Posted on 02/07/2005 8:55:57 AM PST by GOPGuide
It's true that President Bush hit the upper Midwest and the South in his first big push after the State of the Union Address in order to target potential Democratic support in the House and the Senate. But he also was sending Democrats a clear message: 2002 and 2004 were no mistakes. Recall that the President was particularly aggressive in campaigning for Republicans in the midterms in 2002, and barring unforeseen political disasters, will be out there again, pressing for added GOP strength in Congress.
Democrat Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota is up for re-election in 2006, and Bush apparently intends to do to him what was done to Sen. Tom Daschle in 2004 if Conrad doesn't fall into line. Conrad was rumored to be mulling retirement, but indications are now that he will run for re-election. The White House has targeted North Dakota's Republican Gov. John Hoeven to run against Conrad. Hoeven attended the State of the Union, then spent time with the President on Air Force One back to his home state. According to White House political sources and a staffer on the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), Hoeven's political future was discussed.
Now Conrad finds himself in a tough spot. In a state that tends to run heavily red in national campaigns, with a strong rural and Catholic vote, he will be hard pressed to be a highly visible obstructionist with the GOP putting a spotlight on just about every move he makes in Washington. Hoeven is considered a strong campaigner, and popular in the state. The NRSC expects him to make a decision in the next couple of months, and he is expected to oblige the President.
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
At Bush's Social Security rally in Fargo last Tuesday, Hoeven was on stage, while Conrad was on the floor. That was a pretty clear message to Conrad: Get on the President's side, or be prepared for a popular Governor supported by a popular President to run against you.
The dust has barely settled from the 2004 election and we are publically picking our next targets. This is the aggressive way politics should be played. It speaks volumes about the leadership GWB provides.
Ouch. That sounds like a bad case of the runs.
We have to hammer these terrorist sympathizers until America is safe or develops an opposition that carea about the country.
W can't possibly be smart enough to do this kind of thing.
Maureen Dowd told me so.
I'm confused..if Conrad had indeed contemplated retiring, what in the world would then make him run again, to face a hard , difficult race, in a very RED state, only to win another term in the minority..
I guess loyalty to the party, because Harry Reid and Chucky Schumer know that Hoeven (Or maybe Ed Schafer if Ed is interested) is a mortal lock to take Conrad's seat if there is a retirement.
I marvel at the courage and initiative that GWB has to push to gain a permanent Republican majority. Just like he did in Texas. This guy is smart and tough! He is building a Republican majority for the long haul. This is what Republicans should have been doing a long time ago.
Hoeven and Conrad were on the same flight from D.C. to Fargo. Talk about hardball: the future of Conrad's whole career was sitting within a few feet, deciding what to do with him.
Conrad will be defeated in Hoeven runs. Conrad can call up his buddy Daschle and ask him how the private life is going, or Conrad can get on board with W and hope for the best. Either way, he's in big trouble!
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