NY-23

Kansas GOP Rep. Tiahrt Endorses Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 9:58PM

Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS)

Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS), who is currently running for the Republican nomination in a contested 2010 U.S. Senate primary, has now endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election -- the second sitting member of Congress to openly do so, after Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN).

Tiahrt's press release blasts the moderate GOP nominee Dede Scozzafava, questions her party loyalty, and casts the race as a test for the soul of the GOP:

"Doug Hoffman will be a consistent vote for conservative principles in the U.S. House of Representatives. I have no doubt he will vote for anyone other than Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House, which is the most important vote of each Congress. I do not have that same confidence in his opponent, who has a very similar record to Ms. Pelosi."

Tiahrt claims the New York 23 election reflects the same battle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party going on nationally.

"The Republican Party is either going to return to the party of fiscal responsibility and consistent conservative principles as it was under Ronald Reagan or it will continue down the path of 'sporadic moderation,'" Tiahrt exclaimed.

As noted before, Tiahrt is running in a Republican primary for Senate, facing off against fellow Kansas GOP Congressman Jerry Moran. Take this as a sign that support of Hoffman over Scozzafava could become its own litmus test for Republicans in the future -- as a mark of true conservatism, requiring that candidates will have not supported the GOP's actual nominee in this race.

Check out the full Tiahrt press release after the jump.

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Tim Pawlenty

Pawlenty: My State Should Opt Out

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 4:37PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), a potential president candidate, says that his state should opt out of the public option if given the chance.

"I don't know if we would opt out, but I personally would like to opt out because I don't like government-run health care," Pawlenty said.

This shouldn't be too much of a shocker, considering that Pawlenty had previously talked about invoking the Tenth Amendment and attempting to nullify health care reform at the state level. Really, being given permission by the federal government to opt out isn't much in comparison.

It's unlikely that Minnesota actually would opt out, due to its legislature being heavily Democratic. But hey, Pawlenty can dream. And he can court the national GOP base.

NY-23

McCain's Office Not Saying Who He Supports In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 3:32PM

Fmr. Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)

Here's an important question on the NY-23 race: Now that the Republican Party's 2008 Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin has broken with the party to support a third party Conservative over the moderate GOP candidate, who does her former running mate and ex-presidential nominee John McCain support?

I have placed multiple messages with McCain's office, asking which candidate he supports in the special election, and whether he agrees with Palin's denunciation of the GOP for putting up a moderate nominee. They have not gotten back to me.

Republicans

Poll: GOP's Favorability At Its Worst In A Decade

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 2:48PM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

A new CNN poll has some really bad news for the Republican Party, with their favorability number reaching its lowest in a decade.

Only 36% of people view the GOP favorably, with an outright majority of 54% viewing them unfavorably. By comparison, the Democratic Party is at 53% favorable to 41% unfavorable -- hardly a good omen for the Republicans if they want to make significant gains in 2010.

The last time the GOP was this bad in CNN's polling was in December 1998, in the heat of the impeachment battles, when they were at 31%-57%.

From the pollster's analysis: "The Republican party may still be battling the legacy left to them by George W. Bush. They have also spent a lot of time in 2009 working against Democratic proposals. That hasn't left them a lot of time so far this year to present a positive, post-Bush message. Of course, there is still plenty of time for them to do so before the 2010 midterms."

NY-23

Whose Side Are They On? The Big GOP Schism In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 2:00PM

The NY-23 special election has led to a very interesting development: A whole lot of prominent Republicans are openly calling for the defeat of the moderate Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava, opting instead to back the Conservative Party's Doug Hoffman, while just a few are sticking by the actual GOP candidate.

This race has put two former House GOP leaders on different sides, the NRA against the Club For Growth, and the House GOP leadership against its own back-benches.

The message being sent here is loud and clear: Republicans are not allowed to nominate moderate candidates. If they do, it won't just be the grassroots activists and conservative bloggers who will complain -- the big names will do it, too, and will set out to defeat that candidate, even if means the Democrats wins. As a prominent pro-life activist told me about the prospect of a Democratic victory, "It's a shame that the Republican Party didn't do a better job of selecting a candidate."

Let's look at the list of Republicans who are supporting Hoffman, and the ones supporting Scozzafava. Let's start with Scozzafava's backers -- it's a much shorter list.

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NY-23

Pawlenty: 'I'm Concerned' About Moderate GOP Candidate's Positions In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 1:36PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), a potential presidential candidate, is starting to sound an awful lot like he could end up endorsing Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election -- saying that he'ss "concerned" about moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava's positions.

Yesterday, Pawlenty had simply said that he didn't know anything about the race. Now it's quite different, as ABC News reports:

Pawlenty, who's widely mentioned as a possible 2012 presidential candidate, said he will "probably" make an endorsement in the race -- and sounded as if he's poised to support Hoffman over Scozzafava.

"As a conservative I'm concerned about some of the alleged issue positions that she holds," said Pawlenty, R-Minn. "I want to be fair to both candidates and look at their records. But there are some things that [I] have been told that you know, she holds dear, that may not be consistent with conservative principles."

Alan Grayson

Grayson: Cheney Has 'Blood That Drips From His Teeth'

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 10:52AM

Former Vice President Dick Cheney, Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

During an appearance yesterday on Hardball, Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) jokingly suggested that former Vice President Dick Cheney is a vampire.

Chris Matthews asked Grayson what he thinks of Cheney's attacks on President Obama for "dithering" on Afghanistan.

"Well, my response is -- and by the way, I have trouble listening to what he says sometimes, because of the blood that drips from his teeth while he's talking," said Grayson. "But my response is this: He's just angry because the president doesn't shoot old men in the face. But by the way, when he was done speaking, did he just then turn into a bat and fly away?"

Even Matthews, no Cheney fan himself, was shocked: "Oh God -- we gotta keep a level here. Let me ask you this: Don't you have any Republican friends?"

Grayson laughed, and said that some of his best friends are Republicans.

NY-23

Steve Forbes Endorsing Doug Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 9:32AM

NY-23 Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

A source close to Doug Hoffman has just told me that Steve Forbes will be endorsing the Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election -- yet another right-wing voice who is rebelling against the Republican Party for nominating moderate candidate Dede Scozzafava.

The biggest news, of course, is that Sarah Palin has endorsed Hoffman, denouncing the GOP for putting up their candidate. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) is also backing Hoffman, the only sitting member of Congress to openly do so -- though of Congressional Republican have not endorsed Scozzafava.

This sure is a mess, and it's looking more and more likely that Democratic candidate Bill Owens will win from the GOP split with the Tea Party purists, giving House Democrats a pick-up of a Republican-held seat.

NY-23

Poll: Dem Leads In NY-23, Conservative Party's Hoffman Still In Third

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 8:32AM

NY-23 candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Bill Owens (D)

The new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll of the NY-23 special election finds Democratic candidate Bill Owens narrowly leading Republican Dede Scozzafava -- and Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate who has excited a revolt against the GOP establishment from the whole national right wing, in third.

The numbers: Owens 35%, Scozzafava 30%, and Hoffman 23%, with a ±4% margin of error. This is consistent with last week's Siena poll, which had Owens ahead by 33%-29%-23%.

Hoffman supporters were asked for their second choices, with only 9% saying they would back Scozzafava, 3% for Owens, 26% who wouldn't vote, and 62% who are undecided. Even with the higher margins of error that afflict these sorts of sub-samples, that's pretty telling.

Interestingly, a key poll question finds that Scozzafava doesn't even qualify for the argument that the GOP should nominate moderate candidates to match moderate districts. Scozzafava is in favor of gay marriage -- making her even more progressive than the Democrat on this issue -- but the district's likely voters oppose gay marriage by 53%-39%.

NY-23

Palin Endorses Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 11:49PM

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) has endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election, in a statement provided to the Weekly Standard, and is blasting the GOP for picking moderate Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava:

Political parties must stand for something. When Republicans were in the wilderness in the late 1970s, Ronald Reagan knew that the doctrine of "blurring the lines" between parties was not an appropriate way to win elections. Unfortunately, the Republican Party today has decided to choose a candidate that more than blurs the lines, and there is no real difference between the Democrat and the Republican in this race. This is why Doug Hoffman is running on the Conservative Party's ticket.

Republicans and conservatives around the country are sending an important message to the Republican establishment in their outstanding grassroots support for Doug Hoffman: no more politics as usual.

Just think about the seriousness of the split in Republican ranks over this race -- the nominee for Vice President in last year's election is now rejecting the party's candidate in a Congressional race, where the divisions among the right are threatening to hand a GOP-held seat to the Democrats.

NJ-GOV

Final New Jersey Debate Focuses On Taxes, Corruption

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 9:53PM

Former US Attorney Chris Christie (R) and Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ)

The three candidates in New Jersey met for their final debate, a radio debate as opposed to TV. The big focus of the night was the state's property taxes, along with discussion of another big issue in New Jersey, public corruption.

Hot-button issues like health care and gay marriage were not to be found. Property taxes are a major funding mechanism for government in New Jersey -- and represent a huge burden on residents, and are thus a major campaign issue. The candidates were all asked how much they personally pay in property taxes. Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine pays about $35,000 or $36,000, Republican nominee Chris Christie pays $38,000, and independent Chris Daggett pays $18,000.

They all went through their proposals about what to do to change this. Corzine discussed his administration's accomplishments in promoting local government consolidations. Christie talked about putting pressure on local government to reduce spending, and to force consolidations by giving grants to towns to explore it -- and if it's found that consolidation would save money, they must either consolidate or pay the state the money back from the study. Daggett called for a hard cap on municipal spending, with very few exceptions, combined with an expanded sales tax base.

Read more »

FL-SEN

Rubio: GOP Needs To Stand Up To Obama, Not Cooperate

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 6:35PM

Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) and former state House Speaker Marco Rubio (R)

Former Florida state House Speaker Marco Rubio, the conservative insurgent candidate in the Republican primary for Senate, appeared on the Fox Business Channel to draw contrast between himself and the moderate Gov. Charlie Crist -- and gave a very broad, telling statement about the direction of the Republican Party.

Rubio attacked Crist for supporting President Obama's stimulus bill, supporting cap-and-trade, and for raising taxes and fees in Florida. "I don't believe that's the direction our party should head, and more importantly, I think now more than ever we need to send people to Washington, D.C., that will stand up to the agenda of Barack Obama and of the leaders of the Congress, not cooperate with them on these things -- and more importantly, that will offer a clear alternative."

In the current battles between the party establishment and the grassroots right -- such as Rubio vs. Crist in Florida, and Scozzafava vs. Hoffman in NY-23 -- this has become the big issue, of the GOP base wanting to see Republicans who will fight Obama at all fronts, and not cooperate.

Alan Grayson

Grayson Puts Actual Names Back On 'Names Of The Dead'

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 4:47PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) has made a new change to his "Names of the Dead" Web site, which is meant to catalog a list of people who have died for lack of health insurance, with the sidebar of dead people's names now restored to the site.

The page had originally allowed users to post names that would immediately go live to the site, without any editing, which quickly led to the display of joke names like "Wile E. Coyote" and "Hugh G. Reckshinn." The list was then removed.

A source close to Grayson told me that names will now be cleared through an administrator before going live.

However, I should point out that this approach is also susceptible to prank names if they are obscure enough -- which already happened yesterday with entries such as "Steve Rogers, 90" (Captain America), "Casper McFadden, 12" (Casper the Friendly Ghost), or "Norma Jeane Mortenson, 36" (Marilyn Monroe).

NJ-GOV

Poll: Corzine Leads Christie By 42%-39%

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 3:18PM

Former US Attorney Chris Christie (R) and Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ)

The new Democracy Corps (D) poll of the New Jersey gubernatorial race finds Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine narrowly leading Republican former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, by a slim three-point margin.

The numbers: Corzine 42%, Christie 39%, and independent Chris Daggett with 13%. This is essentially unchanged from the last D-Corps survey, which had Corzine up by 41%-38%-14%.

The analysis finds that neither major party candidate enjoys any real popularity with the voters: "Amidst a campaign that has turned almost exclusively negative, both Corzine and Christie remain relatively unpopular with New Jersey voters. Christie is viewed unfavorably by 42 percent of voters and favorably by 35 percent for a net favorability rating of -7 points. Corzine's net favorability rating is nearly identical at -8 points, with 46 percent rating him unfavorably versus 38 percent rating him favorably."

Daggett's favorable-unfavorable rating is 15%-25%.

Alan Grayson

Grayson Removes Campaign Link From 'Names of the Dead' Web Site

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 3:15PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) has modified his "Names of the Dead" Web site, which is meant to catalog a list of people who have died for lack of health insurance, removing a link to his campaign Web site.

Republicans had been objecting that Grayson used the House floor to promote a site that contained link to his campaign site -- and thus an avenue to donate to him -- and also that he was using his personal money to run a site that in turn linked to his campaign.

Grayson's office gave us this statement from the Congressman:

"There are no violations. Once again, the Republicans are trying to change the subject from what matters to what doesn't matter. Why can't they talk about the issues? In the hours since they started complaining about this, more than 100 people have died because they do not have health insurance. Let's talk about saving lives, not about baseless complaints about violations that did not occur."

Read more »

NY-23

Hoffman Radio Ad In NY-23 Makes Fun of Scozzafava Camp For Calling Police Against Reporter

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 2:26PM

NY-23 Candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the three-way NY-23 special election, has a new radio ad making fun of moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava's campaign for calling the police against Weekly Standard reporter John McCormack, who offended the campaign by following the candidate and asking her questions about her policy positions.

The ad is a comedic dramatization of a Scozzafava staffer calling 911. Here's a short excerpt:

[Audio recording static and telephone ringing sfx, male voice] 911, please state your emergency.

[Female voice, agitated] Yes, I work for Dede Scozzafava. A reporter just asked about her voting to increase taxes!

[911] I see the problem. Which of Scozzafava's 190 votes to raise taxes did the reporter ask about?

[CALLER] I don't know, I mean, she's been in Albany 10 years...

Listen to the whole thing. It's really funny.

Click To Play

Dede Scozzafava

Gingrich Explains Scozzafava Endorsement, Slams Right-Wing Critics

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 1:57PM

Fmr. Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) and NY-23 candidate Dede Scozzafava (R)

Newt Gingrich has put up a new blog post, responding to right-wing criticism for his endorsement of moderate Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava in the NY-23 special election, instead of Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman.

Gingrich explains the importance of having a big tent in a party, and of reaching out to moderates who help to build an actual majority. And towards the end, he crosses over into directly questioning the maturity of his detractors:

Through my experience as Speaker of the House and building a Republican majority in 1994, I have learned that if America wants a conservative majority in Washington, parts of that majority are going to disagree. I was elected Speaker because a number of moderates voted for me. They gave us control of the House for the first time in forty years, allowing us to balance the federal budget, cut taxes and reform welfare for America.

...

My number one interest is to build a Republican majority. If your interest is taking power back from the Left, and your interest is winning the necessary elections, then there are times when you have to put together a coalition that has disagreement within it.

We have to decide which business we are in. If we are in the business about feeling good about ourselves while our country gets crushed then I probably made the wrong decision.

NY-23

Obama Sends E-mail Endorsing Dem Candidate In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 1:29PM

NY-23 candidate Bill Owens (D) and Pres. Obama

President Obama has sent out a new e-mail to his Organizing For America campaign e-mail list for New York's 23rd Congressional District, telling recipients that he endorses Democratic candidate Bill Owens in the upcoming special election and urges them to help out:

As I work to change the tone of our nation's politics and end the petty partisanship that has dominated Washington for too long, I'll need the help of leaders like Bill.

That's why I'm proud to announce my support for Bill Owens, candidate for Congress in New York's 23rd Congressional District.

But my support will only take Bill so far. As we learned last year, true change doesn't come from folks in Washington, but from the dedication and energy of people like you.

A win here would be a pick-up for the Democrats, taking the seat formerly held by GOP Congressman John McHugh, who was appointed by Obama to be Secretary of the Army. The Republicans have been seriously damaged by a split between supporters of moderate GOP nominee Dede Scozzafava versus Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman.

The full e-mail is available after the jump.

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NY-23

Dick Armey: Conservative Party's Hoffman Is 'The Real Republican' In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 12:15PM

NY-23 candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative) and Dick Armey

Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX) formally endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election, further deepening the split on the right in this campaign for a GOP-held swing seat.

Hoffman is running against Democrat Bill Owens and the regular Republican nominee, Dede Scozzafava, who has been assailed on the right for her liberal positions on issues like abortion, gay marriage and the Employee Free Choice Act. A recent Siena poll; showed Owens narrowly ahead of Scozzafava in a three-way race, and benefitting enormously from the split in Republican ranks.

Said Armey: "Though Doug may not be running on the Republican line, Doug is the real Republican in this race and that's why I'm endorsing him today." Those are some strong words for a former House GOP leader, to be disowning his party's official candidate.

Check out the full Hoffman campaign press release, after the jump.

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Alan Grayson

GOP Candidate Filing Ethics Complaint Against Grayson

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 10:54AM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Patricia Sullivan, a Tea Party organizer seeking the Republican nomination against Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), is filing a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics over Grayson's use of the House floor to promote his "Names of the Dead" Web site:

As a Mom, Patricia has learned to apply swift correction to bad behavior. She will be filing a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics later today. It is her hope and desire that the OCE will forward the complaint to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

If the committee sees fit to censure the violations of Representative Grayson, perhaps the residents of the 8th Congressional District will no longer be subject to the constant embarrassment they have endured over the last few months.

Grayson's office did not have any comment on Sullivan's press release. A source in the office said that they've reached out to the Ethics Committee and the House Administration Committee for their opinion, and are also speaking to their FEC attorney.

Check out the full Sullivan statement after the jump.

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Michele Bachmann

Bachmann Supports Conservative Party's Doug Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 10:24AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) appeared yesterday on Laura Ingraham's radio show -- and called upon listeners to support Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election, instead of the moderate Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava.

Bachmann quite correctly said the race is a "mess," and said that she's read that the Republican candidate is now in third place, with the Democrat in first place and Hoffman as the real chance to keep the seat in the GOP column. Interestingly, there has not been any publicly-released poll at this time showing Hoffman in second place. The latest Siena poll had Democrat Bill Owens in first place with 33%, Scozzafava with 29%, and Hoffman with 23%.

Ingraham repeatedly pressed Bachmann on who she supported. Her bottom line: "Hoffman is on the ascendancy, and we have to win this seat. And people need to get behind the winning candidate, and it looks like that's Hoffman."

NJ-GOV

Poll: Corzine Leads Christie By 39%-36%

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 9:08AM

Former US Attorney Chris Christie (R) and Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ)

The new Rutgers-Eagleton poll of the New Jersey gubernatorial race gives Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine a three-point lead over his Republican opponent Chris Christie -- with a significant number of voters going for independent Chris Daggett.

The numbers: Corzine 39%, Christie 36%, and Daggett 20%, with a ±4% margin of error.

From the pollster's analysis: "Daggett continues to draw fairly evenly from both major party candidates. However, in a close race, it may make a difference that Daggett voters are people who would have been slightly more on Christie's side than on Corzine's in a two-way race. The underlying question is whether current Daggett supporters really will vote for him on Election Day, or whether they will opt for their second choice, one of the major party candidates."

NJ-GOV

Obama At Corzine Rally: Republicans 'Got A Lot of Nerve' To Complain About Their Own Mess

Eric Kleefeld | October 21, 2009, 6:59PM

President Obama just headlined a rally for Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ), and turned Republican nominee Chris Christie's attacks about the state's problems right back at the GOP.

"Now listening to Jon's opponent, you'd think New Jersey was the only state that's been swept up by the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression," said Obama, "which, by the way, didn't start under Jon Corzine's party's watch. There seems to be some selective memory about how we got into this fix."

Obama said the state's economic problems are part of the nation's overall crisis, which is in turn the product of lax regulation and trickle-down economics promoted by the GOP: "They got a lot of nerve -- they leave this big mess and suddenly they're complaining about how fast we're cleaning it up."

Obama urged New Jersey's voters to stick with Corzine, calling him an honorable man looking out for the state: "I hope what you want is someone who's gonna be straight with you, who's got your interests at heart, and is gonna be out there every single day fighting for you, because he loves public service and he understands if it weren't for folks who were out there fighting for him, he wouldn't be where he got to."

Alan Grayson

Grayson: 'Names of the Dead' Site A Memorial To Those We've Lost -- And Republicans Have No Respect For The Dead

Eric Kleefeld | October 21, 2009, 6:24PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

I just spoke with Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), and he stood by his "Names of the Dead" Web site, which is meant to memorialize the people who have lost their lives because they didn't have health insurance -- and which was promptly flooded with joke names, and criticized by the GOP for allegedly violating campaign finance law.

Grayson said that the site is being done in the spirit of other great memorials that are all around Washington -- to honor the dead who have lost their lives for a lack of insurance, and to make people think about the issue.

"I can't really tell you how I first got the idea for it. But I can tell you there are many memorials that are very moving. They're all around D.C., and everyone who visits D.C. gives some thought to the people we lost," said Grayson. "And I think this is a very fitting way to show these people that we respect them and we miss them. We miss them, and we love them. The people who are gone because they didn't get the health care they needed are just as important as everyone else. And the fact that certain elements of the political spectrum deny their existence only makes it that much more important that we remember them by naming them and honoring them."

"I meant what I said in my floor speech," Grayson also said, explaining: "That the best way to honor them is to make sure that everyone in America has the health care they need, and that the list itself, the need for the list, is a thing of the past."

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Alan Grayson

Alan Grayson Unveils 'Names of the Dead' Web Site -- And Gets Punked With Joke Names

Eric Kleefeld | October 21, 2009, 3:29PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) has set up a new Web site, Names of the Dead, to memorialize Americans who died because they had no health insurance:

Every year, more than 44,000 Americans die simply because have no health insurance.

I have created this project in their memory. I hope that honoring them will help us end this senseless loss of American lives. If you have lost a loved one, please share the story of that loved one with us. Help us ensure that their legacy is a more just America, where every life that can be saved will be saved.

Grayson announced this new Web site on the House floor:

Read more »

Olympia Snowe

Poll: Maine Democrats Love Olympia Snowe -- GOPers Split

Eric Kleefeld | October 21, 2009, 3:00PM

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)

The new survey of Maine by Public Policy Polling (D) finds that Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe is overwhelmingly popular with the state's Democrats, in the wake of her vote for the Senate Finance Committee's health care bill -- and not too well liked among Republicans.

A whopping 70% of Maine Democrats approve of Snowe's job performance, with only 17% disapproving. Republicans, by contrast, are tied at 45%-45%. Independents approve of Snowe by 51%-33%, yielding an overall top-line approval of 56%-31%.

"With less than half of Republicans approving of Olympia Snowe now it's going to be interesting to see if she's challenged from the right come 2012," said PPP president Dean Debnam, in the polling memo. "Is she going to be pushed into a corner the way Arlen Specter was where her only prospect for political survival is a party switch? It's certainly something political observers across the country will be watching."

Read more »

FL-SEN

Another Poll Shows Rubio Gaining On Crist

Eric Kleefeld | October 21, 2009, 12:41PM

Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) and former state House Speaker Marco Rubio (R)

The new Rasmussen poll of the Florida Republican Senate primary confirms that the race is getting closer between the frontrunner, the moderate Gov. Charlie Crist, and the more conservative former state House Speaker Marco Rubio.

The numbers: Crist 49%, Rubio 35%, with a ±4.5% margin of error. Back in August, Crist had been ahead by 53%-31%.

This is nearly identical to this morning's Quinnipiac poll, which has Crist ahead by 50%-35%.

NY-23

NY-23 GOP Candidate Calls For More Debates -- Conservative Party Camp Tells Her To Drop Out

Eric Kleefeld | October 21, 2009, 12:10PM

NY-23 Candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

Dede Scozzafava, the moderate Republican running in the three-way NY-23 special election, is now challenging her opponents to hold more debates -- and focusing on the one who has been the biggest thorn in her side, Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman.

Scozzafava held a press conference this morning, right outside of one of Hoffman's campaign offices. "I've agreed to debate," Scozzafava said. "I've agreed to every forum that's been offered and I think it's time that the opposition and both of my opponents agree as well."

Hoffman spokesman Rob Ryan responded in a statement saying that they have tried to debate -- and also lambasting Scozzafava's campaign for calling the police against Weekly Standard reporter John McCormack, and calling on her to drop out of the race for the good of the GOP.

Read more »

NY-23

AP: Weekly Standard Reporter Didn't Yell At GOP Candidate In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 21, 2009, 11:23AM

NY-23 Candidate Dede Scozzafava (R)

After the campaign of Dede Scozzafava, the Republican candidate in the three-way NY-23 special election, called the police against Weekly Standard reporter John McCormack, they accused him of screaming questions in her face -- an allegation that has now been disproven.

McCormack gave his audio recording to the Associated Press, and their judgement as a neutral third party is that he didn't yell:

In the audio recording of the reporter's questioning played for The Associated Press by McCormack, the reporter didn't raise his voice, but repeated his unanswered questions several times, including one about abortion.

"I never screamed, I never yelled, I never shouted," he said. "My voice was only loud enough so she could hear my questions."

NJ-GOV

Another Poll Shows New Jersey Race Up In The Air

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 5:50PM

Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) and Former US Attorney Chris Christie (R)

The new Rasmussen poll of New Jersey finds that the race continues to be a dead heat -- and that a lot could hinge on the potential final movements of Daggett voters.

As was done last week, respondents were initially asked for first preferences between Democrat Jon Corzine, Republican Christ Christie, and independent Chris Daggett. Those who answered Daggett were then given a follow-up question of whether they were sure -- an attempt to measure the usual drop-off that third-party candidates have -- and their possible new votes were then distributed.

The initial preference, provided to me by Scott Rasmussen: Corzine 37%, Christie 36%, Daggett 16%, and 11% undecided, with a ±4% margin of error. After Daggett supporters were re-questioned, and other leaners were pushed, it became Christie 41%, Corzine 39%, Daggett 11%.

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NJ-GOV

Lautenberg Calls For Federal Investigation of Christie

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 5:36PM

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and NJ Gov. Candidate Chris Christie

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) has called for a federal investigation of former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, the Republican nominee for governor in the election two weeks from now, regarding allegations that Christie may have used his office for political gain.

This comes in the wake of today's report that Christie's former aide, Michele Brown, allegedly intervened in the processing of the Corzine campaign's Freedom of Information Act requests regarding Christie's records, and also reportedly urged the office to take action quickly on local corruption arrests in order to benefit Christie's campaign. Brown later resigned from the office, after it was revealed that she'd received an undisclosed $46,000 personal loan from Christie in 2007.

Lautenberg called it "shocking" that Christie appeared to have run a political campaign from the U.S. Attorney's office. The election is two weeks from now -- so we should all expect these accusations to only get more intense in the next fortnight.

Michael Steele

Poll: Steele Viewed Favorably By 39% Of Republican Voters, With High Undecideds

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 5:08PM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

A new Rasmussen poll finds RNC chairman Michael Steele with only a modest approval rating among Republican primary voters, with a high number of respondents who have no opinion.

The numbers: 39% favorable, 27% favorable, and 35% with no option. A further breakdown shows 11% very favorable and 28% somewhat favorable, to 9% very unfavorable and 18% somewhat unfavorable.

The pollster's analysis also finds that male Republican voters view Steele both more favorably and more unfavorably than women Republicans do, with women having a disproportionately high undecided number of 41%.

NY-23

GOP Candidate's Husband Called Police Against Weekly Standard

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 4:08PM

NY-23 Candidate Dede Scozzafava (R)

It has now been determined who it was on the Dede Scozzafava campaign, the moderate Republican in a three-way race with a Democrat and a Conservative Party candidate in NY-23 campaign, that called the police against Weekly Standard reporter John McCormack for following her and asking questions: Scozzafava's husband, Ron McDougall.

The Watertown Daily Times reports:

Ronald P. McDougall, shortly before 9 p.m., called county dispatchers from the Lowville Elks Lodge on Shady Avenue to request patrol for a nuisance report and hung up, according to a dispatch report of the incident. Upon a call back from dispatchers, Mr. McDougall identified himself and suggested the media was too close to his wife -- state Assemblywoman Dierdre K. Scozzafava, R-Gouverneur -- and that he was uncomfortable with a reporter.

"I think he was just pressing," village Police Chief Eric F. Fredenburg said of John McCormack, deputy online editor of the Weekly Standard, a conservative magazine.

NY-23

NY-23 GOP Campaign And Weekly Standard Feud: Read The E-mails

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 2:50PM

NY-23 Candidate Dede Scozzafava (R)

The feud is heating up between the Weekly Standard and the Dede Scozzafava campaign -- the moderate Republican running in the three-way NY-23 special election -- with Scozzafava spokesman Matt Burns now forwarding to TPM e-mails between himself and the Standard, in a challenge to the magazine's journalistic objectivity.

The latest battle between the two camps involved the Scozzafava campaign calling the police against Standard reporter John McCormack, for following around their candidate and repeatedly asking her questions in a manner that they said showed "a complete lack of decency." Bill Kristol then characterized Scozzafava spokesman Matt Burns as the malevolent character, for having called their offices on Friday and yelled at them over a story. Now, Burns has sent us e-mails connected with that dust-up from last week.

"Last week, John wrote a story that falsely asserted Dede was something other than a life-long Republican," Burns wrote me. "He took that leap based upon the exchange below. How any objective reporter would take such a leap, I'll let you report and readers decide."

McCormack confirmed the authenticity of the e-mails to me. "I have no problem posting that e-mail exchange," McCormack said. "But it's a sign of a truly desperate campaign when they're forwarding e-mails to left-wing blogs, instead of talking about their own agenda, and unwilling to answer questions about where she stands on the issues."

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NY-23

NY-23 Dem Candidate Hit With Trademark Letter Over His Ad -- But He's Standing By It

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 1:53PM

NY-23 candidate Bill Owens (D)

Bill Owens, the Democratic candidate in the NY-23 special election, has now been told by the California Milk Processor Board to pull one of his ads for infringing on their "got milk?" trademark -- but he's sticking with it.

The Owens ad says he'll fight on behalf of local dairy farmers to stop alleged price-fixing by milk companies, and ends with him saying, "We've got to find out -- who's got milk money?" The phrase "got milk money?" is then on screen, in a similar font as the "got milk?" ads.

"He has not sought our permission to use it," said California Milk Processor Board Executive Director Stephen James. "He does not have our permission to use it and if we don't police the trademark and make sure that it's not abused by anyone who just feels like slapping it on what they want to slap it on, then we lose the rights to the trademark."

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NY-23

Weekly Standard Hits Back At NY-23 GOPer Campaign's Accusations, Call To The Police

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 12:34PM

NY-23 Candidate Dede Scozzafava (R) and William Kristol

The campaign of Dede Scozzafava, the moderate Republican candidate in a three-way race with a Democrat and a Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election, is now in a public shouting match with the Weekly Standard -- which is blasting the campaign for what it calls an abuse of the press by a desperate politician.

This comes after the Scozzafava camp called the police on their reporter John McCormack, for asking a lot of pointed questions of Scozzafava and following her into the parking lot of an event.

Scozzafava spokesman Matt Burns told the Politico that McCormack's behavior "shows a complete lack of decency," and seemed to be saying that McCormack was stalking his candidate: "This self-described reporter repeatedly screamed questions (in-your-face-style) while our candidate was doing what she is supposed to be doing: speaking with voters (remember, those who will decide this election?). And then he followed the candidate to her car, continuing to carry on in a manner that would make the National Enquirer blush. I have no doubt he intended to follow her home, too. His actions were reprehensible. Those are the facts."

Bill Kristol has fired back, standing up for his reporter -- and calling Burns the abusive one.

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NJ-GOV

Christie Camp Tries To Hammer Corzine Charity Story -- Gets Hammered Instead, On Michele Brown

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 11:29AM

Former US Attorney Chris Christie (R) and Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ)

On a conference call with reporters just now, the Christie camp tried to hammer Jon Corzine over potential political conflicts from his charitable donations -- and ended up getting grilled by reporters about whether Michele Brown, Christie's former aide in the U.S. Attorney's office, may have been illegally helping his campaign.

This came after a Star-Ledger report that Corzine had donated $87,000, from his charitable foundation and his own personal accounts, to the church of Rev. Reginald Jackson in Orange, New Jersey. Jackson denies that his endorsement of Corzine is connected to the donations, despite Christie's agreement on Jackson's big issue of charter schools: "In this particular race between Corzine and Chris Christie, if there are 10 issues, Jon Corzine and I are in agreement on nine of them. Chris Christie and I probably agree on three of them. It was a very difficult decision to make."

Meanwhile, the New York Times reports that Michele Brown, who remained in the U.S Attorney's office after Christie stepped down, interceded to handle the Corzine campaign's Freedom Of Information Act requests for Christie's record, and also allegedly urged the office to take action quickly on local corruption arrests in order to benefit Christie's campaign. Brown later resigned from the office, after it was revealed that she'd received an undisclosed $46,000 personal loan from Christie in 2007. Brown told the Times that the latest allegations are "outrageous and inaccurate."

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NY-23

GOP Campaign In NY-23 Calls The Police On Weekly Standard Reporter

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 11:20AM

NY-23 Candidate Dede Scozzafava (R)

Now this is something that doesn't happen every day. The campaign of Dede Scozzafava, the moderate Republican candidate who is in a three-way race with a Democrat and a Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election, called the police on a Weekly Standard reporter for asking her too many questions.

The Standard's John McCormack reported that he asked Scozzafava repeated questions about her support for the Employee Free Choice Act, her positions on health care, taxes and abortion. After a staffer got in between him and the candidate, he followed her to the parking lot and kept trying to ask questions.

Then things got interesting:

After she got into her car, I went to my car and fired up my laptop to report the evening's events.

Minutes later a police car drove into the parking lot with its lights flashing. Officer Grolman informed me that she was called because "there was a little bit of an uncomfortable situation" and then took down my name, date of birth, and address.

"Maybe we do things a little differently here, but you know, persistence in that area, you scared the candidate a little bit," Officer Grolman told me.

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NJ-GOV

Poll: Corzine And Christie Tied At 39% Each

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 8:41AM

Former US Attorney Chris Christie (R) and Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ)

The new Monmouth poll shows the New Jersey gubernatorial race tied, with Republican Chris Christie having lost the lead he once held over Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine.

The numbers: Christie 39%, Corzine 39%, and independent Chris Daggett 14%, with a ±3.1% margin of error. Three weeks ago, Christie led by 43%-40%-8%, and he was up by 47%-39%-5% two and a half weeks before that.

The pollster's analysis finds Christie losing Democratic support back to Corzine and even some GOP voters to Daggett, while both candidates have lost independent voters to Daggett: "Democrats who flirted with Chris Christie earlier in the year have come back into the fold. It also looks like some GOP voters may have become disenchanted with their white knight. That's not a good sign for the Republican at this late stage of the game."

Alan Grayson

GOP Candidate Switches Districts, To Run Against Grayson

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2009, 6:14PM

FL-08 Candidate Ken Miller (R)

Ken Miller, a Republican House candidate who had been running against freshman Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (D-FL), has announced that he's switching out of that race -- and will instead be seeking the GOP nomination in an adjacent district, to go up against none other than Rep. Alan Grayson.

Miller said that he made his decision after the previous top GOP prospect for the Grayson race, former state Sen. Dan Webster, opted against running. "I have tremendous respect for Dan Webster and when he announced that he would not run against Alan Grayson, I decided that I could not let Grayson go without a credible challenge," Miller said in a statement, also adding: "My decision was influenced by Grayson's incendiary and disingenuous comments relative to Republican plans for healthcare reform."

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NY-23

Dick Armey To Campaign For Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2009, 5:44PM

Dick Armey, chairman of FreedomWorks

Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX) is headed to NY-23, to campaign for Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman -- and to send a message to the national GOP by stopping moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava.

"We win when we are us. We lose when we are Democrat lite," Armey told Erick Erickson. Armey also explained: "Big Government Republicans, though they call themselves Big Government Conservatives, do not win. I would tell the Republican Party leadership it cannot win if it insists on recruiting and supporting candidates out of step with the voters."

Armey's presence could provide an interesting counterweight to Newt Gingrich, who led the House Republicans with Armey in the mid-1990's, and who recently endorsed Scozzafava.

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Mitt Romney

Romney: If Obama Does A Good Job, I Might Not Want To Run

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2009, 4:51PM

Former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)

Mitt Romney seems to be casting himself as a somewhat reluctant possible presidential candidate, and not the ambitious politician that people usually think of -- declaring he's not immediately running for president, but that his eventual decision will be influenced in part by the job that he thinks President Obama is doing.

"I'm doing what's necessary, if you will, to keep options open," Romney told Milwaukee-based TV host Mike Gousha. Romney said that family concerns come first, of course, but so does the overall national situation and Obama's performance.

"Clearly, if President Obama happened to be doing a great job, as I had hoped he would do when he got elected, why, that would influence my thoughts," Romney said. "But instead, he's taken the country in a very dangerous direction, and that makes it far more likely that folks are gonna think about getting in and removing him from office."

(Via WisPolitics.)

NJ-GOV

Biden/Corzine Rally Ties Corzine To Obama -- And Christie To Bush

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2009, 3:57PM

Vice President Joe Biden and Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ)

Vice President Biden campaigned today with Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ), with a clear message of hitching Corzine to the Obama administration and the national Democratic brand -- and tying Republican nominee Chris Christie to the unpopular Bush Republicans.

Biden said that the Obama administration relied on Corzine's advice while crafting the stimulus package. "I literally picked up the phone and called Jon Corzine and said 'Jon, what do you think we should do?'" said Biden. "The reason we called Jon is because we knew he knew about the economy, about world markets, about how we needed to respond."

Biden ridiculed Christie for saying he would turn down some stimulus money. "Where do these guys live?,'' Biden said of Christie. "They are talking about lowering property taxes while turning away stimulus money.''

Also at the event, Rep. Rush Holt attacked Christie, a former U.S. Attorney, as a Bush appointee: "He wants to continue their ideas. He wants to work with people who are no longer there, and thank goodness."

Jim Marshall

Blue Dog Jim Marshall Again Compares Current Health Care System, Including Medicare And Medicaid, To Soviet Union

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2009, 3:06PM

Rep. Jim Marshall (D-GA)

Blue Dog Rep. Jim Marshall (D-GA) appeared on Fox this afternoon, and compared the current health care system -- including Medicare and Medicaid -- to the Soviet Union.

"We've got this sort of central payment system, which is a fundamental problem. It's health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, making the payments, and we've got consumers and doctors pretty divorced from the costs associated with the decisions that are being made," said Marshall. "As a result, we've had an explosion in cost. I think we've got to see a fundamental change in the system that we've got right now for payment. If we don't do that, we'll continue to have opportunities to fix waste, fraud and abuse, because systems that are centrally planned and controlled -- like the Soviet system -- are just full of those kinds of issues."

Marshall has previously made this comparison, saying back in September: "Beginning in World War II, American health care gradually migrated to an inefficient, Soviet-style system of central control and planning provided by health insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid."

NY-23

Hoffman Camp Calls Scozzafava 'Bernie Madoff'

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2009, 2:21PM

NY-23 Candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

The attacks keep on coming in the NY-23 special election, with Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava the target of more attacks from her right.

Scozzafava is in a three-way race with not only Democrat Bill Owens, but also Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, who has attacked Scozzafava as a liberal on issues like abortion, gay marriage and spending. The split in conservative ranks threatens to hand the seat to the Democrats. And now Hoffman's camp and the Conservative Party are calling her something else: "The Bernie Madoff of New York politics."

Hoffman spokesman Rob Ryan used the term in reference to Scozzafava's recent endorsement by Newt Gingrich, explaining it as follows: "She is pulling a scam on Republican voters, and it looks like she is pulling a scam on Newt Gingrich."

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Sarah Palin

Poll: Palin Loses Big To Both Romney And Huckabee For GOP Nomination

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2009, 11:46AM

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

A new Rasmussen poll suggests that Sarah Palin should not be viewed as a favorite for the Republican nomination in 2012, with her trailing both Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee by wide margins in head-to-head match-ups.

Romney leads Palin by 52%-37% among likely GOP primary voters, and Huckabee is ahead by 55%-35%.

The pollster's analysis also finds that Mitt Romney's Mormon religion is still a liability, with him losing to Palin by 14 points among evangelical Christians, while leading her among other Protestants, Catholics and other groups. By contrast, the former Southern Baptist minister Mike Huckabee leads Palin by 17 points among evangelicals.

NJ-GOV

Christie Campaign: Corzine Campaigning With National Dem Stars As A Distraction

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2009, 11:23AM

Former US Attorney Chris Christie (R) and Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ)

On a conference call with reporters just now, the Christie campaign offered a pre-rebuttal to Jon Corzine's campaign stops this week with Vice President Biden (today), former President Bill Clinton (tomorrow) and President Obama (Wednesday) -- that Corzine is trying to use national Democratic star power in order to distract from the real issues that have made New Jersey such a mess.

Corzine has caught up with Christie in the polls, after having trailed by severe margins all year long, and the race is now a dead heat with some polls having Corzine ahead and Christie up in others. In addition to attacks on Christie's health care proposals -- which have given Corzine a lot of mileage -- Corzine is essentially using New Jersey's fundamental Democratic leanings and the popularity of the Obama brand in the state to give him a boost in the home stretch.

"After the spotlights are turned off, the old Clinton economic team is gonna be gone, and other people in the Obama administration that people admire are gonna be gone," said state Sen. Joe Kyrillos, "and we're gonna be left with Jon Corzine, if he is governor again, and four more years of the same."

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