After taking a slow news day off, the wrap returns on Tuesday to...another slow news day.
VA-Gov: Weekend Poll Gives McDonnell Solid Lead
A poll released at the start of the holiday weekend by SurveyUSA shows that Republican Bob McDonnell still enjoys a double-digit lead over Democrat Creigh Deeds in this fall's battle for Governor of Virginia. According to SUSA, McDonnell leads Deeds 54-42. The GOP also leads downballot in races for Lt. Governor and Attorney General. One demographic note: a subquestion about presidential support in 2008 indicates that SUSA presumes that the electorate for this governors race will look very different than the 2008 electorate. This sample of voters went 51-44 for McCain, as opposed to the statewide results last year, which was 53-46 for Obama. This has been fairly common in the samples for the VA-Governor's race this year. Over at Ballot Box, Josh Goodman speculates on why the McDonnell Manifesto has not inflicted more damage on the Republican.
ND-AL: Is Third Time The Charm for Republican Challenger to Pomeroy?
It looks like North Dakota's sole member of the House, Democrat Earl Pomery, will be facing familiar opposition in 2010. Kevin Cramer, who serves on the states Public Service Commission, is considering a bid for Congress. Cramer ran in 1996 and 1998, and was defeated by double digits on both occasions (although he did hold Pomeroy to 55% in 1996). The GOP is touting a poll (the same fairly dubious poll that had Governor John Hoeven leading Sen. Byron Dorgan by over 20 points) claiming that Pomeroy only leads Cramer by a four-point margin (46-42).
MA-Sen: In A Surprise, Meehan Also Declines Senate Bid
So much for the rampant speculation that Marty Meehan was staying out of the Senate special election out of deference to Joe Kennedy II. Today, Meehan confirmed that he is not going to run in the special election replace the late Edward Kennedy in the Senate. The exits of both Meehan and Kennedy does NOT mean that the field won't be crowded. Another Democratic Congressman, Boston's Michael Capuano, looks likely to pull papers. Other names considering the leap are Congressmen Edward Markey and John Tierney. On the GOP side, things are quiet, with only state legislator Scott Brown sounding likely to be make a bid.
NY-Sen: If Spitzer Runs, He Won't Be Able To Run From His Past
File this under incredibly bizarre campaign promises: if former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer decides to seek a political resurrection next year, he will have his former business partner in paid sexual congress on the ballot with him. Kristin Davis, the madam who kept Spitzer supplied with companionship, says that she will run if he does, to highlight the fact that she was the only one who faced legitimate criminal punishment (a four-month jail stint) for their business arrangement.
NV-Sen/NV-Gov: Let's Play...The Family Feud!!
Well, perhaps the family is not feuding, but their respective staffers sure seem to be. Today's story in the Las Vegas Sun hints that there is palpable untogetherness in the campaigns of Harry Reid and Rory Reid, with each sniping that the other campaign is weighing them down. Team Harry is apparently concerned that Rory's campaign will raise the accusation that Harry is trying to start a political dynasty, which angers voters. Team Rory, meanwhile, thinks that Harry's sagging poll numbers are acting as an albatross to Rory's poll numbers, since he starts with considerably higher negatives than a county commissioner ordinarily would. Most political observers (including this one) think that Team Rory has a much, much more legitimate grievance.
MA-04: Does Barney Frank Want A Job Change At Some Point?
Here's something for President Obama to keep in his back pocket, especially if Massachusetts (as expected) loses a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2010 reapportionment. Barney Frank told an author who is publishing the definitive biography on the Congressman that he would like to cap his political career as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. He stressed, however, that he was not interested in a career change in the immediate future.