Free Republic

Rick White is leaving his post as CEO of TechNet, the technology industry lobbying group, based in Palo Alto. Mr. White, a former Congressman from Seattle, has headed the group for four years, during some of the most difficult times that the tech industry has faced. Of his future, Mr. White, a lawyer, will say only that he is considering a couple of options, but he is widely expected to return to elected politics possibly with a run for Congress or U.S. Senate.

WASHINGTON — In the most expensive presidential contest in the nation's history, John Kerry and his Democratic supporters nearly matched President Bush and the Republicans, who outspent them by only $60 million, $1.14 billion to $1.08 billion. But despite their fund-raising success, Democrats simply did not spend their money as effectively as Bush. That is the conclusion of an extensive examination of campaign fund-raising and spending data provided by the Federal Election Commission, the Internal Revenue Service and interviews with officials of the two campaigns and the independent groups allied with them. In a $2.2 billion election, two relatively small...

OLYMPIA - Dino Rossi has filed papers to run for governor in 2008, even as he continues to battle for the seat this year. Rossi registered as a candidate Dec. 13, submitting the required C1 form to the Public Disclosure Commission. "Right now, they’re telling us he’s a bonafide candidate," said Doug Ellis, spokesman for the Public Disclosure Commission. Rossi could not be reached this morning for comment on his decision to run. One benefit of becoming a candidate is that he can raise money to pay staff and lawyers used for the recounts and court fights that have taken...

Washington state Republicans have given up on finding a viable candidate to challenge Rep. Jay Inslee (D) and will focus instead on the state’s two open House seats. “The hardest thing in American politics is defeating incumbents,” said Chris Vance, chairman of the state Republican Party. “Being realistic, [Inslee’s seat is] not at the top of our priority list.” Six members of the state’s nine-member congressional delegation are Democrats. Four of those Democrats are running unopposed, and the other two are not facing stiff opposition this year.

<p>Massachusetts Democrats are devising a plan to keep John F. Kerry's US Senate seat in their party's hands by blocking Governor Mitt Romney from naming an interim replacement if Kerry wins the White House.</p> <p>Beacon Hill lawmakers want to pass legislation that would leave Kerry's seat vacant for two months or more, until a special election is held to fill it. That would prevent the Republican governor from naming an interim senator, as is currently required by state law.</p>

OLDWICK, N.J. -- On May 5, 1996, when I was halfway through my first term as governor of New Jersey, there was a picture of me on the cover of the Sunday magazine of The New York Times, accompanied by the headline "It's My Party, Too." I liked that message so much, I had it framed and hung it in my office in Trenton and, later, Washington, D.C. To moderate Republicans like me, that headline proclaimed our belief that there was still room for us in the party of Lincoln. Now, almost eight years later, many moderate Republicans feel even...

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Former Republican Gov. David Beasley, who fought to remove the Confederate flag from South Carolina's Capitol dome, announced Wednesday that he is running for the U.S. Senate. Beasley faces an already crowded GOP field in the race to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings. Other Republicans seeking the nomination include former state Attorney General Charlie Condon, U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint, Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride and Charleston real estate developer Thomas Ravenel. The top Democrat in the race is state Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum.

<p>Looks like the racist former Congresswoman is running again for Congress. I so hoped that she would be the Green nominee this year if Nader passed it up (and I understand that he did pass up running on the Green ticket). She is running against Denise Majette again. Both she and her family blamed her defeat on the J-E-W-S. The media glossed this part over and blamed Republicans for crossing over and voting for her opponent in the primary.</p>

Thune is running for the Senate

BOULDER – Rep. Mark Udall won't challenge Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in the 2004 U.S. Senate election. Udall confirmed his decision Tuesday. The Boulder Democrat was believed to have the best shot of unseating Nighthorse Campbell, the two-term Republican incumbent.

Things that I think should be in the political campaigns are kind of floating around in outerspace. I read a "heated discussion" among various players on the Mel Martinez for Senate string that started because he/she had not searched for like strings and posted without links/research. I like the way DU is organized so that I can find interesting strings without searching for a particular topic. I also like that they have a breaking News section...

http://www.hillnews.com/campaign/112503_delegate.aspx

LOUISIANA SENATE PRESIDENT CONSIDERS ANOTHER PARTY SWITCH. Louisiana State Senate President John Hainkel (R) enjoys his leadership job and wants to have a good working relationship with incoming Governor Kathleen Blanco (D). Blanco -- who is replacing a term-limited GOP incumbent -- let it be known she'd like the next House Speaker and Senate President to be Democrats, according to CQ Politics Today. Hainkel told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that the most important thing to him is retaining his leadership post: "Maybe I’ll be [a] Democrat ... If that is the biggest freakin’ thing ... to [Blanco], I’d change my...

Todd Mielke is running for Nethercutt's seat.

Bobby Jindal was defeated last week in the LA Governor's race. He ran a strong campaign and should be considered a viable candidate in the years to come. He would bring national prominence as he is an Indian-American, young, intelligent, and Republican. What is his career path now?

I am sorry to see Rep. Foley drop out of this race...albeit for "family reasons". He really would have given Sen. Graham a run for his money. I am curious...does anyone else have the money-raising and moderate voter appeal that Rep. Foley has? He is a true, fiscal conservative.... Can we still pick up this seat without him? I know a lot of hard-right activists have issues of the alleged allegations of his homosexual tendencies. To me...not an issue.