On this Flag Day, let us celebrate the symbol of our nation by enjoying a heaping helping of political news from all over this fair nation.
Because, really, aside from the Stars and Stripes, is there any more awe-inspring symbol of America than the Wrap?!?
(End of self-serving hyperbole. Beginning of actual Wrap)
THE U.S. SENATE
IL-Sen: Will Kirk endure his second teabagging of 2010?
This could be a potential game-changer, should it come to pass. Chicago political blogger Greg Hinz is reporting that Mike Niecestro, a local mortgage broker and conservative, is working towards filing by the June 21st deadline as an Independent candidate for the U.S. Senate. Niecestro sounds serious as could be, claiming he already has the requisite number of signatures on his petitions (and claiming he'll double that up in the next week). He also claims to have already raised six figures, with commitments that add up close to $1 million. Remember that the GOP nominee, Mark Kirk, has had trouble coalescing the right-wing base. This could, in theory, render it impossible.
NY-Sen: Gillibrand and Schumer both look to be landslide winners
November continues to look completely and totally uncompetitive for New York Republicans, according to the latest incarnation of the Siena Poll (PDF file). The Democratic Senator perceived as being more vulnerable (rookie Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand) is clearly not vulnerable yet, as she has sizeable leads over her three potential Republican rivals. She leads former Congressman Joe DioGuardi by eighteen points (47-29), and even wider leads over both Bruce Blakeman (48-27) and David Malpass (49-24). Senior Senator Chuck Schumer fares even better, rolling over both Gary Berntsen (59-27) or Jay Townsend (60-26). Siena polls the GOP primaries, as well, but it is safe to say that undecided is the big winner in both cases.
SC-Sen: Rawl seeks overturn of shocking primary defeat
Hard to see the endgame for this one, but Democratic primary loser Victor Rawl is formally contesting his defeat at the hands of Alvin Greene in last week's Senate primary in the Palmetto State. His plea will probably wind up being for naught, since it is hard to see on what grounds he will be seeking to have the results vacated. The party's executive committee will meet Thursday to consider the challenge.
UT-Sen: Lee internal polling claims lead in GOP primary
With incumbent Senator Bob Bennett dispatched in the state convention several weeks ago, it created a wide-open Republican primary between Tim Bridgewater and Mike Lee for the party's nod. With a little over a week until the primary, Mike Lee is releasing an internal poll (PDF file) showing that he has a nine-point edge over Bridgewater (39-30). Plenty of Utahns appear undecided, however, in the poll which was conducted last Thursday.
THE U.S. HOUSE
IN-03: It's Hayhurst versus Stutzman in November
The local GOP leadership in northeastern Indiana has made their choice, and they chose a politico who has already been on the ballot in the 2010 electoral cycle. As was somewhat expected, the local GOP turned to Marlin Stutzman, who ran a fairly impressive second place in the 2010 Senate primary, splitting eventual nominee (and former U.S. Senator) Dan Coats and former Congressman John Hostettler. Stutzman will take on Democrat Tom Hayhurst, who performed respectably in a 2006 Congressional bid.
NC-08: GOP power players going all-in to defeat D'Annunzio
In perhaps the clearest sign yet that national Republicans find teabagger candidate Tim D'Annunzio to be politically toxic, the two leading GOPers in the House (John Boehner and Eric Cantor) have offered their fundraising prowess to D'Annunzio's rival, sportscaster Harold Johnson. They are hosting a fundraiser on his behalf. D'Annunzio has scratched a ton of checks on his own behalf (to the tune of seven figures), thus necessitating the need to hoover up some cash for Johnson.
THE GUBERNATORIAL RACES
AL-Gov: Recount in GOP primary to proceed tomorrow
Tuesday will mark the beginning of a recount which will finally allow businessman Bradley Byrne to learn the identity of his opponent for the July 13th runoff for Governor. The recount is commencing at the behest of Tim James, who finished just 167 votes behind state legislator Robert Bentley in the June 1st primary. Bentley, thought to be the favorite in the runoff because of his ability to consolidate right-wing voters, is instead flailing, calling for an enormous turnover of his campaign staff in advance of the month-long runoff process.
AK-Gov: Democratic field cut to two with Poe exit
The Democratic primary to challenge Republican Gov. Sean Parnell was reduced by one this morning, with the news that former state commissioner Bob Poe was dropping out of the race. Poe was actually the first Democrat in the race (way back when Sarah Palin still held the office), but he found himself outgunned by better-funded Democrats like state legislator Hollis French and 2008 House nominee Ethan Berkowitz.
FL-Gov: McCollum in semi-severe ethics flap?
Florida state Attorney General Bill McCollum, whose bid for the GOP nomination for Governor was already reeling from the entrance and surprising strength of hospital magnate Rick Scott, has been rocked again, this time by allegations that he might have offered fundraising assistance to an unregistered political action committee in Florida, one that (coincidentally....?) has been airing ads attacking Rick Scott. The group is called the Florida First Initiative, and McCollum's name is directly invoked in fundraising emails for the group. This would seem to violate Florida state law, which requires disclosure when a cabinet official directly or indirectly solicits on behalf of a so-called 527 organization.
IA-Gov: Right wing interest group not lending muscle to GOP nominee
The conventional wisdom (buttressed by most in-state polling) has long been that incumbent Democrat Chet Culver is the underdog for re-election this Fall, and that former Governor and current GOP nominee Terry Branstad is the favorite. One does have to wonder, however, if this status is threatened by the clear reluctance of the right-wing in Iowa to embrace the GOP nominee. The latest piece of evidence: the Iowa Family PAC, which backed Branstad's primary opponent (Bob Vander Plaats), has announced that they will simply sit out the general election.
NY-Gov: Siena shows Cuomo slipping...to only a 36-point lead
The latest installment of the Siena poll has good news and bad news for Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Andrew Cuomo. The bad news: Cuomo's favorability, now that he is finally a candidate, has taken a sizeable hit (the lowest it has been since 2008). The good news: he still leads by over thirty points against any of the potential Republican challengers in his path. He leads former Congressman Rick Lazio by thirty-six points (60-24), and leads businessman Carl Paladino by a similarly large margin (60-23). Siena also polls the forthcoming GOP primary, and finds Lazio leading Paladino by a better than 2-to-1 margin (45-18).
OH-Gov: Strickland grabs endorsement normally reserved for GOP
You can probably count on one hand the number of Democrats who can swing an endorsement from the National Rifle Association (NRA) in a competitive race against a legitimate GOP challenger. Yet that is precisely what has happened in Ohio, where Democratic Governor Ted Strickland earned the endorsement of the organization over Republican John Kasich.
SC-Gov: Haley nomination to get boost tomorrow for McMaster
Nikki Haley was so close to securing the GOP nomination outright during last week's primary night, that the media could be forgiven for declaring her the presumptive nominee. That grew even more presumptive today, with the news that Henry McMaster, the state Attorney General who ran third in the primary, has elected to endorse Haley. The actual announcement is expected on Tuesday.
THE RAS-A-POLL-OOZA
Rasmussen has something of a mixed bag in their week-opening results, which is practically miraculous in and of itself, given their normal GOP-friendly data.
That is not to say that Ras has suddenly moderated, or anything. After all, their one marginally positive data point for Democrats (some marked improvement in the fortunes of the Democrats running for Michigan Governor) is more than offset by every other result, including an almost laughable ten-point Republican lead in the generic ballot test (46-36).
MI-Gov: Rick Snyder (R) 42%, Virg Bernero (D) 30%
MI-Gov: Mike Cox (R) 40%, Virg Bernero (D) 34%
MI-Gov: Peter Hoekstra (R) 39%, Virg Bernero (D) 36%
MI-Gov: Rick Snyder (R) 41%, Andy Dillon (D) 33%
MI-Gov: Mike Cox (R) 39%, Andy Dillon (D) 37%
MI-Gov: Peter Hoekstra (R) 40%, Andy Dillon (D) 35%
SC-Gov: Nikki Haley (R) 55%, Vincent Sheheen (D) 34%
SC-Gov: Gresham Barrett (R) 46%, Vincent Sheheen (D) 38%
SD-AL: Kristi Noem (R) 53%, Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (D) 41%