Archive for the 'MT-Gov' Category

Obama’s transition and the 2010 landscape

Published
by
Taniel
on November 14, 2008
in AZ-Gov, AZ-Sen, DE-Sen, IL-Sen, KS-Sen, MT-Gov, NM-Gov, NY-Sen, PA-Gov and TX-17
. 5 Comments

That the party that holds the White House traditionally suffers losses in midterm elections is generally attributed to voters’ desire to send a message to the incumbent Administration and their alleged preference for divided government. But Obama’s transition points to another factor in midterm losses: A new president draws a number of his party’s star figures to Washington, making it more difficult for the DSCC and DCCC to recruit down-the-line and opening up seats to potentially dangerous special elections.

This is most obvious in the Illinois and Delaware elections that will be held in 2010. Both are Democratic states, but Republicans have an outside shot in getting either of them competitive, particularly if the governors appoint place-holders who do not run for re-election in two years and if the GOP get very lucky recruitment-wise (for instance if Delaware Rep. Castle decides to run for Senate, an unlikely but plausible scenario).

Other special elections could take place in Massachusetts or New York if either John Kerry or Hillary Clinton (who has become the buzz of the day) are nominated as Secretary of State. I already discussed the situation in Massachusetts earlier this week. In New York, Gov. Paterson would get to appoint Clinton’s successor, and there is a remarkably deep bench in the Empire State, starting with Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, a long list of ambitious House representatives (for instance Nita Lowey and Anthony Weiner) or former Spitzer foe Tom Suozzi.

In both states, it is difficult to see which Republican could force Democrats to play defense - but all of these special elections will only increase the number of Senate seats Democrats have to defend.

The DSCC could be further frustrated if Obama taps Govs. Janet Napolitano and Kathleen Sebelius. Both are term-limited and cannot run again in 2010, and both are mentioned as strong contenders for Senate seats that year. In Arizona, a recent Research 2000 poll showed Napolitano defeated John McCain and its difficult to see many other Democrats with the potential to defeat the former presidential candidate. In Kansas, Senator Sam Brownback has already announced that he will retire, but this is a conservative a state in which Democrats have a small bench. It is difficult to see anyone but Sebelius having a shot at the seat.

The most direct consequence on Senate numbers, however, would come if Obama appoints Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed, another name who is mentioned as a possible Cabinet member. The Rhode Island Governor is a Republican, which would lead the GOP to gain a seat in the unlikeliest of states. Obama could compensate that by tapping Maine’s Republican Senator Olympia Snowe, who is rumored to be in contention for Commerce Secretary and who would be replaced by a Democratic Governor.

At the House level, Obama’s decision to tap Rahm Emanuel has also provoked a lot of commotion in IL-05, but there is no possibility whatsoever that the seat becomes competitive. The Democratic primary will essentially be the general election, which is why there are more than a dozen credible candidates who are now jostling for support. But the situation would be very different in Texas if Chet Edwards (who, you will remember, made a last-minute appearance in the veepstakes) joins the Cabinet. Edwards represents a heavily Republican seat, and the GOP would be favored to reclaim that seat.

At the gubernatorial level, a number of appointments could result in Republican gains. Of the four Democratic governors whose name is most often mentioned, only Kathleen Sebelius has a Democratic lieutenant. Cabinet taps for Pennsylvania’s Ed Rendell, Montana’s Brian Schweizer and Arizona’s Janet Napolitano would all lead to Republican lieutenant governors or secretary of states taking over the governor’s mansion - and positioning themselves to keep the job in 2010.

In Arizona, for instance, secretary of State Jan Brewer (there is no LG in this state) is already mentioned as a possible contender in 2010’s open gubernatorial race; a Napolitano resignation would allow her to run as the incumbent. Tapping New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, however, could have the opposite effect. Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish, a Democrat, is virtually certain to run for Richardson’s job in 2010 (the incumbent is term-limited), and she would get a head start in keeping the seat in Democratic hands if Richardson moved to Washington.

Thursday polls: North Dakota migrates into the competitive column!

Published
by
Taniel
on July 10, 2008
in IL-Pres, IL-Sen, MT-Gov, ND-Gov, ND-Pres and WI-Pres
. 8 Comments

Alaska and Montana polls already showed a stunningly tight presidential race. Now, here is North Dakota. Rasmussen’s first poll from the state suggests that this state Bush won by 27% has become highly competitive:

  • Obama and McCain are tied at 43%. When leaners are included, McCain is at 47% and Obama at 46%.

Montana’s 3 electoral votes are unlikely to get Barack Obama much closer to the White House. Neither would Alaska’s 3 electoral votes. But these two red states moving towards the competitive column together starts to become interesting for Obama — particularly when we add North Dakota’s 3 electoral votes. Here we have three states that Democrats are looking to contest this year. Obama is airing ads in all of them and has visited or is making plans to visit all of them.

The day’s other presidential polls include:

  • Pew’s national poll finds Obama leading 48% to 40% against McCain. A month ago, Obama was up 3%.
  • Rasmussen’s survey of Wisconsin has the Democrat ahead 50% to 39% (52-42 with leaners). He benefits from an excellent favorability rating (61%, 57% for McCain).
  • A poll of Illinois — also taken by Rasmussen — finds Obama ahead 50% to 37%, 52% to 41% when leaners are included.

I have put in question McCain’s hold of Arizona because of polls that have found the race to be in high single-digits. I have to be consistent here and point out that a 11% lead in Illinois is a very disappointing result for Obama and one that does not speak well of his popularity in his home-state. And don’t forget that Democrats are hoping that Obama’s coattails will carry a number of Democrats across the finish-line in districts like IL-10, IL-11 and IL-06. Thankfully for Obama, this is only one isolated poll whereas McCain has suffered from a series of underwhelming Arizona polls.

As for Wisconsin, it is naturally one of the most important states in the election, and one that has clearly been trending in the Democrat’s direction ever since he secured the Democratic nomination and started to unify the base. The RNC clearly believes that Obama is vulnerable since this is one of only 4 states in which it is airing its ad on energy. But Obama has opened a consistent lead in state polls and Democrats are hoping the state is moving back to its blue roots.

The down-the-ballot polls that were released today were much less interesting, but they allow us to verify that races that absolutely no one are talking about are indeed not competitive:

  • In North Dakota’s gubernatorial race, GOP Governor John Hoeven has no trouble crushing his Democratic opponent 66% to 26%.
  • In Montana’s gubernatorial race (the poll was actually released a few days ago), Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer trounces his opponent 61% to 32%.
  • In Illinois’s Senate race, finally, Senator Durbin leads his Republican challenger 61% to 27%.

Of these three races, only the Montana one could become interesting in the (very) unlikely chance Obama chooses the long-shot but sometimes-mentioned Schweitzer as his running-mate.

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