Quick off-topic thought before we get to the wrap-up for tonight: why is it that we make a big deal about Friday the 13th, when Friday is such a wonderful day (start of the weekend, etc), yet no one gives a rip about MONDAY the 13th, when Mondays have a tendency to suck in the best of circumstances?!?
And with that little nugget of philosophical musing, on with the wrap-up...
IL-Sen: And...Kirk's Back!! No, Really...Well...We're Pretty Sure
When we last left our favorite little electoral saga, Mark Kirk was being asked to reconsider his apparent decision to step away from the open seat Senate race in Illinois. Now that state party chair Andy McKenna has been apparently nudged out of the way, Kirk has reconsidered. Alexi Giannoulias, for what it is worth, had a pretty good weekend, racking up several endorsements, including Democratic Congressmen Phil Hare and Bill Foster.
CO-Gov: Another Republican Enters The Fray
You might remember that on Friday's wrap-up that Colorado columnist Jim Spehar predicted that Josh Penry was going to opt out of a bid for governor in 2010. Spehar should not be picking Lottery numbers this week. Penry announced his bid for Governor in Mesa County on Saturday, and set up a potentially interesting primary contest with his former boss, former GOP Congressman Scott McInnis. The winner, in all probability, will face incumbent Democratic Governor Bill Ritter.
TX-Gov: KBH Officially In, With A LOADED Warchest
It sure seems like Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is serious about getting into it with Rick Perry. Hutchison officially announced that the "exploratory" phase of her gubernatorial campaign is over, and that she will be running against Rick Perry for the GOP nod. She also announced that she raised over $9 MILLION in the first six months of the year. This swamped Perry's $4.2 million figure announced last week. Remember, though, that Perry was precluded from raising money until the last nine days of the funding cycle, because of state prohibitions against raising money while the state legislature is in session. A bigger financial boost for KayBay: she could transfer cash from her federal account, meaning her cash-on-hand will exceed $12 million. Perry reported a little bit more than $9 million on hand. Pop several bags of popcorn for this one...
GA-Gov: Early Money Figures, Winners, and Losers
Anyone interested in the potentially hot Georgia Governor's race to replace term-limited Sonny Perdue should check this piece from the diaries at Swing State Project. I agree with one of the commenters there--the big winner in this is the guy that DIDN'T file a campaign report--new entrant Roy Barnes, whose primary Democratic opponent (Thurbert Baker) filed a decent report (but not overwhelming). A surprise leader for the GOP--Congressman Nathan Deal.
KS-04: Democrats Draw Top Competitor To Open Seat Race
As Todd Tiahrt prepares to exit the House in order to run for the Senate, arguably the top Democrat on the depth chart is likely to make a bid for the open House seat. Raj Goyle, who defeated an incumbent to claim his state House district in 2006 and then won it in a walk in 2008, announced that he will run for Congress. Given the deep bench for the GOP in the Wichita-based 4th district, one has to expect that Goyle will find a top-tier opponent in front of him next November, assuming that he is the Democratic nominee.
Also, in Kansas, we see an old Congressional loser resurfacing again. Kris Kobach, who was thumped a few cycles back by Dennis Moore in KS-03, is a GOP candidate for Secretary of State. And guess what else? He's a birther. Used the birther myth to make a point about voter ID laws, apparently. The birther argument, of course, is one that has swept the nation, with a whopping 7.8% of voters saying that they are "troubled" by the whole birth certificate issue.
NV-Gov: Could Reid The Younger Pay For the Sins of the Father?
An interesting analysis from the folks at Politico today: could Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid's likely bid for governor be hamstrung by the fact that his father, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, is currently the least popular politician in Nevada not named Jim Gibbons. For the record, it is now eighteen days and counting since John Cornyn informed us all that a top-flight 2010 challenger to Harry Reid would be surfacing "in the coming weeks."
NH-Sen: Sununu "Helps" Ayotte Out By Calling Her A Pro-Life Conservative
In culturally libertarian New Hampshire (one of the top three states in having the FEWEST number of evangelical voters), I am sure presumptive Republican candidate Kelly Ayotte really appreciated getting "outed" by former Senator John Sununu:
"I think she’s much more conservative than the press has made her out to be." Sununu said in an interview with POLITICO...Asked if she opposed abortion rights, Sununu said: "I believe so. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a formal statement on her part, but having known her over the years, that’s my perception."
I am sure in a state where only 28% of voters consider themselves conservative (one of the lowest figures in the nation), Ayotte really wanted Sununu to tell the world that she is "much more" conservative than she is being portrayed.
VA-Gov: Deeds Raises $3.4 Million in A Month
An impressive take from a guy who needed to ramp up his fundraising after a very competitive primary. Democratic nominee Creigh Deeds raised $3.4 million in just the 33 days since he last had to file a report on May 28, before the Democratic primary. His GOP opponent, Bob McDonnell, files his cash totals tomorrow.