Sincere and heartfelt apologies for the absence of the Wrap last night, as the degree of catastrophic computer failure in my vicinity last night made me yearn for the Luddite days for a few hours.
So, please feel free to welcome back the Wrap with...practically no news as we head into the weekend. Grrr......
MA-Sen: Coakley Big Leader in Special Election Money Chase
As had been hinted a few weeks ago, it is clear that state Attorney General Martha Coakley is emerging as the presumptive frontrunner in the Massachusetts special election to replace the late Senator Edward Kennedy. Coakley was the leading fundraiser for the quarter, compiling over two million dollars in funds since entering the race in August. Michael Capuano is a strong second, having the ability to transfer the million-plus he had on hand from his House account (he also raised $343K on his own). Alan Khazei raised $850K for the quarter, and businessman Steve Pagliuca raised about $200K but spent well over a million. How? Because he self-financed to the tune of $1.8 million. The primary election (all of the above candidates are Democrats) will be held on December 9th. The winner will likely face state legislator Scott Brown, who has raised around $169K for his Senate bid.
IA-Governor: Branstad Leaves College Job, Political Rebirth Ahead?
As expected, former Republican Governor Terry Branstad announced today that he would be leaving his post at the helm of Des Moines University in order to ponder a potential bid for Governor. It has been speculated for months that Branstad, who served as Iowa's Governor from 1983 until 1999, would challenge incumbent Democratic Governor Chet Culver. An early look at the 2010 race by Research 2000 for Daily Kos was released this morning, with Branstad snaring an early five-point lead over the incumbent. Iowa Democrats wasted no time "welcoming" Branstad into the race, launching a website called "Terry Loves Taxes" to remind voters of the bad old days.
CO-Sen/CO-07: As Expected, Frazier Changes 2010 Plans
It was brought up on the Wrap last week, but it was made official yesterday: Republican Ryan Frazier, a city councilman from Aurora, dropped out of the U.S. Senate race in Colorado, instead announcing that he will challenge third-term Democratic Congressman Ed Perlmutter. Frazier already has raised decent money (north of $300K, as far back as June), but he might have an enthusiasm gap: according to ColoradoPols, Frazier's grand announcement yesterday drew about three dozen people, roughly half of whom appeared to be on the campaign payroll.
PA-Gov: Rasmussen Looks At Primaries in Keystone State
On the heels of their much-discussed polling in the U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania (the poll that had Joe Sestak down only four points to Arlen Specter in a Democratic primary), Rasmussen released their numbers on the gubernatorial race, and found an "as expected" result. On the GOP side, Attorney General Tom Corbett is crushing moderate Congressman Jim Gerlach (54-10). On the Democratic side, "undecided" is the clubhouse leader. Among the announced candidates, state Auditor Jack Wagner narrowly leads Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and former Congressman Joe Hoeffel, but the leader only carries 19% of the vote.
IN OTHER NEWS....
- Best wishes for a speedy recovery to WA-09 Democratic Congressman Adam Smith, who is convalescing after suffering a collapsed lung.
- Greatest career for a Republican legislative candidate Ev-ah.
- Rasmussen looks ahead to 2012 and the GOP, and is one of the first pollsters to see a frontrunner--they give Huck a five point edge.
- Michael Bloomberg might wade into Garden State politics, hinting at a possible endorsement. Taegan Goddard thinks it is Chris Daggett, but he could, inteory, endorse any of the three. Could be an interesting wildcard in the last two weeks.