There’s a lot of smart analysis being written about last night’s elections, including great insight from my TIME colleagues Jay Newton-Small and Karen Tumulty. What do the Republican wins in Virginia and New Jersey mean for Obama’s health care agenda? What challenges will Democratic candidates face in 2010? What does New York City Mayor …
Congress
About Last Night
Larger lessons? It’s always dangerous to see too big a trend in off-year elections. But there might be one for Democrats: You are on your own. Barack Obama’s popularity–or his political operation–do not transfer when he is not on the ballot. This election could make Democrats more attuned to the political rhythms of their home states, …
A Health Bill This Year? New Doubts
This from Harry Reid today.
Bob McDonnell – Guinea Pig?
Voting has begun in Virginia and Democrat Creigh Deeds enters today a severe underdog – trailing by 13.4 percentage points, according to the latest realclearpolitics average of Virginia polls.
While much has been made of the GOP divisions in the NY23rd race, Virginia is shaping up to be their best hope for a recipe for success. …
Expectations Game
It’s not a sign of confidence that the DNC is emailing this link around with “Food for Thought” in the subject line.
Chuck-ing Health Care
We’re in the grip of election fever here in DC. Could (gasp!) Jon Corzine lose the governor’s race in New Jersey? What might a Bob McDonnell victory in Virginia mean for Republicans? For that matter, what could a Doug Hoffman win in the NY23rd mean? But, just in case you forgot, there is still a national debate going on on heath care …
Republican Scozzafava Robocalling for Democrat Owens
Dede Scozzafava is in hot – ok boiling – water with her Republican Party, after bucking the GOP to endorse her former Democratic opponent in the race to represent New York’s 23rd congressional district. (Scozzafava’s endorsement yesterday – after she dropped out of the race on Saturday – threw what was already a turbulent contest …
A New Poll in the NY 23rd
A new poll released this morning by Siena College shows the race for New York’s 23rd congressional district is still very much up for grabs. The poll taken Sunday – of 606 likely voters – showed Conservative Doug Hoffman with 41% of the vote and Democrat Bill Owens with 36%. But don’t take this to mean Hoffman has the advantage …
A Republican Health Care Plan
Better late than never, I guess. While individual Republicans have offered proposals (and hundreds of amendments), there has been no real GOP alternative to the various health care bills that are working their way through Congress. Now, John Boehner says they are going to produce one. But when you look at what the House Minority Leader …
Scozzafava Suspends Campaign But Doesn’t Endorse Conservative
Dede Scozzafava, the moderate GOP candidate in the race to represent upstate New York’s 23rd congressional district, suspended her campaign in the wake of yet another poll showing her in third place. The poll, from Siena College, showed Scozzafava with just 20% of the vote, compared to Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman with 35% and …
How A Republican Civil War Took Over My Home District
The current race for the congressional seat in my home district – New York’s 23rd – is being billed as a test case for the future of the Republican Party. The Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman appears to be pulling even or ahead of his opponents – GOP establishment candidate Dede Scozzafava and Bill Owens, running on the Democratic …
Lofgren’s Silver Lining
Jay is right; the leak itself is a bad thing. But can I just say there is some terrific news in here? The Ethics Committee is doing its job! As you might recall, that was not the case all that long ago.
UPDATE: I just chatted with Fred Wertheimer, president and founder of the watchdog group Democracy 21, and he agrees: “The lead here …
Lofgren’s Bad Day
It’s safe to say that Thursday was an eminently bad day for Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a California Democrat. Lofgren, chair of the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, thought much of the news cycle that day would revolve around a 20-page report clearing Rep. Sam Graves, a Missouri Republican who had been referred to the committee …