This morning, federal agents raided the home of Rep. Curt Weldon’s (R-PA) daughter. Is he next up?
Another race we’re watching very closely: NJ 7, an old favorite, Ferguson (R) v. Stender (D). Are you in the 7th? Let us know.
A short on Brown v. DeWine. When we say that the RNC has written off Sen. DeWine (R) in Ohio, no one should take that to mean that the race is over. Political committees have to make tough calls about how to distribute limited financial resources in these final weeks. The GOP’s decision not to invest any more money in DeWine tells you that they’re not confident more money will help at this point and they’re redirecting that cash toward races they believe they can still salvage. That’s not, however, the same as saying the race is over. It’s not.
TPM Reader SJ checks in from West Virginia 2 …
My congressional district WV-02 is suddenly looking a whole lot less secure for the Republican incumbent, Shelley Moore Capito. The RNCC did a poll in mid-July (around the time of a Bush fund-raiser) but there’s been no public polls for this race.
Reading the tea leaves, this is a sleeper race that is more competitive than generally given credit.
Most Telling
1) I was polled by Venture Data a week ago (Monday, October 9) prior to the first candidate debate (10/11). The poll bordered on a push poll when it tested out several lines of attack on the challenger (Mike Callaghan). After testing out those attacks it inquired about the impact of the Foley scandal. It was obviously a Republican funding poll. Their biggest fear: Foley keeps Republicans home.
2) The next day, Capito rolled out her first ads directly attacking Callaghan. An incumbent in a safe seat never mentions their opponent by name. For her to go on the direct attack means the polls must not have looked so good.
3) Later in the week the RNCC disclosed funding for THE TARRANCE GROUP, 10/12/2006, $8,235, for a PRO-Capito survey. This is perhaps a different poll to test the impact of the attack ads and the first debate.
Who else is in WV2?
I notice that Rep. Pombo’s (R-CA) ties to Jack Abramoff seem to be coming up again. So I thought I’d remind everyone that in the cache of Abramoff skybox emails we published last year, Rep. Pombo’s staffers showed up more frequently than anyone else.
Excuses, excuses. Are you a Republican who wants to cancel an upcoming fundraiser with Denny Hastert or Tom Reynolds? See how it’s done.
Former Bush FDA Chief charged with making false statements.
Update: Actually, Former FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford will plead guilty tomorrow to making false statements and having a conflict of interest while he headed the agency. Details and charging documents here.
Huh. Sounds like a campaign brimming with confidence …
TPM Reader DD pointed me to this post that explains that notes that Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) has just launched a new campaign website with a blog (click one of the ‘blog’ banners to visit the blog).
Only, you can’t read it.
Or maybe you can, but I can’t.
Apparently you have to be invited by the Pombo campaign to be able to read the Pombo campaign blog.
I signed up for an account with WordPress, as the instructions tell you to do. But I was told “Youâre logged in, but donât have access to this blog. You may contact the blog administrator to gain access.”
Is anyone out there among the elect? The few, the proud, those allowed to read the Pombo blog?
Rep. Curt Weldon’s (R-PA) new, improved left-wing conspiracy theory. Now featuring Bill Clinton, Sandy Berger, and the DCCC. While supplies last.