Election Race Diary Roundup (10/6 –29 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, Sunday, 10/5 to 12:00 Noon EDT, Monday, 10/6

Today's Menu Includes :
36 Diaries Overall

- 10 On House races

- With 9 covering individual Districts in 8 states

- 9 On Senate races

- Representing 4 different states

- 7 On Various election races and ballot issues

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

- 10 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.

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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 (9/28 - 37 Days to Change)
Election Race Diary Roundup (9/29 - 36 Days to Change)
Election Race Diary Roundup (9/30 – FIVE WEEKS TO GO!)
Election Race Diary Roundup (10/1 - 34 Days to Change)
Election Race Diary Roundup (10/2 - 33 Days to Change)
Election Race Diary Roundup (10/3 - 32 Days to Change)
Election Race Diary Roundup (10/4 - 31 Days to Change)
Election Race Diary Roundup (10/5 - 30 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, Sunday, 10/5 to 12:00 Noon EDT, Monday, 10/6):  (36 diaries)

(Alphabetical, starting from N)

***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 (10)

(House-Var) House Dems Short $14 Million in DCCC Dues by RandySF - The title says it all here. Cough up, Congresscritters!

(NE-02) Battleground Omaha by Dave Sund - Jim Esch (D) is an excellent second-time challenger to Lee Terry (running for his sixth term), and an early Obama supporter.  Last time, he lost by single digits, and this time - because Nebraska allocates one electoral vote per Congressional district - Obama and Esch are providing each other coattails that could turn this Omaha-centered district blue!  Oh yeah, Scott Kleeb for Senate is in the mix, too.

(OH-02) Mean Jean Schmidt Forced To Debate Right After Her Yes Vote On The Wall Street Bailout/Giveaway by downwithtyranny - Incumbent Repub Jean Schmidt will debate Dem candidate Vic Wulsin and independent David Krikorian, tonight. The entry of far right extremist Krikorian may give Wulsin the edge she needs to best Schmidt in this rematch from 2006.

(WV-02) Canvassing and chili cookoff for Obama and Dems by Carnacki – Hopeful account of canvassing for Obama and Anne Barth (WV-02) in West Virginia.

(FL-24) Feeney Apology Remix by T Rex - YouTube video that dissects the halfhearted 'apology' presented by incumbent Repub Tom Feeney for taking bribes from convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The diarist concludes with an appeal for contributions to the Dem challenger, Suzanne Kosmas.

(GA-01) GA-01: Stars Aligned for Bill Gillespie by jayskew - Very favorable coverage for Democrat Bill Gillespie in the major daily newspaper that covers this district.

(IL-10) Walking Glenview for Seals (and for Biss) by Frank Palmer - A view from the trenches in Glenview, Illinois, where Democrat Dan Seals is running in IL-10, and Daniel Biss is running for state representative in the 17th House District.

(IL-18) Personal Dilemma and IL-18 US House Race (with poll) by onanyes - This is the Congressional district that includes Peoria, from which Repub Ray LaHood is retiring. Underfunded Colleen Callahan (D) and Aaron Schock (R) are vying for the open seat.

(LA-06) LA-06: Can YOU Outraise Dick Cheney? by DailyKingFish - A fundraising plea for incumbent Don Cazayoux (D), running against challenger Bill Cassidy (R).

(MI-08) Democrat Bob Alexander Named to Russ Feingold's Progressive Patriot Fund by PhilipMoon - Senator Russ Feingold's Progressive Patriots Fund has identified 10 House challengers in emerging races and Dem Bob Alexander - in a race against Repub incumbent Mike Rogers - is among those 10. Their goal is to raise $50,000 and contribute $5,000 to each of the 10 candidates.

   Senate (9)

(Var-Sen) Politico Says 60 Senate Seats a Strong Possibility w/poll by dweb8231 - This short diary calls attention to Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen's assessment that a 60-Dem Senate (not counting Lieberman, thank you very much!) is a distinct possibility.

(OK-Sen) Where does Oklahoma want to be politically for the next few years? by gypsy – Dem challenger Andrew Rice would be a more effective senator for Oklahoma than incumbent Repub Jim Inhofe.

(OR-Sen) Merkley Progressive Roundup by bob zimway - Diarist has info on the race between Dem challenger Jeff Merkley and Gordon Smith (R).

(MN-Sen) Franken vs. Coleman: First Debate Tonight, 7 PM CT by mmcintee – Although this is too late to remind anyone to watch the debate, be on the look out for analysis, highlights and post debate polling between Al Franken (D) and Norm Coleman (R).

(MN-Sen) Franken done good (UPDATED) by Micburke - Diarist has the debate between Al Franken (D) Norm Coleman (R) and Dean Barkley (I).

(MN-Sen) MN-Sen: Trying My Darndest to Handicap This Thing by Mark27 - Diarist tries to make sense of the race after conflicting poll results in this three-way race between Al Franken (D) Norm Coleman (R) and Dean Barkley (I).

(MN-Sen) Al Franken: "Bring On The Negative Ads" - Videos/Poll by mmcintee - Highlights of the first debate for between the Democratic challenger Al Franken, Repub incumbent Norm Coleman, and Independent Dean Barkley.

(MN-Sen) MN - Norm Coleman: False smears to hide his own record.... by NoThirdBushTerm – Incumbent Norm Coleman (R) seeks to go negative on Al Franken (D). Again. Still. Also.

(MS-Sen) MS-SEN: Roger Wicker mailer boasts endorsement by radical religious zealot Donald Wildmon by Countificus – More reasons to throw some support to Dem Ronnie Musgrove in his race against Repub Roger Wicker, who was named to fill Trent Lott’s seat at the end of 2007.

   Various Races (4)

(AZ-Local) Hell just froze over in the AZ desert! by Ian S - The long time reflexively Republican Arizona Republic newspaper has just endorsed Democratic challenger to anti-immigrant, anti-Hispanic, inmates-must-wear-pink-underwear Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The challenger is Dan Saban in an endorsement that suggests a sea change in the desert.

(AZ-Local) If You Help Just One Candidate For Sheriff, Make It Dan Saban by Leftcandid – Two diaries on the same Sheriff race? What are the odds? Arizonans in Maricopa County have the chance to replace the so-called "America's Toughest Sheriff," Repub Joe Arpaio, with a real lawman with 30 years of experience, Democrat Dan Saban, and end years of corruption and discrimination in that department.

(KY-Var) Kentucky Republicans Answer for Failed Policies by RDemocrat - The impact that the economic crisis is having on the down ticket races in Kentucky, with listing of amounts the Repubs have taken from companies they have voted to deregulate.

(SoS-Var) Secretary of State Project in Effect by DavidNYC - This project exists to highlight good SoS pickup opportunities and support Democratic candidates for this position which is so crucial to protecting the right to vote. Oregon, West Virginia, Montana and Missouri are profiled.

   Ballot Initiatives (3)

(CA-Prop 4) Field Poll: CA "Pro-Lifers" want death for pregnant teens by Mikemoud Huckmadinejad - This ballot measure is about required notifications for underage pregnant teens.

(CA-Prop 8) Obama/Biden hurting same-sex marriage in CA by pico - Diarist has info on the ground fight in California on Prop 8.

(CA-Prop 8) CA Marriage Equality: Prop 8 IS a violation of religious freedom by Killer of Sacred Cows -  Diarist takes on how the passing of Prop 8 would violate the religious freedom of liberal churches and people of faith who are for same sex marriage.

   General (10)

NC voter reg this week: 34% Black, 19% GOP by dean4ever - A very encouraging summary of voter registration statistics from the Tarheel State.  Registration continues at early voting locations in North Carolina until November 1.

How to rebuild a local Democratic Party? by TominGA – Diarist is looking for ideas to rebuild the local Democratic Party in a small Appalachian county.

Is this true? by ladygreenslippers – A reminder to not wear your political shirts, buttons, etc. when you go to vote.

1 DAY Left to register! Monday - PA, MI, FL, OH, COLO, + ... + by joan reports – Monday (10/6) marks the last day for voter registration in many states.

Registering Voters in Georgia by WoodeGA – The excitement of a 41 year old finally getting involved in politics!

What I Learned Canvassing in Allentown, PA This Weekend by PoisonPenny - Diarist tells of a canvassing adventure from Allentown, PA, this weekend.

Opportunity knocks in Ohio by Comrade Brad - Diarist has heartwarming canvassing stories with his father, the recovering Republican in Ohio.

TAKE ACTION: Voter Suppression in Northwest Indiana (w/poll) by Blue Liberty - Early voting in Indiana's Lake County is running into problems getting satellite polling places where the big population centers are located.

Adventures in Canvassing by moondancing - The diarist, who has canvassed in Pennsylvania since February, finds support in unlikely places.

I voted in Indiana this morning. Any other early voters? by urbanindy - The diarist shares his experience voting early in Indiana.