2006 Senate Outlook

MD:

Well the you know what just hit the fan for Mfume. The ex-head of the NCAAP (whom I praised for his performance on Hardball) has got some enemies in the old organization. Memos were leaked that said Mfume "gave raises and promotions to women with whom he had close personal relationships." How close are we talking? Chicago Attorney Marcia Goodman wrote that Mfume's actions gave "the impression [that was] created that a woman must provide sexual favors to Mr. Mfume or his associates in order to receive favorable treatment in the workplace." The memo went on to assess the chance and success of a lawsuit against the NAACP, which would have been "highly damaging"...I hope they didn't pay her too much for that last part of her memo.

Mfume responded: "[T]here is not nor has there been any situation where female employees have been 'pitted against one another' to obtain raises or promotions." Of course, he did date a women at NAACP for 3 months and adopted the then 4-year son of one of them (who is now 15). I say, let the women in question raise these complaints, not some shaddowy person who is miffed at Mfumi's leadership. Still, I have gone neutral now in this race pending further review.

Oh and Mfume hired Joe Trippi, hoping for that HoHo magic.

AZ:

Yesterday, MoveOn.org sponsored a rally in Phoenix, where ex-state Sen. Slade Mead (R) joined AZ Dem chair Jim Pederson in a "protest" of GOP threats to win confirmation for federal judges by changing U.S. Senate rules.

In turn, Pederson gave props to Sen. John McCain (R) for opposing the rules change. Pederson: "It is not a partisan issue, it's about our rights, about keeping extreme judges out of the judicial system. It's about a president not running roughshod over this country."

Many "demonstrators" displayed signs attacking Sen. Jon Kyl (R), who heads the GOP policy committee that is pushing for the rule change and just so happens to be up for re-election. (Wouldn't you know)... On wonders who the Democrats are going to put up against him, somehow I doubt it is Peterson, but who knows.

NE

The same guy that barely lost to Benator last time is challenging him again. ex NE AG Stenberg lost to Nelson in '00 by 15K votes, but then again that was the closest margin since NE began directly electing senators by popular vote (1906 people)and that the GOP voter registration advantage over Dems has grown by 34K since '00.

Still he is a sitting senator. But at least Nelson isn't running against that old Nebraska coach. His endorsement is like an automatic win. Just ask Goveror Bob Henry.

PA

Pennacchio, a MyDD-wing internet daring said he heard from what he characterized as 5 or 6 "party-established figures" who asked him to reconsider running. Pennacchio: "They told me I had no right to run. They told me the campaign was going to drive me into debt or break up my family. They told me I'm going to lose badly; that I'd be humiliated and I'd have no political future. ... I think that indicates the threat we pose in their minds." What kind of a threat, I don't know but it could make for an ugly primary.

But don't call Pennacchio "liberal," he prefers "progressive" to describe himself. Labels all of them. "He focuses on two issues, abortion and gun control, to draw contrasts between himself and Casey."

VT

The signs point to Vermont GOP governor Jim Douglas not to run against Bernie "Socialist" Sanders (I). VT GOP chair Jim Barnett changes the subject whenever he is asked about Douglas' thoughts on running for Senate.

WA

Wow, I thought for sure that ex-St. Sen. Dino Rossi would use his painfully close loss for the Governorship as a launching pad to the Senate. "I have four small children and I'm not sure how I'd make it work with the family without upheaval and difficulty for the kids. So, that really is not my focus. My focus is running for governor and being governor of the state of Washington and turning the state around. So I'm not running for the U.S. Senate. I'm running for governor." OK well at least he was honest and not one of those undisclosed "personal reasons."

The national GOP are hoping he would reconsider since Maria Cantwell barely beat ex-Sen. Slade Gordon in 2000 and now all her Real Networks money is gone. Rossi: "I can't see a scenario where it would pan out for me against Cantwell. The polling says I'd beat her, but I don't need a political career" To me, that is slamming the door on the NRSCC.

WV

With MoveOn.org giving a quick cash infusion to the old and disgruntled Senate Historian and Senior Citizen, this looks like a cake walk. I really wish Rep. Shelley Moore Capito would get into the race even if Byrd can't handle an actual race.

That way, Democrats could finally reclaim that House seat. But alas, Bryd is staying there until he dies.

RI

Sheldon Whitehouse is trying to raise money and be important. Chaffee's would be primary competition was admonished by the state ethics board to stop his AM radio show since it was basically a free political ad. To me, it still looks like Chaffee pulls this one out by his teeth. Unless he really screws up with Bolton and Bush drops further. Word of advice: Lincoln, make sure you are the last GOPer to vote.

NY

Hillary's coasting and the state Republican party is in a mess. They can't find anyone to challenge Hillary and not anyone who can be on the conservative party ticket as well as the GOP ticket for governor (Weld is too liberal for them). Guilani is too worried about running for President and Pataki has outworn his welcome.

If I were the NYGOP, I would get Bloomberg to run for Governor or against Hillary.

OVERALL

Things are generally looking up for Democrats, but they still need to get their act together in RI and PA to make sure they can add two more seats to the collumn. And after that, they still need 3-4 more.