copes.

The Baton Rouge Advocate says that Louisiana Democrats have become concerned that Republicans are increasingly effective using the internet to spread their message in the state. The fake web site would be one possible Democratic response, the memo said.

Germany: Center-Right Parties Maintain Lead

2005-08-20T16:45:00.000-05:00

The latest batch of polls in Germany's upcoming general election show the center-right Christian Democratic Union and its probable government partner, the free-market Free Democratic Party, slightly increasing their lead over the parties of the left.

Four polls released August 16-19 give the CDU 42.3%, the FDP 7.6%, the governing Social Democratic Party a miserable 29%, the Greens 8%, and the former Communists 9.6%. If these results hold, the CDU and FDP together would have 52% of the seats in a new parliament versus 49% in the outgoing Bundestag. The SPD-Green coalition would have 38%, and the far left 10%.

IA: Condoleezza Rice Leads 2008 GOP Race

2005-08-17T22:46:00.000-05:00

A Victory Enterprises poll reported in the Quad City Times shows U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice a surprisingly strong first among Iowa Republicans' preferences for president in 2008. Rice polled 30% to 16% for Arizona Senator John McCain and 15% for ex-New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Asked what should be the Number One priority of the federal government, 41% of the Republicans said fighting terrorism, 14% cutting the size of government, 12% improving the nation's moral climate, and 9% improving schools.

WA: Cantwell Leads Two Republicans for Senate

2005-08-17T22:39:00.000-05:00

Washington state's incumbent Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell runs well ahead of two potential Republicans in her quest for re-election next year. The Rasmussen Poll says that Cantwell leads state GOP chairman Chris Vance by 57%-32% and former Congressman Rick White by 56%-33%.

WA: Cantwell Leading But Not Safe in 2006 Senate Race

2005-08-15T21:37:00.000-05:00

Results of a new Republican poll discussed in The Hill newspaper show that Washington's liberal Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell is ahead of her presumed Republican challenger by 46% to 38%. This is a respectable lead, but any time an incumbent polls below the 50% level it's a bad sign.

The strongest Republican candidate, 2004 gubernatorial nominee Dino Rossi, declined to run for the Senate, and MIke McGavick, currently CEO of Safeco, stepped in to fill the gap. Assuming that he defeats any primary opposition next year, he will have the financial resources to give Cantwell a strong challenge.

CA: Sacramento Bee on Lew Uhler, Giant Among Conservatives

2005-08-15T09:47:00.000-05:00

The Sacramento Bee has a long article on Lew Uhler, head of the National Tax Limitation Committee and one of the country's most influential conservatives. Uhler served under governor Ronald Reagan, was a key player in getting tax limitation passed in California, and helped lead the successful fight for legislative term limits in that state.

Of course he draws sharp criticism from left-wing ideologues, but the Bee story balances that with strong praise from conservatives like Milton Friedman. Currently, Uhler is helping Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger push for Proposition 75, which would protect union members from having their dues money used for political purposes without their consent.

WA: GOP Grumbles at Minority Status in Legislature

2005-08-14T14:48:00.000-05:00

Washington state's capital city newspaper, The Olympian, has an interesting article about how Republicans are adjusting to minority status in the legislature after being tied or in control since 1994. In the state Senate, the Republican leader is a moderate even though the caucus is dominantly conservative, and this has led to grumbling in the ranks.

In the state House, the minority leader was actually deposed in a caucus coup because he did not offer tough enough opposition to the liberal Democratic majority's huge tax increase. Republicans hope that a voter backlash against the tax hike--and the disputed gubernatorial election--will put them back in the majority in November 2006.

SC: Sanford Solid Favorite for 2006 Re-Election

2005-08-14T14:22:00.000-05:00

The Rasmussen Poll gives South Carolina's Republican Governor Mark Sanford a wide lead over two potential Democratic candidates in 2006. Sanford has a 52%-31% margin over Florence Mayor Frank Willis and a 52%-30% lead over State Sen. Tommy Moore.

CO: Republican Governor's Race May Get More Crowded

2005-08-14T13:39:00.000-05:00

Two people are already in the Republican primary race for governor of Colorado next year, and the field may get even more crowded. So far, Congressman Bob Beauprez faces former University of Denver head Marc Holtzman, and both expect to wage well-financed campaigns.

Former Congressman Scott McInnis says he might run also, and now former U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell says he is thinking of entering the race. Campbell, a member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe, says he enjoys private life but is being encouraged by good polling numbers in the gubernatorial primary, the Rocky Mountain News says.

France: More Problems for the Poor Old French Language

2005-08-14T13:18:00.000-05:00

The Christian Science Monitor reports that 16 of France's 26 largest companies use English as their official working language--and 9 of them don't use French at all. A French testing service says that not knowing English today is equivalent of not knowing how to read or write 50 years ago.

Even the French postal service is having its executives learn English so they can communicate at international meetings where people from around the world use English as their universal language.

NY: Hillary Should Fear Pirro's Challenge, Writer Says

2005-08-14T13:09:00.000-05:00

Writing in the Washington Times, Tony Blankley warns that New York's Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton should be worried about her 2006 Republican challenger, District Attorney Jeanine Pirro. Currently leading Pirro by 63%-29%, Clinton has "nowhere to go but down," according to Blankley.

He says that her greatest problem will be the tendency for a big leader to "play it safe," leaving the opposing candidate to make news by waging an aggressive campaign. The result, Blakley predicts, will be a declining Clinton margin and a possibly embarrasing "narrow" victory in the vicinity of 55%-45%, which would seriously tarnish Clinton's presidential ambitions.

US: Hate Speech From the Left: Belafonte Compares Bush to Hitler

2005-08-14T13:02:00.000-05:00

Left-wing singer Harry Belafonte scoffed at the number of blacks serving in powerful positions in the Bush administration by telling a press conference that "Hitler had a lot of Jews high up in the hierarchy of the Third Reich." Belafonte's rant was not only hateful, but wrong, according to Bryan Rigg, author of Hitler's Jewish Soldiers, the book Belafonte was apparently referring to.

NH: McCain Leads 2008 Poll, But Without Giuliani On Ballot

2005-08-13T21:17:00.000-05:00

The American Research Group has begun to release polls on the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, but their claim that Arizona Senator John McCain is far ahead among New Hampshire Republicans is essentially bogus. For some reason known best to itself, ARG did not include former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani on their survey ballot.

They give McCain 39%, former U.S. House Speaker New Gingrich 14%, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney 8%, and a few others a few percentage points each. If Giuliani had been included, he would certainly have been first or second, as he has been in several other state polls of Republican voters for 2008. The same is true for another ARG poll, which shows McCain far ahead of Mitt Romney in Massachusetts, but without including Giuliani.

MI: Republicans Lose Strongest Governor Candidate

2005-08-13T21:06:00.000-05:00

Republican hopes of defeating Michigan's Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm in 2006 took a nosedive when Congresswoman Candice Miller said she would run for re-election rather than for governor. An EPIC/MRA poll in the Detroit Free Press had Miller almost even with Granholm (45% to 47%).

With Miller out of the race, the almost-certain Republican nominee is Amway heir Dick DeVos, who trails Granholm in the same poll by a sizeable 36%-56% deficit. If Miller had stayed in the Republican primary, she would have been heavily favored over DeVos by 43% to 29%. Two other candidates trailed far behind.

Germany: Latest Election Polls Show CDU Leading

2005-08-13T13:02:00.000-05:00

A summary of the latest polls on the September 18th German parliamentary election show the opposition CDU well ahead but short of a majority. Five polls released August 9-12 show these average results: the center-right Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union 42%, the Socialists (SPD) 28.6%, the Green Party 8.2%, the free-market Free Democratic Party 7.2%, and the new Left coalition of former Communists and left-wing Socialists 10.6%.

Since Germany uses a strict proportional representation formula to assign parliamentary seats (half elected directly and half from national party lists), the CDU and FDP would have 51% of the seats if these poll ratings hold up. The SPD-Green ("Red-Green coalition) would have 38%, and 11% of the seats would go to the Left coalition, which has pledged not to cooperate with the SPD because it is not left-wing enough.

However, if the CDU and FDP combined total falls below 50% the result might be a "grand coalition" of CDU and SPD, leaving the minor parties of left and right out in the cold.

US: Pro-Abortion Group Forced to Drop Anti-Roberts Ad

2005-08-13T12:38:00.000-05:00

The pro-abortion rights group NARAL thought it could rally left-wing opposition against Judge John Roberts' nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court with a smear ad accusing him of approving violence against abortion mills. But, as even the N.Y. Times and Washington Post have had to report, the ad was too outrageous even for many liberal Democrats.

One Democratic senator, Mary Landrieu (LA), has already said she is inclined to vote for Roberts, and others are complaining that Roberts is "too nice" for them to demonize believably. Others seem to conclude that his confirmation is likely anyway, so fighting hard against his confirmation would serve no useful purpose.

NH: Judge Leaves Towns Helpless Against Illegal Immigrants

2005-08-13T12:23:00.000-05:00

Frustrated with the federal government's inability or unwillingness to act against known illegal immigrants, some New Hampshire towns began to charge them with criminal tresspass. But a New York Times story says that a judge has ruled that the towns may not arrest the illegal immigrants even though they are openly and obviously breaking the law.

The judge said that Congress had made it clear that the federal government intends to assert exclusive jurisdiction over immigration, and therefore states and municipalities may not act in that area of law. Since the federal authorities apparently have no intention of arresting illegal immigrants, this ruling leaves local governments helpless against this category of crime.

DC: Republican RINOs Join Liberal Democrats to Oppose ANWR

2005-08-11T18:06:00.000-05:00

The Anchorage Daily News reports that two dozen RINO (Republican in Name Only) congressmen have joined liberal Democrats in their effort to keep the U.S. dependent on imported foreign oil. The 24 renegades all oppose using the congressional budget reconciliation process to gain approval for oil drilling on a tiny sliver of the vast Alaska National Wildlife Refuge.

The ANWR drilling plan would help reduce American dependence on Middle Eastern oil imports, but liberal Democrats have fought doggedly to keep the U.S. vulnerable to possibly interruption of Mideast imports. Now these 24 Republicans (including committee chairs Boehlert of NY, Sensenbrenner of WI, and Davis of VA) have joined forces with the liberals to oppose American energy independence.

US: Republican Governors Vs. Public Sector Unions

2005-08-11T18:00:00.000-05:00

Recognizing that public sector union bosses spend massive amounts of their members' dues on political activities many members disapprove of, some Republican governors are trying to weaken the political power of these unions. The Wall Street Journal reports that governors Roy Blunt of Missouri, Mitch Daniels of Indiana, and Robert Ehrlich of Maryland, have all taken recent steps to rein in public employee unions.

Ehrlich suspended a pay raise that the previous liberal Democratic governor had given to public employees, while Daniels and Blunt have ended collective bargaining privileges for the public sector unions in their states. Meantime, California's Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has been trying to get voters to approve a proposal that would require union bosses to get the consent of their members before spending dues money on political activities.

Germany: Socialists Behind But Gaining Ground

2005-08-11T15:54:00.000-05:00

A New York Times story says that Germany's socialist Chancellor, Gerhard Shroeder, is now preferred over Christian Democratic Union leader Angela Merkel in a personal head-to-head matchup. Shroeder leads Merkel 48%-39%.

However, voters choose a party, not an individual, in Germany's Bundestag elections and the polls still show the opposition CDU well ahead of the socialist SPD government by a double-digit margin. The CDU edge has dropped somewhat, though, over the last few weeks, possibly hinting at a closer than expected election.

GA: Democratic Legislator Switches Parties

2005-08-11T15:49:00.000-05:00

Georgia Republicans will have a 100-80 majority in the state House when Democratic State Rep. Glen Morris switches parties today. Six other House Democrats switched last year and four Democratic state senators defected after the 2002 election.

Morris, who was narrowly re-elected to a fourth term in 2004, said he wanted to see how Republicans performed in the majority after their historic takeover of the House this year, the Atlanta Constitution said. He was apparently satisfied enough to become a Republican himself.

CA: Teachers' Union Drops Effort to Raise Property Taxes

2005-08-07T20:49:00.000-05:00

Facing tough opposition from business groups, the California teachers' union said it was abandoning a $2-million petition drive to put a property tax increase measure on the 2006 primary election ballot. According to the Sacramento Bee, the union is already financially stretched trying to defeat Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's ballot measures that would make it easier to deny lifetime tenure to incompetent teachers and curb union control of members' dues money.

AK: Republican Senate Leader Target of Recall Effort

2005-08-07T20:43:00.000-05:00

Alaska's Senate president, Republican Ben Stevens, is the target of a recall effort pushed by something called the "Republican Moderate Party" and the local police union. They have a variety of reasons for wanting to oust Stevens (the son of U.S. Senator Ted Stevens), but one sore point with the union is that Stevens tried to reform Alaska's public employee pension system in the last legislative session.

There is no indication yet whether the anti-Stevens groups will gather enough signatures to put the senator on the ballot for a recall attempt. The Anchorage Daily News has the details.

GA: Giuliani, McCain, Clinton ahead for 2008

2005-08-07T19:31:00.000-05:00

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has a substantial lead for the 2008 presidential nomination among Georgia Republicans, according to Strategic Vision. Giuliani led Arizona Senator John McCain, 26% to 19%, with Tennessee Senator Bill Frist and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich tied for third at 9% and Virginia's Senator George Allen coming in at 6%. Among Georgia Democrats it was Sen. Hillary Clinton 33%, Al Gore 15%, and Sen. John Kerry 11%.

NV: Renegade Republican May Run for Governor as Independent

2005-08-06T19:46:00.000-05:00

Multi-millionaire Nevade media executive Jim Rogers, who has been widely mentioned as a candidate for governor in 2006, said he was switching his party registration from Republican to non-partisan and that if he did run next year it would be as an independent. The Las Vegas Sun reported that Rogers has given sizeable contributions to Democratic candidates.

He is also extremely critical of the leading Republican candidate for governor, Congressman James Gibbons, for being too conservative. Political observers disagreed about whether Rogers would draw more votes from Republicans or Democrats if he entered the 2006 campaign.

NJ: Corzine Gave $470,000 to Union Boss Girlfriend

2005-08-06T19:41:00.000-05:00

U.S. Senator Jon Corzine, the Democratic candidate for governor of New Jersey, forgave a $470,000 loan to his former girlfriend, the president of a Communications Workers of America local union that includes 9,000 New Jersey state employees.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, if he were elected governor, Corzine would be responsible for approving labor contracts with the state employees' unions. Voters might wonder whether the CWA endorsement of Corzine's candidacy for the Senate in 2000 and for governor this year had anything to do with the large gift to the union local president.

Brazil: Left-Wing Government Mired in Scandal

2005-08-06T18:31:00.000-05:00

When a coalition of seven left-of-center parties elected Luíz Inacio Lula da Silva as Brazil's president in 2002, it was because he promised to clean up the country's political culture of corruption and lessen the income gap between rich and poor. But now the economic promises of Lula's regime have been overshadowed by growing accusations of vote-buying and other corrupt behavior.

The Christian Science Monitor reports that there is even a "corruption reality show" on Brazilian TV. It feeds the voters a daily diet of revelations about Lula's government buying votes in Congress, using government-run enterprises to make loans to the ruling Workers' Party, etc. The president himself is not accused of personal corruption, but 78% of the voters think his administration is corrupt.

Europe: Anti-French Sentiment Growing in Eastern Europe

2005-08-06T18:21:00.000-05:00

A report from Geneva in the Washington Times says that Central and Eastern Europeans are increasingly rejecting French influence in the EU and regard the U.S. as "the big winner of the Cold War and the most influential power in the world." One Czech think-tank leader even said "we tend to blame the French for everything."

The rejection of French policy even shows up in the use of language. Among East and Central Europeans working with the EU, 62% speak English, 48% German, and only 7% French. Negotiations for expanding EU membership to the former Russian satellites were conducted in English only, according to the Times.

FL: Way Now Clear for Katherine Harris to Win Senate Nomination

2005-08-04T19:50:00.000-05:00

The Orlando Sentinel reports that Florida's House Speaker Allan Bense will resist pleas from state and national Republican leaders to run for the U.S. Senate next year. This leaves Rep. Katherine Harris as the virtually certain Republican nominee against incumbent Democratic Senator Bill Nelson.

Polls have shown Nelson consistently ahead of Harris, who is a strongly polarizing figure in Florida politics. Democrats are especially resentful of her successful efforts to get a fair vote count for Florida's electoral votes in the 2000 presidential election, which put President Bush in the White House.

Australia: Millionaire Funds Left-Wing Internet Attack on Howard

2005-08-04T19:45:00.000-05:00

In a move patterned after left-wing billionaire George Soros's attempt to buy the presidency for John Kerry in 2004, a left-wing Australian millionaire is funding a new web site aimed at deposing conservative prime minister John Howard. The creators of the site called "GetUp!" admit that they are following the pattern of MoveOn.Org in the U.S., according to a story at CNSNews.com.

Like American liberals, the left in Australia is depressed and demoralized because the conservative governing coalition now controls both houses of the Australian parliament for the first time in 25 years. Howard's opponents, like George Bush's in the U.S., are especially disgusted at the overthrow of Iraq's socialist Baath Party dictatorship and the liberation of 25 million Muslims.

GA: Republican Governor Still Ahead for 2006

2005-08-04T19:27:00.000-05:00

Georgia's Republican Governor Sonny Perdue is in good shape for re-election next year, a Strategic Vision poll says. Perdue runs ahead of the two leading Democratic candidates, Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor (by 52%-40%) and Secretary of State Cathy Cox (by 51%-45%).

Furthermore, Perdue has a solid 53%-37% job approval figure--not outstanding, but above the level at which an incumbent should begin to worry. Former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed, a Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 2006, has a roughly similar approval rating.

VA: Kilgore Leads Kaine By 6%

2005-08-04T19:21:00.000-05:00

Republican Jerry Kilgore maintains a steady 6-point lead over Democratic candidate Tim Kaine in the Virginia governor's race, according to the Rasmussen poll. The 45%-39% Kilgore advantage has remained essentially the same for three months in this poll.

And among those who say they are certain to vote, Kilgore leads by 11%. This is a sharply different result from another recent poll which had the race dead even.

US: McCain & Giuliani Beat Hillary & Kerry for 2008

2005-08-04T16:56:00.000-05:00

The two leading potential Republican presidential candidates for 2008 both are ahead of the two leading potential Democratic candidates, the Gallup Poll says. John McCain and Rudy Giuliani would each defeat Hillary Clinton in 2008 by a 50%-45% margin, and they would each defeat John Kerry by 54% to 41%, the poll reported.

When asked how they viewed the four potential candidates, voters gave Giuliani a 64%-19% favorable rating, by far the best of the bunch. McCain had a 51%-22% net favorable rating, Clinton was weaker at 53%-43% favorable, and Kerry actually had a 48% unfavorable rating, according to the Washington Times.

OR: Kulongoski Losing Support from Fellow Democrats

2005-08-01T18:55:00.000-05:00

The Portland Oregonian says that Democratic Governor Ted Kulongoski has alienated many in his own party and may not even run for re-election next year. If he does, he will face challengers from both parties.

Republicans who are considering the race include Kevin Mannix (who the governor beat in 2002) and Ron Saxton (who lost in the 2002 Republican primary). Meantime, a Democratic county commission has already announced for 2006 and a state senator is thinking of jumping into the primary as well. The upshot is that Kulongoski is among the most vulnerable governors going into next year's campaign.

NJ: Hispanic Journalists Put Corzine on Spot

2005-08-01T18:48:00.000-05:00

A group of New Jersey Hispanic journalists plan to ask Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jon Corzine who he would appoint to fill his U.S. Senate seat if he is elected governor this fall. According to the Jersey Journal, if Corzine does not commit to appointing Congressman Robert Menendez, the Hispanic journalists will support Republican Doug Forrester for governor.

US: Liberals Fear Federalist Society Influence

2005-08-01T13:39:00.000-05:00

A New York Times story profiles the Federalist Society and describes the intense fear liberals have of the Society's prestigious position in the American legal community. Ralph Neas of the left-wing "People for the American Way" even said that mere membership in the Federalist Society was enough to cast suspicion on a judicial nominee.

Despite McCarthyite smears by people such as Neas, the Federalist Society's members have seen their influence rise as conservative ranks grow in the legal profession. About one-fourth of President Bush's early judicial appointments were recommended by Society members, the Times article says.

US: Helen Thomas Angry Her Anti-Cheney Rant Was Published

2005-07-31T21:26:00.000-05:00

In a classic case of a reporter not being able to take what she dishes out, left-wing "journalist" Helen Thomas is angry that her rant against Vice President Cheney was made public. Last week she said that she would kill herself if Cheney ran for president because the country doesn't need "one more liar."

The Hill newspaper published Thomas's biased remarks, assuming they were made "on the record," but she expressed outrage and said "I'll never talk to a reporter again," according to the Drudge Report. Thomas's left-wing bias has long been a target of scornful derision in Washington, and now she has made herself look ridiculous twice in less than a week--a record even for her.

AL: Republican Leaders Back Tax-Raising Governor

2005-07-31T21:14:00.000-05:00

A poll of Alabama Republican state executive committee members by the Birmingham News shows lopsided support for the re-election of incumbent Governor Bob Riley. Despite having pushed hard for a failed state tax increase in 2003, Riley outpolled his likely primary opponent, former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore, by 115-34 among committee members who replied to the survey.

Many of the pro-Riley committee members criticized Moore's defiance of a court order to remove the Ten Commandments from his courtroom. The pro-Moore members generally criticized Riley's tax increase.

VA: Democrat Praises, Republican Opposes Higher Taxes & Spending

2005-07-31T21:07:00.000-05:00

The battle line is clearly drawn for Virginia voters in this fall's election for governor. According to the Roanoke Times, Democrat Tim Kaine is touring the state praising last year's $1.5-billion tax hike and the expansion of government spending that it makes possible.

Meanwhile, Republican candidate Jerry Kilgore criticizes the tax hike as he did last year and brands Kaine as a typical big-government liberal. The independent candidate for governor, renegade Republican Russ Potts, joins Kaine in supporting the tax hike.

US: As Law Clerk, John Roberts Was Bravely Conservative

2005-07-31T12:05:00.000-05:00

As a young law clerk for the U.S. Supreme Court, John Roberts was a solid conservative--a brave thing to be in an almost all-liberal group of clerks. That's the picture the New York Times paints, based upon interviews with more than a dozen people who clerked with Roberts 25 years ago.

The article details some of Roberts's work for his mentor Justice Rehnquist, at a time when the court was much more liberal than it is today. According to the other clerks' testimony, Roberts was low-key and friendly, while many of the liberal clerks were intolerant and pushing a political agenda.

US: Does Eminent Domain Apply to Supreme Court Justices?

2005-07-30T16:51:00.000-05:00

Two justices of the U.S. Supreme Court who voted for the destruction of private property rights in the Kelo v. New London case are themselves now targets of potential eminent domain seizures. The Washington Times reports that New Hampshire Libertarian party members want the town of Plainfield to confiscate Justice Stephen Breyer's vacation home and turn it into "Constitution Park."

They are gathering signatures to ask the town government next spring to apply Breyer's Kelo ruling to his own property. This follows a similar effort earlier this month to get the town of Weare, N.H. to seize Justice David Souter's home for construction of a "Lost Liberty Hotel." How officials of the two towns respond to the proposals will determine whether judges are subject to the same loss of property rights they imposed on private citizens.

US: Liberal Columnist Bemoans Union Movement's Decline

2005-07-30T16:41:00.000-05:00

Poor old E.J. Dionne, one of the most cogent liberal columnists in the country, can't figure out whether the developing split in the union movement is good or bad. In a Washington Post column, Dionne remarks on the irony of AFL-CIO president John Sweeney, who won his position as an activist insurgent 10 years ago, now being blasted by today's insurgents as an old fogy.

Dionne praises Sweeney's ability to turn the labor union movement into a slavish arm of the Democratic party, piling up 2-1 majorities for John Kerry in Michigan and Pennsylvania that more than offset President Bush's lead among non-union voters. He admits that he and many other liberal observers don't know whether the ultimate result of the current fracturing of the AFL-CIO will weaken or reinvigorate the union movement.

NM: Democratic Senator In Trouble With Law

2005-07-30T12:28:00.000-05:00

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Democratic State Senator John Grubesic has his second recent run-in with the police over reports of his dangerous driving. In March he was fined for rolling his SUV over after drinking at a downtown bar.

This time he reportedly nearly hit two neighbor children and then loudly cursed police when they came to his house to get his side of the incident. Numerous reader comments on the newspaper's web site demanded that Grubesic resign as state senator.

TX: First Democrat Announces for Governor

2005-07-30T12:14:00.000-05:00

Former Democratic Congressman Chris Bell of Houston became the first Democrat to announce for governor of Texas. Bell, who is best known for filing ethics complaints against Tom DeLay, has had only mixed luck in his various runs for public office, according to the Houston Chronicle.

He was elected city councilman in Houston but lost a race for mayor in 2001, was elected to Congress but lost his try for re-election in the 2004 Democratic primary. Furthermore, the last time any Democrat won a statewide race in Texas was 11 years ago. Republican Governor Rick Perry has nearly $9 million in the bank; his primary challenger, Comptroller Carole Stayhorn, has $7 million; and Bell currently has less than $200,000.

LA: Republians Look for Gains at State Level

2005-07-30T09:50:00.000-05:00

Political commentator John Maginnis's latest column (courtesy of BayouBuzz.Com) says that Louisiana Republicans are working for substantial gains in the 2007 statewide and legislative races. Term limits will produce a larger than usual number of open seats in the Louisiana house and senate. Newly-elected U.S. Senator David Vitter is actively urging some Democratic legislators to switch parties and is trying to build up a $3-million "GOP PAC" fund for the 2007 elections.

Democrats currently hold all state government offices and two-thirds of the legislature, but Maginnis points out that Texas Democrats had virtually the same monopoly in 1992--and now Republicans hold every single state office and solid legislative majorities. Could Louisiana be next?

DC: Washington Post Highlights GOP Victories in Congress

2005-07-30T09:40:00.000-05:00

The liberal Washington Post says that last week was a big one for Republicans, who posted several victories in Congress. However, whether this represents progress for conservatives is another matter.

Both houses of Congress passed the energy bill, but it lacks the most essential element--opening a tiny sliver of the vast Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling, which would reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Both houses also passed the transportation bill, but as usual it is stuffed with expensive pork-barrel projects--6,000 of them, to let congressmen shower "goodies" on their constituents.

The Senate did pass, by a 2-1 margin, a bill to protect firearms manufacturers from frivolous lawsuits by greedy trial lawyers. And the best news from last week is House passage of the Central American Free Trade Act, which the President will sign quickly. This bill knocks down Central American tariff barriers to American exports and will also help speed economic development in those countries and strengthen the foundation for strong democratic societies.

US: Liberals Demand Ideological Litmus Test for Supreme Court

2005-07-29T07:11:00.000-05:00

A group of liberal Democratic Senators has set up a rigid ideological litmus test for Supreme Court nominee John Roberts. Speaking in Washington, D.C. yesterday, the Senators demanded that Roberts pre-judge any abortion case that might come before the Court by announcing that he will vote to uphold Roe v. Wade.

Making the litmus-test demand were Democrats Barbara Boxer (CA), Barbara Mikulski (MD), Debbie Stabelow (MI), and Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell (WA). New York's Hillary Clinton was also in the group but was evasive about her position, according to the Washington Times.

LA: Rematch Shaping Up in Louisiana 3rd District

2005-07-29T07:04:00.000-05:00

Last year Republican State Senator Craig Romero ran third in an all-party election for Louisiana's 3rd congressional district. Now he is preparing to run again against incumbent Democrat Charlie Melancon, who defeated GOP candidate Billy Tauzin, Jr., in 2004.

Although Melancon has over $500,000 cash on hand versus Romero's $200,000, the district is fundamentally Republican and national Democrats have put Melancon on their most-endangered list.

DC: Morris Says Bush Brilliant in Judge Roberts Choice

2005-07-29T06:59:00.000-05:00

Bill Clinton's political consultant, Dick Morris, says in a new column that President Bush showed brilliant political sense in nominating Judge John Roberts for the Supreme Court. When Senate Democrats filibustered some of Bush's judicial choices, they by implication approved of those they didn't filibuster, according to Morris.

In picking Roberts for the Supreme Court, the President chose the most conservative judge who had not been filibustered--in fact, Senate Democrats gave him unanimous approval by voice vote. They cannot reverse themselves and filibuster Roberts now, Morris claims.

He also points out that the Roberts nomination puts Hillary Clinton on the spot. If she wants to strengthen her claim to be a "centrist" rather than a left-wing liberal, she will vote for Roberts. But if he later helps to overturn Roe v. Wade, how will Hillary explain her vote to the Democratic party's liberal base? On the other hand, if she is among the few Democratic senators who oppose Roberts, she will brand herself an unrepentant liberal and undo her recent efforts to appear more moderate.

NE: GOP Governor Candidate Proposes 10% Spending Cut

2005-07-28T20:24:00.000-05:00

Dave Nabity, a Republican candidate for governor of Nebraska in 2006, proposed a 10% reduction in state spending and a tax cut. The Lincoln Journal Star reported that Nabity called for performance audits of state government, a citizen review board to look for wasteful spending, and competitive contracting of some state services.

ME: Hot Republican Governor Primary Shaping Up

2005-07-28T19:29:00.000-05:00

Former Republican Congressman David Emery is running for governor of Maine in 2006 as a fiscal conservative. Now he has been joined by the 2002 Republican nominee, Peter Cianchette, who narrowly lost that year to incumbent Democrat John Baldacci by 41%-48%.

Ciancette is also a conservative and supports a constitutional amendment to limit state spending growth and require a super-majority for tax increases. The Portland Press Herald says that several other candidates may also enter the Republican primary, including the former Senate president, the current Senate minority leader, and two other legislators.

GA: Democrat Opposes Plan to Cut Voter Fraud

2005-07-28T19:21:00.000-05:00

Democratic State Senator Robert Brown of Georgia asked the U.S. Justice Department to kill a new state law that is intended to reduce voter fraud by requiring people to show a photo I.D. at the polls. Brown says people should be able to vote without having to prove that they are legally entitled to, which of course would leave the door wide open for massive voter fraud.

According to the Macon Telegraph, Brown claims that the requirement of having a photo ID would put a burden on black and poor voters, despite the fact that the law requires the state to issue such ID cards free of charge.

AZ: Republicans Accuse Democratic Governor of Breaking Promises

2005-07-28T19:16:00.000-05:00

Arizona's Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano negotiated with Republican legislative leaders on a package that included spending increases she wanted and a school-choice plan that Republicans wanted. But after Republicans approved her spending plans, she broke her word and vetoed the education tax-credit bill, legislative leaders say.
Arizona R
Details are in the Arizona Republic. Republicans said the governor's exhibit of bad faith created a climate of distrust and made it almost impossible to believe her in the future.

PA: Democrats Punish Anti-Pay-Raise Legislators

2005-07-28T19:10:00.000-05:00

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the state House Minority Leader, Democrat Bill DeWeese, has fired 15 of his fellow Democrats from their committee leadership posts because they voted against a 16% legislative pay raise. The demotions will cost them about $4000 each per year.

The pay raise, which comes on top of regular yearly cost-of-living increases and makes Pennsylvania legislators the second highest-paid in the U.S., has generated remarkable public outrage. Several movements to "throw the rascals out" or to petition against the raise have sprung up, and at least one lawsuit is claiming that the vote was unconstitutional.

ME: Liberal Judge Says Union Can Force Workers to Pay

2005-07-27T21:13:00.000-05:00

A liberal U.S. District Judge appointed by Bill Clinton gave Maine union bosses a victory over dissenting state employees this week. Twenty state workers had sued to challenge a new state workers' contract that requires them to pay the state employees' union a fee against their will.

Although the case is still proceeding, the judge's decision against issuing a preliminary injunction to block the union charge is a big victory for union power over worker choice. The Kennebec Journal has details.

MA: Governor Romney Switched to Pro-Life Stand

2005-07-27T21:07:00.000-05:00

In yet another indication that he plans a serious run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney publicly took a strong anti-abortion position this week. He criticized Roe v. Wade and said that the individual states, not the Supreme Court, should decide the legality of abortion.

The Boston Globe said that Romney supported the Roe decision as recently as his run for governor in 2002, but he said that his views had been evolving steadily while he has been in office. It is clear that his new position will appeal to social conservatives nationally, provided they believe his change of position is sincere.

IL: Democratic Governor's Problems Have Republicans Lining Up

2005-07-27T21:01:00.000-05:00

The continuing difficulties that plague Illinois's incumbent Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich have Republicans lining up to run for his job. The latest entry is a downstate conservative, State Senator Bill Brady.

The suburban Chicago Daily Herald says that Brady is not much known outside his district, but as the only downstater so far in the race he might draw wide support outside the Chicago area. He is a strong social conservative but plans to run primarily on economic issues that he says will unite Republicans--especially reducing property taxes.

CT: Republican Governor Hugely Popular

2005-07-27T20:54:00.000-05:00

A brand-new Quinnipiac University poll shows Connecticut's Republican Governor, Jodi Rell, riding a huge wave of popularity. She has an almost unbelievable 79% approval rating (vs. 9% disapproval), and ranks high on almost every attribute covered in the poll.

Rell leads the strongest potential Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, 49%-37% in a 2006 matchup, with much larger leads over four other Democrats.

AZ: Democratic Legislator a Suspect in Fraud Probe

2005-07-27T20:47:00.000-05:00

Democratic State Rpresentative Tom Prezelski, Jr. is the suspect in a Tucson, Arizona felony fraud investigation, says the Arizona Daily Star. Prezelski is accused of forging a $10,000 check when his house was facing foreclosure in 2003. He ran unopposed in a heavily Democratic house district in 2004.

AL: Legislature Acts To Protect Property Rights

2005-07-27T20:40:00.000-05:00

Alabama became the latest state to take steps toward repairing the U.S. Supreme Court's attack on 5th Amendment property rights in its Kelo v. New London decision. The state House and Senate both unanimously approved a bill forbidding the condemnation of property for economic development--although "blighted areas" are not protected.

According to legislators quoted in the Birmingham News, Alabama is the first state actually to complete the process of passing property rights legislation since the Kelo decision.

NY: Gov. Pataki Won't Run Again

2005-07-27T20:34:00.000-05:00

New York state Republicans, already looking at slim prospects for 2006, took another blow when Governor George Pataki said he would not run for a fourth term. Pataki has been behind the all-but-certain Democratic candidate, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, in the polls, but he has been gaining recently.

With his announcement, Spitzer becomes a heavy favorite to beat any other possible Republican nominee, including Secretary of State Randy Daniels or billionaire Tom Golisano (who ran previously as an Independent). The New York Times has details on the private meeting at which Pataki made his retirement announcement.

FL: Republicans Trying to Head Off Katherine Harris?

2005-07-26T20:00:00.000-05:00

Democratic Senator Bill Nelson must be smiling as he watches Florida Republicans try to short-circuit Rep. Katherine Harris's campaign for the Senate in 2006. Polls (courtesy of The Hedgehog Report) consistently show that Nelson handily beats Harris in a 2006 matchup, but just as regularly show that she is the runaway leader for the Republican Senate nomination.

The latest attempt to try to block her apparently-certain primary victory is the potential announcement later this week that state House speaker Allan Bense may enter the race. He has been "encouraged" by the White House and local Republican leaders who fear that a Harris nomination will end any chance of beating Nelson next year, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

OH: Democratic Poll Claims DeWine is Vulnerable

2005-07-26T19:52:00.000-05:00

A Feldman Group poll for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee claims that Ohio Republican Senator Mike DeWine is "a vulnerable incumbent." He has a 48%-25% favorability rating--good but not terribly impressive, since an incumbent ought to score over 50% favorable. This is a decline in net favorability since the beginning of the year. The poll did not, however, test DeWine against any potential Democratic candidates.

VA: Bad News for Republicans in New Governor Poll

2005-07-25T12:29:00.000-05:00

A new Mason-Dixon poll of the Virginia governor's race is either a random skewed result or marks a fundamental shift in the momentum of the campaign. Democrat Tim Kaine, who has been anywhere from 5% to 10% behind Republican Jerry Kilgore in recent surveys, now leads by 1%.

And in another ominous sign for Kilgore, he is losing independent voters to renegate Republican Russell Potts, running as an Independent for governor. Potts also drew 8% of Republican voters versus only 5% of Democrats. The Mason-Dixon result is Kaine-38%, Kilgore-37%, Potts-9%.

PA: Good News for Republicans in Latest Governor Poll

2005-07-25T12:22:00.000-05:00

Pennsylvania Republicans got some good news in the latest Rasmussen Poll of that state's 2006 gubernatorial race. Incumbent Democrat Ed Rendell, who has had only modest leads all this year, saw his Republican challengers creep even closer in the new survey.

Rendell leads former Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton by only 46%-42% and Pittsburgh Steelers star Lynn Swann by 47%-41%. Previous polls have shown Rendell with negative job approval ratings everywhere outside the Philadelphia area--usually a serious danger sign for an incumbent.

PA: Voter Outrage Grows Over Legislative Pay Raise

2005-07-20T22:36:00.000-05:00

When Pennsylvania legislators gave themselves a fat pay raise in 1995, the promised that they would never have to do it again, because the law included an automatic yearly cost-of-living boost. But this month the politicians broke their word and jacked up their salaries by another 16%, permanently pegging them at half of a Congressman's pay (although a congressional district is more than 10 times bigger than a Pennsylvania house district).

The result has been intense and widespread voter anger around the state, reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer. One perennial candidate has started a "clean sweep" campaign to defeat every legislator, even those who voted against the pay raise. However, observers question whether the outrage will last until the 2006 primary and general elections. Not a single incumbent lost in 1996 after the previous pay-raise protest.

KS: Debate Over Eminent Domain Coming Up

2005-07-20T22:29:00.000-05:00

The Lawrence Journal-World says that Kansas is heading toward a lively debate over the eminent domain power of municipalities to seize private property. Kansas is one of the few states that allow anyone's property to be forcibly taken by local government and turned over to other private owners for their own profit.

In the wake of national outrage about the U.S. Supreme Court's endorsement of this practice, many states are taking steps to prevent such abuses. Kansas has its own local controversy dating from the late 1990s when 165 people's property was condemned so that the Kansas Speedway could be built for private profit.

AZ: Kyl May Face Strong Democrat in 2006

2005-07-20T22:22:00.000-05:00

Republican Senator John Kyl's chances for re-election next year in Arizona may be getting a bit less robust. The Arizona Republic reports that millionaire Jim Pederson has resigned as Democratic state chairman with the intention of running against Kyl for the Senate.

Pederson has already stepped down from active management of his shopping mall development company and has the money to compete equally with Kyl next year. He has spent millions of his own money to finance other Democrats' campaigns for state office and the legislature, with mixed success.

AR: Rockefeller Drops Out of Governor's Race

2005-07-20T22:15:00.000-05:00

Arkansas Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller revealed that he had a "pre-leukemia" blood disease that would force him to withdraw from the Republican primary for governor next year. This leaves the way clear for former undersecretary of Homeland Security Asa Hutchinson to face Democratic Attorney General Mike Beebe in November 2006, according to the Arkansas News Bureau. The race is regarded as a toss-up currently.

PA: Renegade Ex-Republican to Challenge Rep. Murphy

2005-07-20T16:24:00.000-05:00

Pennsylvania Republican Congressman Tim Murphy, so far easily elected and re-elected in a Democratic-leaning district, may face his toughest battle yet in 2006. Former State Treasurer Barbara Hafer, who became a Democrat after supporting Ed Rendell for governor, will run against Murphy next year. So says PoliticsPa.com, the state's premier political web site.

Hafer switches parties largely because Republican leaders would not support her race for governor in 2002. This year, she tried to run for the Democratic nomination against GOP Senator Rick Santorum, but party leaders forced her out of the race within a couple of days. Having been rejected by both parties for statewide nominations, she apparently has lowered her sights to Congress. More details as the story develops.

NJ: New Poll Says Corzine 48%, Forrester 40%

2005-07-19T20:37:00.000-05:00

A brand-new poll by Strategic Vision (courtesy of RealClearPolitics.com) shows the New Jersey gubernatorial race fairly close, with 48% for liberal Democrat Jon Corzine and 40% for moderate Republican Doug Forrester. This is much closer than a Rasmussen poll a few days ago that showed Corzine with a 15-point lead. The Strategic Vision survey found both candidates about equal in their net favorability rating.

MI: Republican Leaders Encouraging Black Senate Candidate

2005-07-19T20:31:00.000-05:00

In addition to Maryland, Michigan may also see a black Republican candidate run a strong and well-financed race for the U.S. Senate. Republican leaders both in-state and in Washington are anxious to defeat first-term Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow in 2006 before she can cement her hold on the seat.

Although there are three Republicans so far running for their party's nomination, the leadership's pick is Rev. Keith Butler, bishop of a predominately black church in suburban Southfield. They believe he can cut seriously into heavily Democratic Detroit and can raise substantial funds for what is bound to be a tough race against Stabenow, according to an article in the Boothe newspaper chain.

MD: Another Article Highlights Michael Steele

2005-07-19T20:24:00.000-05:00

The Wall Street Journal is the latest national media outlet to highlight Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele's potential run for the Senate. Brendan Miniter discusses the excitement over Steele as a sign of the Republican party's newly vigorous effort to recruit black candidates.

He points out that while Democratics in Congress oppose school choice for poor D.C. families, Republicans have joined the District's black political leadership in supporting school choice. One might add to this the uniform Democratic opposition to personal Social Security accounts, which would benefit black workers more than any other group.

US: Conservative Outcry Helped Head Off Gonzales

2005-07-19T20:16:00.000-05:00

An article in The Hill newspaper indicates that the loud and concerted opposition of many grassroots conservatives groups helped to derail the possible nomination of Alberto Gonzales to the Supreme Court. President Bush may not have liked criticism of his personal friend, but the newspaper quoted one conservative leader as saying that the White House had signalled "message received" on the Gonzales issue.

US: Times Poll Says People Worried About Social Security

2005-07-19T07:50:00.000-05:00

A survey by the liberal New York Times lends support to Republican calls for strengthening Social Security to make it a better deal for American workers. According to the poll, 66% say the future of Social Security matters "a lot" to them, but only 31% think the system will be able to pay the retirement benefits they expect, versus 51% who think it will not be able to.

This points up one of the prime reasons the President is pushing for personal accounts that will let American workers own at least a part of their Social Security retirement fund and protect it from political tinkering. However, Republicans have their work cut out for them in convincing voters: 48% say the Democrats will make better decisions about Social Security; only 31% say Republicans will.

US: American Spectator Analysis of Senate Races

2005-07-18T20:42:00.000-05:00

Patrick Hynes has a very thorough analysis of the 2006 Senate races in the American Spectator. He agrees with Larry Sabato and others that the Democrats have more vulnerable seats than Republicans next year.

Hynes says that Republican Rick Santorum (PA) is the most endangered incumbent, and Lincoln Chafee (RI) is also shaky. Another Republican incumbents, Jim Talent (MO) barely won in 2000 and is potentially vulnerable.

He sees five incumbent Democratic senators on dangerous ground, although several of these depend upon whether a top-flight Republican candidate runs. Maria Cantwell (WA), Kent Conrad (ND), Robert Byrd (WV), Ben Nelson (NE), and Bill Nelson (FL) all will require serious Democratic money to defend.

In the open seats, Republicans will have to work to keep Tennessee, while Democrats must wage a hard fight to defend Maryland and Minnesota.

All told, that makes 7 Democratic seats in some danger to only 4 for Republicans. Furthermore, Hynes weighs the financial resources required in these races and concludes that Republicans can spend more money on offense trying to win Democratic seats, while Democrats must spend more on defense because of the expensive media markets in many of their key states.

WA: Rossi Won't Run for Senate, Disappointing Republicans

2005-07-18T20:01:00.000-05:00

Dashing Republican hopes for unseating incumbent Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell, former gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi said he definitely will not enter the 2006 Senate race in Washington state. Although the Republican state chairman told the Seattle Times that several very strong candidates could now come forward, Rossi was the only potential challenger who ran ahead of Cantwell in the polls.

NJ: Both Candidates Vow to Protect Property Rights

2005-07-18T19:54:00.000-05:00

Both candidates for governor of New Jersey, Republican Doug Forrester and Democrat Jon Corzine, pledged to protect the state's homeowners against the U.S. Supreme Court's anti-property-rights decision in Kelo v. New London. Corzine said he would limit eminent domain powers to "rare and exceptional" cases, and Forrester promised to appoint a task force on the subject.

The Asbury Park Press said that New Jersey has recently been the site of several municipal property-grabs in coastal towns.

NJ: Corzine Widens Lead in Governor Race

2005-07-18T19:43:00.000-05:00

Bad news for Republicans in the Rasmussen Report's latest poll on the New Jersey governor's race. Democrat Jon Corzine has widened his lead over Republican Doug Forrester to a substantial 50%-38% margin. In June, Corzine was only 7% ahead.

Corzine has gained ground among both conservatives and liberals. However, one ray of hope for Forrester is that his favorable to unfavorable rating (36%-29%) is slightly higher than Corzine's (40%-35%).

MD: Michael Steele Draws National Attention

2005-07-18T19:38:00.000-05:00

Could Maryland's Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele could become an instant national figure if he wins the 2006 Senate election? It would seem so, if the Los Angeles Times is any indication. Although Steele has not even said he will run for the Senate, the Times had a long and (surprisingly) not unfavorable story about him on Sunday.

Steele has been working hard to build a network of contacts among the state's normally heavily Democratic black community. One African-American minister said that if Steele "runs on a strong moral values platform" he could do well.

VT: Republicans Lining Up to Challenge Sanders for Senate

2005-07-18T19:30:00.000-05:00

The Political State Report says that Republicans are lining up to run against Socialist Congressman Bernie Sanders for the open U.S. Senate seat in Vermont. Political observers and polls agree, however, that Sanders is currently a heavy favorite to win in November 2006.

Nevertheless, at least three candidates are in the race: State Senator Mark Shepard, former Air Force officer Greg Parke (a conservative favorite), and businessman Richard Tarrant. The strongest potential candidate, Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie has made no decision yet, but polls show that even he would be a heavy underdog to Sanders.

US: GOP State Chairmen Want Conservative Justice

2005-07-18T19:23:00.000-05:00

Grassroots groups on the right have often made clear their wish that President Bush should pick a solid conservative instead of moderate Alberto Gonzales for the Supreme Court. Now Republican state chairs are saying essentially the same thing, according to the Washington Times.

Donald Lambro of the Times reports that interviews with GOP chairmen around the country were virtually unanimous in urging the president not to pass up this chance to move the Court to the right. Anything else, they said, would dishearten the party's base supporters.

US: Republicans Outraise Democrats 2-1

2005-07-18T19:10:00.000-05:00

While the Democratic party continues to depend on grotesquely rich left-wing billionaires like international currency manipulator George Soros, the Republican party builds a huge base of small donors. In the latest UPI report, the Republican national committee raised almost $60 million in the first half of the year from donations that averaged about $50 each.

Democrats took in less than half as much, and in the crucial category of cash on hand, the RNC had a crushing 4-1 advantage, with $34 million in the till versus only $9 million for the DNC.

CO: Newcomer Leads Fund-Raising for GOP Governor Race

2005-07-17T20:58:00.000-05:00

Congressman Bob Beauprez, the establishment favorite, has raised $400,000 for his 2006 gubernatorial campaign as of June 30. But in a stunning coup, newcomer Marc Holtzman reported collecting twice as much--$800,000.

Holzman, who developed a large network of Reaganite friends when he worked for the former president in the 1980s, recently stepped down as president of the University of Denver to make the run for governor.