This week, I'm having a special "FEC Deadline" report. This is to allow more campaigns the opportunity to have their voices heard before the critical FEC deadline on March 31st. Therefore, this week we will be covering two Senate races and two House races. These campaigns are those of State Treasurer Nancy Farmer in Missouri's Senate race, State Senator Burt Cohen in New Hampshire's Senate race, and two House candidates-Al Weed in Virginia's 5th District and Patsy Keever in NC-11. All four of these candidates are excellent people with a good shot at helping the Democrats win back the Senate and the House. So, without further ado, let's take a look at some of the races that matter in 2004!
Nancy Farmer- Missouri has a well-deserved reputation of being "the" swing state in Presidential elections.
In fact, it has voted with the winner of the presidential race since 1960. During most of that time period, Republican Senator Kit Bond has been in office. First elected to the US Senate in 1986, he has narrowly won reelection in 1992 and 1998, both against candidates with serious flaws.
This time, Bond is facing a stronger challenger, one who could potentially unseat him and help the Democrats regain the Senate in 2004. Her name is Nancy Farmer, and she is the State Treasurer of Missouri.
From her roots in a working class family to her election in 2000 as the first woman State Treasurer in Missouri, Nancy Farmer's life is a testament to the rewards that hard work and a commitment to public service can bring. As a state legislator from 1992-1997, Farmer was a leading advocate for the working men and women of Missouri. In the House, Nancy chaired the Ways and Means Committee, leading the effort to eliminate the state sales tax on groceries, one of the largest and fairest tax cuts in Missouri's history. She also helped enact the Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program, which spurred redevelopment across Missouri. In 1997, Nancy was appointed the state's first woman Deputy State Treasurer. And in 2000, she ran for Treasurer and won. Under Nancy, the Treasurer's office has become one of the most dynamic and innovative offices in the nation. She broke records for returning unclaimed property to rightful owners, cut the administrative budget by 15 percent and responsibly managed $17 billion in annual state revenues.
Born in 1956, Farmer grew up in Jacksonville, Illinois and was the first in her family to get a college education, graduating from Illinois College in 1979. Later, she also studied at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Nancy's interest in government and politics began in college when she became involved in the movement to get the Equal Rights Amendment ratified. In 1992, she was elected to the state House, and served there from 1992 to 1997. She is married to Darrell Hartke, an industrial-organizational psychologist, and they make their home in St. Louis.
Farmer does have somewhat of an uphill struggle ahead. Bond is a well-known incumbent who has plenty of cash. However, a recent DSCC poll taken in February shows Farmer closing the gap against Bond, from 51-38 to 49-39. In addition, Bond's reelect number has dropped from 39% to 37%. Considering that, even if he loses Missouri, John Kerry will run well here, he may provide some coattails for Farmer. Farmer's website is http://www.nancyfarmerforussenate.com
Burt Cohen- New Hampshire, like Missouri, has a reputation for being a swing state in presidential elections. It has voted with the winner of the presidential race since 1980. Just like Kit Bond, Republican Senator Judd Gregg has been in NH politics for most of that time. However, despite his name ID (his late father was also Governor of the state) and apparent popularity (he won with 68% in 1998 against a no-name opponent), Gregg is facing a very strong challenger in 2004. Gregg, a two term Senator, has made a lackluster impression over the last 12 years, as is evidenced by the fact that a recent DSCC poll showed 25% of the state not having an opinion about him! That's only one reason why State Senator Burt Cohen has a shot to win this Senate seat.
Burt Cohen has served in the New Hampshire State Senate since 1990.Seven times reelected despite having a top-tier GOP opponent in each one as well as having his seat drawn against him twice by the GOP, Senator Cohen is an excellent campaigner and a progressive to boot. In addition, he has very strong fundraising abilities, and will have a strong FEC report come March 31st. The father of two young girls, he has said, "Having a family is the biggest education anyone can receive. It has changed my priorities drastically. Now I work hard for what I believe in because I want my daughters to grow up in a better New Hampshire and a better world." He is vacating his 24th district Senate seat to run for the US Senate.
Cohen admittedly starts off with a disadvantage against Gregg. He is not well known outside the Portsmouth area and is starting from the ground up against Gregg. However, with a recent DSCC poll showing Gregg with a 43-40 advantage over a generic opponent, Cohen does have a decent shot.
He starts with a 30% base of Democrats in the state, so he'll need to win the ever-crucial independent vote (35% in NH) to win this election. However, I firmly believe that Cohen has what it takes to win. His website is http://www.burtcohen.org .
Al Weed- Virginia's 5th Congressional district (including Charlottesville) is one that has traditionally elected Democrats to represent them. Only in 2002 did they vote for a Republican for Congress. That Republican, Congressman Virgil Goode, left the Democrats in 2000 and later joined the GOP. Facing a poorly funded opponent in 2002, he won easily, with 63% of the vote. However, in 2004 Goode is facing the strongest opponent he's ever had. That man is Al Weed, and, in my humble estimation, he is a living example of the American Dream.
Al Weed was born in 1942 to a working-class family. His father died when he was young, and he then went to work as a farmer. Moving to Virginia, he began a very successful career as a winegrower. Today, he is credited as the pioneering leader of the Virginia wine industry. Since 1961, he has also served in Vietnam, spent 42 years in the military, been a community and local preservation activist and a father of many children. In short, he is an American success story, rising from humble roots to become a successful farmer and businessman.
Weed has an excellent shot at winning this seat.
Already, the Weed campaign has a very strong organization in Charlottesville, the biggest town in the district, and is campaigning hard in the district. His centrist views will play well in this moderate-to-conservative district, which voted for George Bush in 2000. In short, I believe that Al Weed can beat Virgil Goode. I urge everyone to visit his website at http://www.alweed2004.com .
Patsy Keever- North Carolina's 11th district is one of the more Republican ones in the state. Located in the western part of the state, it includes Asheville and Hendersonville as among its biggest cities. Buncombe County, which includes Asheville, voted for Elizabeth Dole in 2002 by exactly one vote. In addition, Republican incumbent Charles Taylor holds a weak grip on the district, winning reelection in 2000 and 2002 with 55% against the same opponent. When you bring in an energetic candidate like Buncombe County Commissioner Pasty Keever, and add a banking scandal to Taylor's record, you have a potential upset in the making.
Patsy Keever, a Charlotte, North Carolina native was born on December 20, 1947. She attended Duke University for her undergraduate work and completed a Master's degree in Education at Western Carolina University. Keever is mother to two daughters, Jenny and Betsy. Jenny is married and has one child, making Keever a proud grandmother of three-year-old Riley. Keever taught English and Social Studies at Enka Middle School for 16 years. She has taught for a total of 25 years in various public schools. She is currently serving her third term as Buncombe County Commissioner and is in her twelfth year as commissioner. Keever has been recognized for several awards, including "Best County Commissioner" five times and "Women to Match Our Mountains" awarded by Women's Equality Celebration for Western North Carolina women. During her tenure as a Buncombe County Commissioner, she has also served as Vice Chair and been a member of Buncombe County Board of Health.
Keever starts off at good location to beat Taylor. Taylor was implicated last year in a scandal involving his own bank, and accusations of fraud and money laundering have been alleged. With this, plus the fact that Taylor runs poorly in reelection races for a Republican district, Patsy Keever has an excellent shot at winning this seat. Her website is located at http://www.keeverforcongress.com.