In the coming weeks, months and years, there are several races I hope to watch closely and get involved in somehow.
This is defintely very work-in-progress, just what I see now as being very winnable races.
2005 Governor
New Jersey: My home, Sen. Corzine should triumph
Virginia: Already heated, help out Lt. Gov. Kaine
2006 Senate
5 Republicam Seats we must swith:
Montana: Conrad Burns underperformed Bush by 7 points in 2000, we want this one
Penn: Santorum is a hating punk. Bob Casey Jr (pro-life) has gotten a lot of play. Keep your eyes on Barbara Hafer though
Virginia: If we could put Allen's '08 ambitions to rest in '06, we'd all be well served. However, it will most likely require Mark Warner putting his '08 ambitions aside as well.
Missouri: Jim Talent also needs to go. I'm not sure who is eyeing the seat, but I bet the last name rhymes with 'arnahan'.
Tennessee: Frist is leaving. Harold Ford Jr. seems pretty conservative, but I have met him and I truly believe he is much more progressive than his ambition/local allow him to be
5 Democratic Seats We Must Hold
Florida: Nelson is one of the few state-wide elected Dems remaining in the South. Be afraid of this race, mostly b/c of Katherine Harris' make-up
Michigan: The right is going to go nuts trying to take this seat and we cannot let them. Stabenow only received 49%
Washington: When Dino Rossi stops counting illegal votes for himself he may well realize that Washington voters might feel sorry for him and give a solid chance at this seat. Not if we have anything to do with it. Cantwell also only received 49% last time.
Nebraska: Not sure why Johanns was tapped to be Agriculture Sec, b/c he would have had an excellent chance at unseating Nelson. We'll wait and see. Both Nelsons won with 51% last time
Minnesota: Mark Dayton will also face tough competition, but who knows from who. You can bet your bottom dollar Al Franken will go all out for this race, especially if he is serious about challenging Norm Coleman in '08
2006 House
435 Races We Should Try to Win
2006 Governor
New York: Spitzer, 'nough said
California: Can Ahnold be beat?
Texas: Perry is in trouble, a glimmer of hope?
Georgia: Perdue in trouble, another glimmer (Cox or Taylor anyone)?
Florida: Another important race
Mass: Mitt Romney is a punk, but they like Republican Govs in MA
Ohio: Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!
Arizona: Let's hope blatant discrimination doesn't take down another one on our team
New Mexico: I am a big fan of Richardson's insurance plans for reservists. If we are serious as a party, every single Democratic official in this nation should urge it in each of their states
The Rest: I have no clue
2008
Cleary a huge year. We lay the groundwork in '05, '06 and then we have primary and general. It's not the end of efforts, but it is our first real benchmark, we can measure where we have come by then.
Beyond!
Two Words: Tom Hanks.
It sounds funny, but it really isn't. I had heard things but always brushed them off. You may have seen that CNN poll around New Year's, where Tom Hanks came in 91% of American's minds as being a Nice guy. Michael Moore recently said he "wants to find our Arnold" that person who the public already has a good opinion on that we Repubs can't tear down. Someone who could pull moderate Repubs in and get them to listen and see what we can do.
I thought it was all nonsense. But I was just watching some random special about Tom Hanks on I believe it was E! In it, Steven Speilberg was being interviewed and his closing words, the final in the special, were "I think he'd make a great President someday. I can dream, can't I?"
Well, it freaked me out. But I'm on board.
Tom Hanks. California. 2010.