Lots to cover on this Wednesday, so let’s get after it:
NATIONAL: Jindal 2012? Not So Fast.
A nascent effort to draft Bobby Jindal into the 2012 race for the White House is being put on hold. Apparently, the group came to the belated-yet-wise conclusion that such an effort might distract Jindal from his gubernatorial responsibilities. The group is now planning to ramp up their efforts after Jindal’s 2011 re-election in Louisiana. Um, kids? Here’s a hint, if you wait until November, 2011, it will be way, way too late.
GA-GOV: Early Primary Polls Names Barnes and Oxendine As Front-Runners
Strategic Vision, a GOP polling firm, takes an early temperature on the Georgia Governor’s race. On the Democratic side, former Governor Roy Barnes has an early nineteen-point edge over state attorney general Thurbert Baker. Meanwhile, on the GOP side, state insurance commissioner John Oxendine has a sizeable lead, with 35% of the vote compared to 13% for secretary of state Karen Handel, and 12% for Congressman Nathan Deal.
IL-SEN: Is There A Draft Movement for Lisa Madigan?
Lisa Madigan, Illinois’ attorney general, is apparently being pressured to consider running for the U.S. Senate in 2010. According to a Madigan staffer, she will make a decision in the summer on whether to stay in the A.G.’s office, run for the Senate, or run for Governor. Up till this point, the common speculation was that Madigan would run for Governor. Already in the Senate field, state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and businessman Chris Kennedy (although the latter has yet to officially declare).
LA-SEN: Ensign’s Headache Becomes Vitter’s Headache
John Ensign’s decision to resign his leadership post today brought light back on "the sinning Senator" from Louisiana, as the Louisiana Democratic Party called on David Vitter to resign HIS position in the GOP leadership. Chairman Chris Whittington threw the following missile at Vitter: "...at least Senator Ensign understood the embarrassment he was causing to his own state. Sen. Ensign did the right thing today, and it is up to Sen. Vitter to do the same." More bad news for Vitter, potentially: he may not be out of the woods for a top-tier Democratic opponent. SSP reports today that given the likelihood that his seat will be eaten by redistricting, Democratic Congressman Charlie Melancon might decide it is more prudent to try his luck against Vitter. That would catapult this into a first-tier 2010 Senate race.
MO-SEN: The Hits Keep On Coming For Blunt
This was not a swell 36 hour period for Congressman (and Senate aspirant) Roy Blunt. Yesterday, we learned that state treasurer Sarah Steelman decided that she was NOT totally sure that she was out of the Senate GOP primary. Then, earlier today, his health care task force rolled out a "plan" that was positively craptacular. Then, we also learned that he is definitely not out of the woods vis-à-vis a primary challenger. The newest character to throw his hat in the ring is rural state Senator Chuck Purgason, who the KC Star piece says is a fiscal conservative with "country-western fashion sense." The reincarnation of Conrad Burns, evidently...
NH-SEN: Does the GOP Have A Senate Candidate?
While Paul Hodes is the clear frontrunner on the Democratic side for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Judd Gregg, the Republican side has been extremely fluid, with a lot of potential candidates in full "wait and see" mode. That may be about to change, if MSNBC political guru Chuck Todd is right. Kelly Ayotte, the state attorney general (which, curiously, is NOT an elected position in New Hampshire) is apparently mulling a bid.
NC-SEN: Burr’s Poll Numbers Dismal, Says PPP
According to a new survey by home state pollsters PPP, Richard Burr is in some serious doo-doo in North Carolina. Burr has a re-elect in the state of a mere 29%. When matched up against a generic Democratic candidate, the "Democrat" holds a three-point edge (41-38). Of course, you can’t run a generic Democrat, you have to have a living, breathing one as a candidate. Democrats have some people who are interested, but as of yet, no big guns have committed.
OR-GOV: GOP Poll Claims Close 2010 Race For Governor
In an internal poll (obligatory caveat: bring salt. Lots of it) covered by Swing State Project last night, Moore Information says that longtime GOP Congressman Greg Walden is within the margin of error against both former Democratic Governor John Kitzhaber or Democratic Congressman Peter DeFazio. This is crying for corroborating evidence, and lo and behold, we may have some for you in the next few weeks.
PA-SEN: Sestak’s New Frame For Specter
This is pretty clever: Joe Sestak is testing a new framing of the Arlen Specter Democratic Party switch. In this interview, he refers to Specter as a "flight risk", openly questioning whether Specter can be trusted to stay with the Democrats if the political winds are to shift again somewhere down the line. My colleague, and SSP guru, DavidNYC will open up your Thursday here at DK with interesting news: Sestak is showing signs of life, according to a well-known independent pollster.
WI-SEN: Feingold Leads By Double Digits, According to PPP
Here is one that we missed yesterday. On the heels of releasing the ugly re-elect numbers for Governor Jim Doyle (which contradicted the DailyKos/R2K poll from last week), we see that PPP has Democratic Senator Russ Feingold leading possible opponent (and Congressman) Paul Ryan by twelve points, 51-39. The DailyKos/Research 2000 had a wider lead, with Feingold leading by twenty-one points.