Posted on 03/08/2009 4:06:07 AM PDT by Impy
PENNSYLVANIA. According to the Allentown Morning Call, former Congressman Pat Toomey (R) -- president of the fiscal conservative Club for Growth PAC -- has decided to seek a rematch next year against centrist US Senator Arlen Specter in the GOP primary. The newspaper said several close Toomey political allies -- who were named and confirmed the story -- said Toomey has directly informed them of his plans. Specter defeated Toomey by a 51-49 vote in the 2004 primary. Toomey is expected to make his official announcement within the next two weeks. Toomey was reportedly angered by Specter's recent vote in support of the Obama stimulus package. Specter has faced serious cancer-related health problems since the 2004 contest.
LOUISIANA. Former Congressman John Cooksey (R) announced this week he will not challenge US Senator David Vitter (R) in next year's primary. Vitter is viewed as potentially vulnerable after he was named as a regular client two years ago in the "DC Madam" prostitution ring scandal. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins -- a former State Representative and '02 candidate -- told The Rothenberg Political Report he is still considering the race but is leaning against running. Secretary of State Jay Dardenne (R) is also a potential GOP primary challenger, but he also appears to be leaning against running. Dems looking at the race include former Governor Kathleen Blanco, Congressman Charlie Melancon, former Congressmen Don Cazayoux and Chris John, businessman Jim Bernhard, and Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu. A Research 2000 poll this week shows Vitter leading Dardenne by a 43-32 vote in a GOP primary matchup. In a general election contest, Vitter leads Melancon by a 48-41 vote. Vitter had a 49% approval rating versus a 42% disapproval rating.
Who’s running for SoS?
It’s be nice if you got rid of some recently elected congressmembers, Steve Chabot is seeking a rematch in the first district. And that thief Mary Jo KillJoy needs to go.
My guess is that he’ll charge Toomey with age discrimination baiting. After all, the race thing worked for 0.
Others have recently been speculating that. (and I remember back in 2001 they thought it would be him and not Jeffords)
He could lose the rat primary also though if someone viable against him for the rat nomination.
Not going to happen. The 15th has too much of ‘rat Columbus for that now.
Only 48-41?
WARNING BELLS! You know the old rule about 50...
and tell Santorum to stay out of it this time
Jon Husted, state senator.
I’m a Louisianan, and I’ll take those odds. Melancon has been Hope and Change’s rubber stamp, and I doubt LA is going to promote him after voting against him in a landslide.
Besides, there’s no indication Melancon is going to run...at least not yet. Aside from him, the Dem bench is a bunch of nobodies.
Exactly. Obama is persona non-grate in Louisiana. Obama is testing the waters for 2010 right now. If he pushes too hard he knows he’ll get creamed in the 2010 Congressional elections. If not we’ll see the worst Democrat policies ever before the election of 2012 because they will have solidified power by then.
The Republican actually won on election night despite Obama taking by 9-10 points. I see no reason why it shouldn’t be a top target.
Bitch Landrieu isn’t a nobody. Voters probably don’t want to send Bart Simpson to the Senate to join Lisa though.
Bush and Santorum were fools. Specter is considering switching now. That’s reason enough not to renominate him.
Arlen should leave. What good is he? He is a weasely fraud. Rockefeller GOP’ers once nominated Barbara Hafer for governor, and she became a Democrat years later.
The problem now is that Peg Luksik has also announced her intention of running for U.S. Senate against Specter. The two of them will split the anti-Marxist vote, and allow Specter to sneak by. Bob
Oh,and yes, Rick and Pres. Bush got conned by a premiere con man. It’s a shame.
“Bush got conned by a premiere con man. It’s a shame”
No one conned him. He conned us. He and his dad have always been big government RINOs.
Bush and by Bush I mean the ever brilliant Karl Rove decided to play it safe and back the liberal loser because he was the incumbent and had an easier ride for the general election.
Santorum should have known better but he stuck with the club policy too.
If they had just stayed neutral Toomey would have won.
Bush/Rove in contrast did not help envirowacko but otherwise very conservative Bob Smith (who went crazy after he lost) of New Hampshire when he faced Sununu in the primary. In fact Papa Bush helped Sununu. Because Smith was gonna lose the general election.
Bush believed in the BIG TENT garbage, and Santorum OWED Specter. What we were watching in’04 was the GOP crumbling, as principles were cast to the wind. Best, Bob
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