Election Race Diary Roundup (10/12 – 23 Days to Change)

PLEASE NOTE - This is not an open thread and is intended for diaries and discussion of downticket races.

For all the introductory stuff and links to previous diaries in the series, please look below the fold...

This Rescue Diary covers the period from 12:00 Noon, Saturday, 10/11 to 12:00 Noon EDT, Sunday, 10/12

Today's Menu Includes :
33 Diaries Overall

- 11 On House races

- With 11 covering individual Districts in 9 states

- 6 On Senate races

- Representing 4 different states

- 11 On Various election races and ballot issues

- Encompassing Governor, Secretary of State, Local, and more

- 5 General election-related diaries

Follow us for more, come on in............

A few gentle guidelines to keep in mind:

Diary Titles - If you are doing a diary on a candidate or race, please be aware of the standard Daily Kos formatting. For House races, please start your title with the two-digit state abbreviation followed by the district number (example: NC-08: Kissell Rocks Again!). For Senate races, just use state-Sen (example: OK-Sen: Inhofe is Still a Moron). If you're doing a local race, try to use some version of this format. This immensely helps the people sifting through hundreds of diaries to more easily identify appropriate ones and minimizes the chances that we'll miss you (our Miners are almost perfect, but, alas, human after all).

"President-Diary-Free" Zone - We all know who's at the top of the ticket and how important that is. But the Presidential election is getting ample play in all venues and to try to rescue those diaries as well would be overwhelming. At this point, and our aim is to raise the profile of other races that stand to, hopefully, give our new President a better working majority.

"Sarah-Palin-Diary-Free" Zone - Unless it relates directly to one of the appropriate Alaska elections, or directly to another one somehow, we'll be ignoring all SP diaries out of hand.

Volunteers - While we have a pretty full crew on board, this project has always been about the opportunity to contribute and it's my aim to keep that door open for all who would like to be a part of it. If you have the time to spare and are interested, please email me (see my profile) and we'll get in touch with you.

------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an attempt to compile a fairly comprehensive listing of election-related diaries that have recently been posted. Most of them are House or Senate races but there are also some local ones, as well as the occasional 'general info' diary.

For all the introductory stuff and previous diaries in the 2006 series, please see:
Election Race Roundup (11/11 - Final 2006 Edition)

And for this year's previous diaries:
Election Race Diary Roundup (9/17 - 48 Days to Change) (with links to 10 previous diaries from 9/7 to 9/16)
Election Race Diary Roundup (9/27 - 38 Days to Change) (with links to 10 previous diaries from 9/17 to 9/26)
Election Race Diary Roundup (10/7 – FOUR WEEKS TO GO!) (with links to 10 previous diaries from 9/27 to 10/6)
Election Race Diary Roundup (10/8 - 27 Days to Change)
Election Race Diary Roundup (10/9 - 26 Days to Change)
Election Race Diary Roundup (10/10 - 25 Days to Change)
Election Race Diary Roundup (10/11 - 24 Days to Change)

Incredible thanks to all volunteers: Land of Enchantment, ukben, welso, drchelo, randallt, Joy Busey, TruthOfAngels, eeff, Alma, Sylv, Nightprowlkitty, Spedwybabs Turbonerd, cdale777, and Relevant Rhino.

(12:00 Noon, Saturday, 10/11 to 12:00 Noon EDT, Sunday, 10/12):  (33 diaries)

(Alphabetical, starting from U)

***Special Notice***

If you want to be a part of FleetAdmiralJ’s Election Results Day Live Blog project, then check out this diary for more info. Those of us who followed this effort in ’06 will always remember it as an incredible part of an incredible night, and you can be a part of it!

   House (11)

(House-Var) Empowering the Grassroots - Do Your Own Ad Campaign by downwithtyrrany - Blue American and SaysMe.TV has a selection of ten ads (House races) for your review, with a request for funds to help air them.

(VA-05) Pereillo Closes in on Anti-Muslim Bigot Goode by lowkell - Incumbent Virgil Goode (R) was the troglodyte who raised a stink about Keith Ellison, who is a Muslim, being sworn into Congress in January 2007. His Democratic challenger Tom Perriello is now polling in single digits behind the incumbent.

(AL-02, 03, 05) I'm in Alabama and We Have Chance to Turn Blue by alpolitics - The writer wants everyone to realize that they have three very competitive races as this diary points out the focus on turning the congressional delegation that stands at only two Dems and five Repubs into a 4-3 majority for the good guys

(AZ-03) Within Striking Distance by kos - As part of the "crush their spirit" strategy, Orange-to-Blue is championing Democrat Bob Lord in his effort to unseat wingnut favorite John Shadegg.  The polls show that it's not out of the realm of possibility.

(CA-04) McClintock was Endorsed by KKK in 2003 by brownsox - Democrat Charlie Brown is a real upright guy, and has a great shot at taking over the seat of retiring John Doolittle. Now, on top of everything else, it's come out that carpetbagger Repub Tom McClintock was endorsed by the KKK in years gone by, after using a similar endorsement against an opponent in the past.

(CT-04) NY Times on Shays' "Biggest Challenge Ever" by Jim Himes for Congress – Dem Jim Himes' challenge against the lone Repub House member from New England, Chris Shays, is a strong one.  This is a Republican seat which is poised to turn blue.

(CT-04) CT-04: Dem. Jim Himes to debate Rep. Chris Shays by catchlightning - Diarist has the schedule for the debates between Jim Himes (D) and Rep Chris Shays (R).

(GA-01) Bill GIllespie TV Ad by jayskew – Bill Gillespie (D) is challenging 16-year incumbent Repub Jack Kingston.  The 30-second ad ain't half bad!  Check it out.

(MD-06) MD-06: A Beet-Red District is Winnable! by Buzzer - Looking at the Western Maryland counties of Garrett, Allegany, Washington, and Frederick, as well as a tiny slice of Montgomery, all of Carroll, and good chunks northern of Baltimore (county) and Harford, the diarist concludes that this district is now in play. And it's historically about as friendly to Democrats as Sean Hannity!

(NC-09) Remember Harry Taylor?  He's running for Congress in NC-09 by WayBeyondSoccerMom - The unappealing incumbent in a bright red district is Sue Myrick, who first rode into office in the 1994 "Gingrich Revolution" and she takes on a man who became famous for a pointed question posed to a certain unpopular President.

(NM-01) NM-01: Bill Richardson, Martin Heinrich Greet Canvassers by fbihop - Diarist has the story of Governor Bill Richardson cheering on canvasser in NM-01 for Martin Heinrich (D). Heinrich is up against Darren White (R) for this open seat.

   Senate (6)

(GA-Sen) Bomb Obama: An Eyewitness Account of the GA Senate Debate by nancydrew01 – Personal account of the debate between incumbent Saxby Chambliss (R) and Jim Martin (D).

(GA-Sen) Bomb Obama! by kos - The rowdy McPalin crowd atmosphere cropped up at the recent Senate debate between Repub Saxby Chambliss and challenger Jim Martin (D), but the polls can't be pleasing the incumbent or his party.

(GA-Sen) Martin key to starting the Blue South by OdinsEye2k - Saxby Chambliss' (R) behavior as he unseated Senator Max Cleland in 2002 was shameless and despicable. The excitement in Georgia that Democrat Jim Martin is mounting an unexpectedly strong challenge is deeply gratifying.

(MN-Sen) Norm Coleman is a Pinata! by qinkilla - Diarist looks back at the October 10th debate between Al Franken (D), Norm Coleman (R) and Dean Barkley (I). Watching Franken and Barkley take turns using Coleman as a piñata marks this debate as "Must See TV."

(SC-Sen) South Carolina Debates by Inkann 1969 - This short diary has a useful link to a South Carolina Public TV video archive of debates for Senate and House races in the state. And quite a year it is, too. Even Lindsay Graham's challenger, Bob Conley, has polled within single digits!

(TX-Sen) TX-Sen: Dallas Morning News readers tired of Cornyn by CoolOnion - The Dallas Morning News endorses John Cornyn (R) against challenger Rick Noriega (D), but a sampling of the feedback in the paper shows not all folks from Dallas agree.

   Various Races (6)

(Var) Change the Hell to Pay Poll Next Week by  LeftOfYou - A meta-manifesto protesting pitting a Senate candidate from a populous state against House candidates in the weekly Hell to Pay cycle.

(Var)FOLLOWING THE POLLS: The Saturday Edition by Steve Singiser – Your one-stop shop for All-You-Can Eat Downticket and Presidential polling.

(CA-Local) Ginny Mayer seeks election for universal health care by Ginny Mayer - The diarist is running for State Senate in California, and here contrasts her views on health care issues in the Golden State with those of incumbent Shiela Keuhl.

(MI-Local) I'm doing this because I love my wife by AikoAdam - A plea for support to keep the Democratic Party in one of Western Michigan’s few blue counties in business, which could help Dem Fred Johnson in his race against Repub incumbent Peter Hoekstra (MI-02).

(MI-Local) Can you help me out here, please? UPDATED 3X! by MichiganGirl - The Democratic party in a small Michigan county, one that's been hard hit economically, could use some help to raise $1000 to keep their office open through Election Day.  And Daily Kos has stepped up to the plate, and met that goal already.  The diary's full of wonderful pictures and reports of their local activities - one of those delightful on-the-ground diaries.

(OH-SoS) Action Alert: Fox News Attacking Ohio SoS Jennifer Brunner by Ivv - Well presented diary, with pics, detailing the Fox News and Heritage Foundation's attacks on Ohio's Secretary of State. Greg Hart (R) is doing all he can to smear the Secretary and the process.  

   Ballot Initiatives (5)

(CA-Prop 8) An ex wife of a gay American by caliberal – A personal account calling for the defeat of Proposition 8.

(CA-Prop 8) I'm coming out.... by bvljac – Opposition to Prop 8 donation links included.

(CA-Prop 8) Gay small business coming out by mem from Somerville – Illustrates the difficulty of obtaining insurance for same sex couples.

(CA-Prop 8) A Mormon's view of CA Prop (h)8 by mofembot - A cogent statement on the hot ballot item in California.

(CA-Prop 8) For Coming Out Day, How I know that homosexuality is not a CHOICE by Ellinorianne – A personal story and a plea to defeat the effort to unwind marriage equality.

   General (5).

Please come back home. by pinsomniac – The importance of working for downticket races and ballot initiative positions.

Destroying the Republican Ideology - The Biggest Anvil by Bushed but not defeated – A few ideas for commercials  to "throw an anvil" to the Republicans.

I Voted Absentee - How About You? by shawnod – The first to vote in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

I'm Glad I Didn't Chicken Out (Virgin Canvasser) by Stella 4 Obama – Canvassing with Move-On leads to more volunteering.

That's it?  That's all they've got? by Carnacki - As part of the sentiment to not just win, but instead to triumph mightily, next month, the diarist compares the activities of local D & R party entitles planned this fall, and shares a happy story out of Virginia.