Free Republic

CONCORD – Democratic Senate candidate Jeanne Shaheen's once imposing lead over U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu has all but vanished in recent months according to a University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll released today. Shaheen leads Sununu in this poll of likely voters, 46 percent to 42 percent, but the spread is within its margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percent. Pollster Andrew Smith stressed the race remains wide open since only 22 percent said they had definitely decided upon a candidate. During a telephone interview, Smith said voters are starting to focus more on the choices...

S. Rep. Robert Wexler is Florida’s only member of Congress who does not own a home in his congressional district. The Democratic congressman ostensibly from Boca Raton or Delray Beach is under fire this week after he admitted on national TV that the only house he owns is in Maryland, and that he uses his in-laws’ home in a senior-only community in Delray to meet residency requirements. Wexler said in a statement that such an arrangement was “common.” However, a South Florida Sun-Sentinel survey of Florida’s 25 members of the U.S. House and two in the Senate found that all...

Longshot Republican congressional challenger Ed Lynch said he's seen a spike in campaign contributions and enjoyed newfound radio and TV exposure since Fox News personality Bill O'Reilly aired a report Tuesday accusing Democratic U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler of not really living in Florida. Since The O'Reilly Factor ran the Wexler item Tuesday night - complete with footage of an ambush interview featuring a shorts-and-T-shirt-clad Wexler in the driveway of the home he owns in Potomac, Md., - Lynch says his campaign has received about 20 online contributions ranging from $100 to $1,000. That's a big boost to what has been...

Six weeks ago, Senator Jim DeMint launched the Senate Conservatives Fund, a PAC that supports strong conservatives in Senate races. DeMint created the SCF as an answer for contributors who wanted an option apart from the NRSC that focused on conservative policy and commitment to such. Today, they have announced their first endorsement — Bob Schaffer of Colorado, running for the retiring Wayne Allard seat:The SCF post has an extensive report on Schaffer’s positions as well as his key votes in Congress. Schaffer, as it turns out, was even more conservative than DeMint himself in his last session in Congress,...

Former Virginia governor James S. Gilmore III, the state's Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, submitted false information on two financial disclosure forms that hid his ties to a government contractor embroiled in a legal dispute over allegations that two of its executives had conspired to defraud the federal government. On the forms, the first filed in June 2007 for his presidential campaign and the second in May after he joined the U.S. Senate race, Gilmore said he was on the board of Windmill International. Gilmore, who signed his name attesting that the information on the forms was "complete and...

Despite the conventional wisdom that emerging demographic trends would lead to the emergence of a Democratic majority, it appears that there’s some good trends for the Republicans. Reyling on Clark Bensen’s PoliData apportionment estimates, Michael Barone finds, in a piece entitled “Demographic Trends Could Make It Harder for Obama and Democrats,” that several states are likely to gain House seats (and thus Electoral Votes) at the next reapportionment.

Fitness star and effervescence extreme Richard Simmons is on Capitol Hill today, tackling the issue of childhood obesity and pushing for increased school exercise programs. But as he testifies before the House Education and Labor Committee, the 60-year-old is nodding toward that celebrity siren song: political office.

Today, Senate Conservatives Fund (SCF) endorsed former Republican Congressman Bob Schaffer for U.S. Senate in Colorado. “Bob Schaffer is a true, common sense conservative,” said U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), the chairman of SCF. “He believes in a strong national defense, limited government, and traditional family values. He has a proven record of fighting for American taxpayers and standing up for the nation he loves.” During his three terms in Congress from 1997-2002, Schaffer earned a 99 percent Lifetime Rating with the American Conservative Union. His average National Taxpayers’ Union ranking was 13th in the entire House, and he...

Bill O'Reilly Nails Robert WexlerTue Jul 22, 2008 at 09:11:12 PM Bill O'Reilly did a good number on "local" Congressman Robert Wexler tonight. And I think Wexler is in a bit of trouble. You see, the longtime Democratic rep says he lives in Delray Beach and he's required to maintain a residence in his district. But he really lives in Potomac MD. The house in Delray that he calls his "offical residence" is owned by Lawrence and Roslyn Cohen, the parents of Wexler's wife, Laurie. And it's in a restricted over-55 community, which makes it impossible for Wexler and and...

US Congressman John Culberson from the 7th district of Texas starts Qikking and is planning to Qik Mars Landing at NASA. This is again for one of the history books as John becomes the first congressman in US to start using Qik. His profile on Qik is qik.com/johnculberson.

Congressman Robert Wexler is answering questions after a news report alleges that he doesn't reside in his home district of Delray Beach. It is required that he keep a residence in the district he represents, but, according to the report, his primary residence is in Maryland, not Delray Beach. The Delray Beach condo he has claimed as his primary residence is actually owned by his in-laws, in a 55-and-over senior community. When questioned by a Fox News reporter Wexler insists he has done nothing wrong and is following the established guidelines for a residence in his district. Statement by Congressman...

It appears that Camp Noriega held a fundraiser in London at the "Texas Embassy" in support of his campaign last week. The "Embassy" is a Tex-Mex restaurant in Trafalgar Square. The fundraiser brought in a ::brace yourselves everyone, this one's a killer:: monumental "$400.00! Woo hoo!!! They sure gave him a Texas sized welcome. There was about 12 people attending the fundraiser...all of which were Americans living in London. 3 were Texan. Here is some commentary from Camp Cornyn on the fundraiser: "As he was hauling in $400, Rick Noriega told his London supporters that Texas is "not quite meeting...

It's unlikely U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler curls up on his mother-in-law's sofa, pundits on the Fox News program The O'Reilly Factor said Tuesday night. Wexler's challenger has accused the six-term congressman of playing a residency shell game, saying Wexler, D-Delray Beach, uses his mother-in-law's address in Delray Beach while flagrantly making his home in a Maryland suburb.

  The gap between Republicans and Democrats in the Generic Congressional Ballot has tightened for the fifth straight week. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that, if given the choice, 45% of voters would choose their district’s Democratic candidate, while 36% would choose the Republican candidate. Support for the Democrats is down a point from last week and two points from the week before. The party’s nine point lead is the smallest for the Democrats since May. From now through Election Day, Rasmussen Reports is tracking the Generic Congressional Ballot on a weekly basis. Crosstabs are available for...

The Man Who Could Topple Jack Murtha Michelle Malkin Wednesday, July 23, 2008 A jaw-dropping political miracle may be on the horizon. No, I'm not talking about the second coming of the Obamessiah. I'm talking about the long-deserved comeuppance of troop-smearing, pork-feasting, scandal-tainted Democratic Rep. Jack Murtha of Pennsylvania. The 18-term congressman's challenger, staunch conservative Republican newcomer William Russell, raised nearly $670,000 in the second fundraising quarter. Earmark king Murtha scraped together a measly $119,000. Russell's underdog campaign bested Murtha without the perks of incumbency, national name recognition, big PAC donations or mainstream media support. Even more amazing: The 45-year-old...

Republican Senate leaders — terrified by the prospect of losing five or more seats in November — have freed their members to vote however they need to vote to get reelected, even if that means bucking the president or the party’s leadership. On at least four votes over the past month — Medicare, housing, the GI Bill and the Farm Bill — Republican leaders haven’t even bothered whipping members to toe the party line or back President Bush’s veto threats. Instead, a GOP leadership aide says leaders have told vulnerable senators that it’s all right to “get well” with voters...

A JAW-dropping political miracle may be on the horizon. No, I'm not talking about the second coming of the Obamessiah. I'm talking about the long-deserved comeuppance of troop-smearing, pork-feasting, scandal-tainted Democratic Rep. Jack Murtha of Pennsylvania. The 18-term congressman's challenger, staunch conservative Republican newcomer William Russell, raised nearly $670,000 in the second quarter. Earmark king Murtha scraped together a measly $119,000. Russell's underdog campaign bested Murtha without the perks of incumbency, national name recognition, big PAC donations or mainstream media support. Even more amazing: The challenger, a Desert Storm veteran and Army reservist who survived the 9/11 Pentagon attack, wasn't...

Boehner Rejects 'Contract With America' Republican Candidates On Their Own in Congressional Elections By RUSSELL BERMAN, Staff Reporter of the Sun | July 23, 2008 WASHINGTON — In the 2008 congressional elections, it will be every Republican for himself. Republicans on Capitol Hill are rejecting a sequel to the successful "Contract With America" campaign that won them the majority in Congress in 1994, a top party official said yesterday. "There will be no effort to try to nationalize the elections," the House Republican leader, Rep. John Boehner, told reporters at a lunch sponsored by the American Spectator magazine and Americans...

A jaw-dropping political miracle may be on the horizon. No, I’m not talking about the second coming of the Obamessiah. I’m talking about the long-deserved comeuppance of troop-smearing, pork-feasting, scandal-tainted Democratic Rep. Jack Murtha of Pennsylvania. The 18-term congressman’s challenger, staunch conservative Republican newcomer William Russell, raised nearly $670,000 in the second fundraising quarter. Earmark king Murtha scraped together a measly $119,000. Russell’s underdog campaign bested Murtha without the perks of incumbency, national name recognition, big PAC donations or mainstream media support. Even more amazing: The 45-year-old Russell, a Desert Storm veteran, former Army lieutenant colonel and Army reservist who...

When he talks about why the economy is ailing, President Bush often turns to euphemism, citing “challenges in the housing and financial markets.” But Mr. Bush offered a far blunter assessment last week at a closed Republican fund-raiser in Houston: “Wall Street got drunk.” Despite the president’s request that those present turn their cameras off, his comments were captured on videotape that made its way into the hands of Miya Shay, a reporter at the Houston television affiliate of ABC. The video, which also included the newsy tidbit that Laura Bush had begun shopping for houses in Dallas, was broadcast...

Democrat Mark Udall is still narrowly ahead of Republican Bob Schaffer in the race to become Colorado’s next United States Senator. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state finds Udall up 47% to 43% this month. When “leaners” are included, it’s a three-point advantage for the Democrat, 49% to 46%. Last month, Rep. Udall enjoyed a nine-point lead over Shaffer. In May, he led by six. Prior to May, the race had been essentially even. Udall and Schaffer are competing for the right to replace Republican Senator Wayne Allard.

According to the Fox O'Reilly Factor He lists his mother-in-laws' residence in an elderly area that doesn't allow children...Wexler has three teenagers. He actually lives in Maryland and claims to own a home in Florida which is a lie. I wonder where he pays taxes? If at all.

WASHINGTON, July 22 (UPI) -- Republican leaders in the U.S. Senate have freed GOP members to go against the traditional party platform if it will help them get re-elected, aides say. The Politico reported Tuesday that the GOP leadership set their members free amid fears they could lose five or more seats to Democrats in November. Republican leaders have told senators in tough re-election bids to side with Democrats on anything but energy and national security issues, a leadership aide told Politico.

Explaining the status of the economy to a closed-door fundraiser last week, President Bush said, "Wall Street got drunk." "There's no question about it," Bush said. "Wall Street got drunk, that's one of the reasons I asked you to turn off the TV cameras. It got drunk and now it's got a hangover. The question is how long will it sober up and not try to do all these fancy financial instruments." Bush made the remark at a closed-door fundraiser for Republican Pete Olson, who is challenging Rep. Nick Lampson (D-Texas) No cameras were allowed in the fundraiser, but an...

<p>How big of a Democratic gain will occur in the Senate come November? We know that this is the right question to ask in a year of a spirited Democratic primary, much enthusiasm in the party of Jackson and lopsided Senate terrain. Twenty-three Republican-held Senate seats are up for grabs, of which five are incumbent retirements, compared to just 12 Democratic seats and no Democratic retirements. Enthusiasm plus tilted terrain equals big problems for Republicans.</p>

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Republican candidate in North Carolina's 11th congressional district said Monday he is resuming his bid for office after a brief, self-imposed suspension of his campaign because of frustrations with his own party. Carl Mumpower, an Asheville city councilman and psychologist, announced last week he was freezing his bid for the post currently held by Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler because he said he was frustrated with the Republican Party and its elected officials. He said he would resume his bid once at least eight county GOP parties in the 15 counties that make up the western North...

The American people are speaking...they deserve to be heard. Can you get your Democrat leaders to listen? Over 1.1 Million Americans have called on Congress to “Drill Here, Drill Now’ when Newt Gingrich sent the petitions out just 35 days ago. “I believe Congress can make it happen. Congressional failure and inaction on meaningful energy policy must stop,” Webb continued. “We must release use of our reserves for immediate relief at the pumps, and we must REMOVE the Congressionally imposed barriers to exploring and producing our own oil. When other nations have nationalized and then subsidize their oil industries, the...

Alaska’s U.S. Senate race between Republican incumbent Ted Stevens and Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich has been a toss-up for several months now, but the Democratic challenger is now ahead 50% to 41%. When “leaners” are included, Begich leads 52%to 44%. Begich began running his first television ads of the campaign on July 8 and the survey was conducted nine days later. For each of the last three months, the candidates have been within two points of each other. Last month, Stevens was up two, 46% to 44%. In May, it the incumbent trailed by two. The month before, Stevens had...

Dear All Virginia FReepers...we need your help!! Everyone says ol' HorseFace Warner has got the upcoming VA Senate race wrapped up. The difference in fund-raising is astoundingly lop-sided in the favor of the Yankee RAT Carptebagger who thinks Big Activist Guv'ment is the wave of Virginia's future!! However, WeThePeople of Virginia will prove the prognosticators WRONG as we Shock the World and help Jim Gilmore become Virginia's next Senator!!

<p>Not since the elections of 1950 and 1952 have consecutive "wave" years swept the House of Representatives. Surveying this year's House prospects, one cannot rule out a half-century repeat. Where are the Republicans?</p> <p>In the 29 states where voter registration is tracked by party, Democratic rolls have grown by almost 700,000 since the 2004 elections, while Republicans have shed nearly 1 million over the same period, as Rhodes Cook points out in the University of Virginia's election-tracking "Crystal Ball." Much of this owes to a lively Democratic primary. One should not read too much into registration, which does not necessarily predict November success.</p>

US SENATE. The latest independent polls for US Senate races. ALASKA (Research 2000): Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D) - 47%, US Senator Ted Stevens (R) - 45%. CONGRESS. The new independent polls for the US House contests. ALASKA CD-1 (Research 2000): Former State House Minority Leader Ethan Berkowitz (D) - 51%, Congressman Don Young (R) - 40%..

GOP Senate challenger Steve Sauerberg called Dick Durbin's patriotism into question during a taping of a radio broadcast to air Sunday morning on WBBM 780-AM. Noting Durbin's opposition to a constitutional amendment banning flag burning, Sauerberg said the founding fathers "never had to deal with ultra-liberal Americans who hate their own country." When asked if he was referring to Durbin, he said "I think he’s an ultra-liberal. Whether he hates his own country, I cannot determine for the gentleman,” but that he "wonders a lot" about Durbin's patriotism. Sauerberg also attacked Durbin for a speech he gave in 2005 condemning...

The former governors are competing for the Senate seat held by Republican John Warner, who will retire after three decades in office. John Warner and Mark Warner are not related. Energy emerged as the dominant policy issue in Saturday's debate. But Gilmore said the election will turn on the issue of trust, and chided Warner for breaking a 2001 campaign promise not to raise taxes. "The question is who do you trust --a person who sticks with it and delivers on the car tax cut and does what he says he's going to do, or a person who casually brushes...

Sunday JULY 20, 2008 Murtha outraised in most recent quarter By MICHELLE GANASSI Daily American Staff Writer In April, William Russell's name didn't even appear on the ballot because of a challenge to signatures on his nominating petition. Three months later, Russell has outraised Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown, by $511,000 in the most recent fundraising quarter. The quarter ended on June 30. While the veteran congressmen still has more than $1.6 million in the bank compared to $918,000 for the Army lieutenant colonel, the money is a much needed boost for the political newcomer's campaign. “The average American is saying...

Reid Wilson of Real Clear Politics had a column yesterday, "Dems finding success in the center" about how democrats have been having success winning House seats by recruiting "conservative" democrat candidates, and they were following the model again in 2008. While it is true that the democrat party has had success in executing this tactic, this success is due more to their ability to fool the public about these candidates than anything else. Wilson mentioned a few members such as John Barrow of Georgia and Heath Shuler of North Carolina (perhaps better known in the South for his college football...

WASHINGTON -- Dick Heller, the plaintiff in the Supreme Court case that overturned Washington's strict 32-year-old handgun ban, announced his candidacy on Thursday for the U.S. House of Representatives. Heller, 66, is seeking the seat currently held by Eleanor Holmes Norton. He is gathering signatures to run on the ballot as a libertarian candidate. Heller, an armed security guard, sued the District after it rejected his application to keep a handgun at his home for protection in the same Capitol Hill neighborhood as the court. "Mr. Heller's challenge to Ms. Norton is welcomed in the spirit of debate, and as...

The presidential race in Virginia is now dead even, with Barack Obama and John McCain each drawing 44% of the vote, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of voters in the state. If “leaners” are factored in, McCain leads by a statistically insignificant one percentage point 48% to 47%. Despite the close race, one potentially worrisome fact for the Democratic candidate is that nearly one out of two Virginia voters (47%) now view him unfavorably. That’s up from 44% in May and June. The number who see him in a Very Unfavorable light stands at 31%. McCain’s unfavorables,...

(The Politico) Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid isn't even up for re-election, but conservatives believe they've found a target for their ire over the energy debate. The American Future Fund, which describes itself as a promoter of free market conservative ideals, has created a fairly rudimentary advertisement that mocks Reid's recent comments that "oil makes us sick" _ comments that shot Reid to the top of YouTube for a day.

In one of Senate candidate Al Franken’s literary efforts titled “Rush Limbaugh Is A Big Fat Idiot,” he reveals his personal feelings about a topic important to many Minnesotans. In Chapter 12 of his book, I learned that candidate Franken is against private ownership of guns due to his belief that firearms in the home are “too dangerous.” I believe these views are more consistent with California or New York, where Mr. Franken still maintains corporate interests. His problem is Minnesota has always been a pro-gun state. Remember, a bipartisan majority passed “conceal and carry.” I called the National Rifle...

U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu now attracts 49% of the vote in her bid for re-election while Republican challenger John Kennedy earns 44%. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey shows that, when “leaners” are included, it’s Landrieu 51% Kennedy 45%.

A Reminder of Mark Warner's 2001 "No Tax Pledge" "The voters of Virginia know all too well as evidenced by the 2001 gubernatorial debates, where Mark Warner repeatedly pledged to the working families of Virginia that he would not raise taxes, that he broke that promise upon taking office and instead gave Virginians a $1.4 billion tax increase, the largest in Virginia history, despite there being a significant budget surplus of $324 million."

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR INFORMATION:  Peg Luksik, Campaign Manager | 814.244.8948   Grassroots Contributions Challenge Murtha War chest in PA’s 12th RussellBrigade.com Launches   JOHNSTOWN [07.16.08]:  The campaign of Johnstown resident and Republican nominee for Congress Lt. Colonel Bill Russell outpaced incumbent Congressman John Murtha in the second fundraising quarter of 2008.  According to campaign manager, Peg Luksik, William Russell for Congress reported raising $637,137 to Murtha’s $113,155 to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC).  The combined totals from the first and second quarters of 2008 exceed $900,000.    “The incredible story about Bill’s campaign is that the $15...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR INFORMATION: Peg Luksik, Campaign Manager | 814.244.8948 Grassroots Contributions Challenge Murtha War chest in PA’s 12th RussellBrigade.com Launches JOHNSTOWN [07.16.08]: The campaign of Johnstown resident and Republican nominee for Congress Lt. Colonel Bill Russell outpaced incumbent Congressman John Murtha in the second fundraising quarter of 2008. According to campaign manager, Peg Luksik, William Russell for Congress reported raising $637,137 to Murtha’s $113,155 to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC). The combined totals from the first and second quarters of 2008 exceed $900,000. “The incredible story about Bill’s campaign is that the $15 and $25 contributions are coming...

Last July, Paul Broun shocked Georgia pundits when the poorly funded physician narrowly defeated a longtime legislative leader in a GOP primary for a special election in an overwhelmingly Republican U.S. House seat. Party grandees were convinced Dr. Broun's victory was a fluke and this year backed a challenge from state Rep. Barry Fleming, who hails from the district's population center of Augusta. Mr. Fleming promptly raised nearly $1 million and proceeded to throw the kitchen sink at Dr. Broun, including mailers chiding him for failing to bring home earmarks for the district. Well, Dr. Broun will be going back...

Conservatives steam over Sauerberg staffer Chris Barron, former Press Secretary for the Log Cabin Republicans , now Press Secretary for Sauerberg 2008 IL GOP candidate for U.S. Senate Steve Sauerberg stunned social conservatives last week when he announced the addition of a homosexual rights activist as his campaign's new press secretary. Christopher Barron, 36, was point man for the Log Cabin Republicans in their 2004 campaign against President George W. Bush's effort to add a federal marriage amendment to the U.S. Constitution. After discussion about the revelation broke out last week on Illinois Review (see Sauerberg: Personnel is Policy...

Democratic Senate candidate Jeff Merkley is excited by a new poll that for the first time shows him ahead of Republican Sen. Gordon Smith - even if the two-point lead is well within the survey's margin of error. Jeff Merkley "The fact that we're in the lead is tremendous," said Merkley spokesman Matt Canter, saying he thinks that's probably the first time Smith has found himself in such a position in his nearly 12 years in the Senate. However, Smith's own pollster, Bob Moore, said he didn't trust the methodology of the poll by Rasmussen Reports. It uses an automated...

Election: There's little doubt voters want more drilling if even congressional candidates are starting to trek to Alaska to urge more oil development. Seven are there now. That's a wake-up call to Congress.Congressional challenger Craig Williams of Pennsylvania spoke to us Wednesday by phone from Deadhorse, Alaska. He and six other Republican candidates think there's enough voter disapproval with Congress' failure to do anything about gas prices to win this election, even in a season when Democrats are believed to have the advantage. "We've got a Democratic Congress doing absolutely nothing. Even the Republicans (before them) didn't do anything. So...

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Both of the major candidates in this year’s U.S. Senate race in Louisiana report raising more than $1.5 million in the last three months, although the incumbent has a big advantage right now in cash on hand. Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu’s campaign reports cash on hand of $5.5 million. State Treasurer John Kennedy, a Republican, has $2.7 million for his campaign to unseat Landrieu. The figures are from press releases distributed by the campaigns. The campaigns’ reports were due with the Federal Elections Commission Tuesday but had not been posted on the FEC Web site as...

Reed’s war chest continues to expand PROVIDENCE — While the national media swirls with speculation concerning Sen. Jack Reed’s chances of being Barack Obama’s running mate, Reed continues to pile up the campaign contributions for his reelection run against Republican Bob Tingle.Federal campaign reports for the 90-day period ending June 30 show that Reed harvested another $450,000 in campaign cash to bring his total war chest to $3.8 million.Reed, running for his third term in the Senate, faces a rematch with Republican Bob Tingle of Westerly. Reed crushed Tingle in 2002. Reed is considered by Washington, D.C.-based campaign experts...

Invoking the spirit of the 1858 debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas that started in Ottawa, Steve Sauerberg, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, Monday challenged Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, to a series of debates. "What better way is there to honor Abraham Lincoln's brilliant legacy than by following his example and participating in a robust conversation on the issues that impact Illinoisans?," Sauerberg asked in a press release. He noted this year marks the 150th anniversary of the Lincoln-Douglas debates. Sauerberg proposed he and Durbin follow the general schedule of the Lincoln-Douglas debates. He sent a formal request...