NJ-GOV

Christie Caught In Apparent Lie About 2002 Traffic Accident, Lawsuit

Eric Kleefeld | September 4, 2009, 5:56PM

NJ Gov. Chris Christie (R)

Republican former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, currently a candidate for Governor of New Jersey, was just caught in an apparent lie about a 2002 car accident in which he struck a motorcyclist after turning the wrong way onto a one-way street.

New Jersey public television's Zachary Fink reports:

We asked Christie about the accident in Atlantic City Friday and he was very curt with his answers. NJN South Jersey Bureau Chief Kent St. John asked if there was a lawsuit. Christie said "no" then "nope."

But actually there was. According to the Superior Court Record Center in Trenton, Mendonca filed suit in 2004. The complaint filed in Essex County was later dismissed, indicating (according to the Clerk) an out of court settlement.

As we've reported, Christie was on the way to an official function in 2002 when he turned the wrong way onto the one-way street. He then hit the motorcyclist, who was taken to a hospital. Before the revelations of the lawsuit, the incident had gained attention because Christie was not ticketed for the incident despite turning onto the one-way street.

Christie did identify himself as the U.S. attorney to the officer at the scene.

NJ-GOV

More Details Emerge From Christie 2002 Car Accident

Eric Kleefeld | September 4, 2009, 5:45PM

NJ Gov. Chris Christie (R)

I have now reviewed the police report from Republican former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie's car accident in 2002, when the then-U.S. Attorney and current nominee for Governor of New Jersey struck a motorcyclist while going the wrong direction on a one-way street in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

As the Star-Ledger reported, the accident happened when Christie was on his way to attend the swearing-in of the Union County prosecutor in Elizabeth, when he hit motorcyclist Andrew Mendonca.

From the police report:

Veh #1 [Christie] states he was traveling west on Murray St. and was lost. He reached Chilton St. The light was red so he inched forward attempting to make a right on red but never saw the one-way traffic sign. He then stopped upon observing oncoming traffic, Veh #2 [Mendonca] also braked. The motorcycle fell on its side and slid into his vehicle. Veh #2 states he was traveling on Chilton St. when Veh #1 turned in front of him.

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NJ-GOV

Christie Hit Motorcyclist With Car In 2002, Wasn't Ticketed

Eric Kleefeld | September 4, 2009, 9:36AM

NJ Gov. Chris Christie (R)

The plot just keep getting thicker and thicker for former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, the Republican nominee for Governor of New Jersey this year, and his bad driving record: In 2002, the Star-Ledger reports, Christie hit a motorcyclist while driving his car the wrong way on a one-way street -- but was not ticketed.

"This was an unfortunate accident and just like a lot of us, Chris knows he can always be a better driver," campaign spokeswoman Maria Comella told the paper.

Elizabeth Police Director James Cosgrove confirmed to the paper that Christie did identify himself as the U.S. Attorney. The Star-Ledger asked whether Christie's position factored into the officer's decision to not ticket him: "I don't think I want to make that kind of deduction, but I think the facts speak for themselves."

NV-SEN

Potential Reid Opponent Lowden Gets Closer To Running

Eric Kleefeld | September 3, 2009, 6:07PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Nevada state Republican chairwoman Sue Lowden, who has been viewed as a potential 2010 opponent for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, has now taken a concrete step towards running: She has announced that she is resigning as state party chair, in order to explore a campaign.

"I've always said that it's one thing to complain, yet entirely different to get in the ring," Lowden said. "Both as a state senator and as party chairman, I have always been willing to put my words to action."

Two recent independent polls have put Lowden ahead of Reid for the general election. Mason-Dixon has put her ahead by 45%-40%, and Daily Kos/Research 2000 gives her a lead of 44%-41%. Lowden faces a Republican primary against Danny Tarkanian, a former UNLV basketball star who has previously run unsuccessfully for state Senate and Nevada Secretary of State.

Jim Inhofe

Inhofe: "Hope This Country Can Hang On Another 16 Months"

Eric Kleefeld | September 3, 2009, 4:40PM

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK)

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) had some harsh words for President Obama at a town hall back home in Oklahoma, the Tulsa World reports -- indeed, Inhofe says Obama is doing such a bad job, he's not sure the country will last long enough for when the next Congress is sworn in, in January 2011.

"Every institution that has made this country the greatest nation in the world is under attack," said Inhofe.

And regarding Guantanamo Bay, Inhofe said: "I don't know why President Obama is obsessed with turning terrorists loose in America."

And Inhofe worries for America's future: "Those of you who think like I do, hope this country can hang on another 16 months."

Harry Reid

Another Poll Shows Reid Trailing Republicans For 2010 Race

Eric Kleefeld | September 3, 2009, 2:50PM

A new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll gives further confirmation that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is in serious trouble headed into his 2010 re-election campaign, with him trailing both potential Republican opponents.

Against former UNLV basketball player Danny Tarkanian, who has previously run unsuccessful campaigns for the state Senate for Nevada Secretary of State, Reid trails by 45%-40%. Against state GOP chair Sue Lowden, Reid is behind 44%-41%. These results are within the ±4% margin of error, but are hardly encouraging.

A Mason-Dixon poll from a week and a half ago also showed Reid trailing Tarkanian and Lowden, by greater margins than this survey does.

Michele Bachmann

Oberstar: God Isn't Talking To Bachmann Anymore, "I Think She's Hearing Other Voices"

Eric Kleefeld | September 3, 2009, 1:23PM

Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN) and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN), the chairman of the House Transportation Committee, has some tough words for a particular member of his state's delegation -- Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann -- the Minnesota Independent reports.

"I don't think God's talking to her anymore," Oberstar said on Tuesday, in response to Bachmann's call for conservative activists to slit their wrists and become blood brothers against President Obama on health care. "I think she's hearing other voices."

The bit about God talking to Bachmann is not a random joke, by the way -- that's how Bachmann said she became a candidate for Congress in 2006, after God called her to run, and she and her husband fasted and prayed for three days to make sure.

VA-GOV

Deeds Radio Ad: McDonnell Has "Plans To Take Us Back To The Dark Ages"

Eric Kleefeld | September 3, 2009, 12:47PM

VA-GOV Candidates Creigh Deeds (D) and Bob McDonnell (R)

Things are heating up in the Virginia gubernoatiral race, with Democratic nominee Creigh Deeds running a new radio ad in Northern Virginia against Republican Bob McDonnell's 1989 thesis, in which the then-34-year-old McDonnell laid out a hard-right political manifesto against working women and sexual privacy.

The ad has a man and a woman discussing how McDonnell has "plans to take us back to the dark ages."

"And he wasn't just a kid when he wrote it," the woman says. "McDonnell was 34 years old, married, and months away from serving in the legislature."

The man responds: "I know, and the really scary part, is the Post said McDonnell has aggressively pursued over 10 proposals from his thesis as a legislator."

Click here to listen to the ad. The full script is available after the jump.

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Sarah Palin

Levi Johnston Calls Palin A Phony

Eric Kleefeld | September 3, 2009, 12:19PM

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

Levi Johnston's new article in Vanity Fair, in which he dishes all manner of dirt against his almost-mother-in-law Sarah Palin, is a real tour de force of family dysfunction, private dirt, and all-around personal contempt.

Much of the article is dedicated to telling people that the real Sarah Palin is not the wholesome, down-home mother that the public has been told about. According to Johnston, she doesn't pay attention to her kids, didn't work hard as governor, has an unhappy marriage with Todd, and rarely attends church. But perhaps the cruelest cut of all for this Republican superstar...she doesn't hunt and fish, either:

People think that Sarah likes hunting, fishing, and camping, but she doesn't. She says she goes hunting and lives off animal meat -- I've never seen it. I've never seen her touch a fishing pole. She had a gun in her bedroom and one day she asked me to show her how to shoot it. I asked her what kind of gun it was, and she said she didn't know, because it was in a box under her bed.

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Martha Coakley

Massachusetts Attorney General Declares For Ted Kennedy's Senate Seat

Eric Kleefeld | September 3, 2009, 11:18AM

State Atty. Gen. Martha Coakley (D-MA)

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has just announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the late Ted Kennedy's Senate seat, becoming the first candidate to officially announce a campaign.

Coakley paid tribute to the late Kennedy. "As some have noted, no one can fill his shoes, but we must try to follow in his footsteps," said Coakley. "I think we all realize that the urgency of this time is clear, and it is that urgency that drives my decision. Today, I announce my candidate for the United States Senate."

It's interesting that Coakley has not waited for word from other potential candidates -- especially former Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy, a son of Robert Kennedy and nephew of Ted Kennedy, who has been much speculated about as a possible player. Somebody had to get in first, and Coakley is it.

Paul Broun

Broun: Obama Has Everything He Needs To Establish An Authoritarian Government

Eric Kleefeld | September 3, 2009, 10:59AM

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA)

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) is reiterating his dire warnings about President Obama imposing an authoritarian regime in the United States, the Athens Banner-Herald reports.

At a meeting of local Republicans last night, Broun said that Obama already has or will have the three key elements necessary to become a dictator: A national police force, gun control and control of the press.

"He has the three things that are necessary to establish an authoritarian government," Broun said. "And so we need to be ever-vigilant, because freedom is precious."

VA-GOV

National Dems Pumping $5 Million Into Virginia Gubernatorial Race

Eric Kleefeld | September 2, 2009, 6:28PM

VA-GOV Candidates Creigh Deeds (D) and Bob McDonnell (R)

The Democratic National Committee is pumping some serious cash into the Virginia gubernatorial race, with $5 million set to go to Democratic nominee Creigh Deeds and the state Dems.

Deeds currently trails Republican Bob McDonnell in the polls, but is hoping to capitalize on McDonnell's weaknesses -- especially the hard-right manifesto that McDonnell wrote as a 34-year-old for Pat Robertson's Regent University.

It should of course be noted that DNC chairman Tim Kaine's current day job is being the current Governor of Virginia. So if the GOP were to win this one, he'd hardly look good at all, now would he?

George Allen

Could George Allen Make A Comeback?

Eric Kleefeld | September 2, 2009, 5:58PM

Former Sen. George Allen (R-VA)

Could George Allen -- the one-term Republican Senator from Virginia who in 2006 threw away a seemingly certain re-election and future presidential run when he called a Jim Webb staffer by the obscure racial epithet, "macaca" -- actually be able to make a comeback?

The new survey of Virginia from Public Policy Polling (D) finds that Allen has a 50% favorable rating, with 38% unfavorable. When asked whether they would vote for Allen if he ran for office again, 31% said they would definitely vote for him, 36% said definitely not, and 31% said they would consider it.

One caveat: Due to a higher motivation among GOP voters at this time, this poll comes from a likely voter pool that is more white, less black, and more conservative than the 2008 electorate. For example, respondents voted 49%-45% for McCain (plus respondents who wouldn't divulge their votes), compared to a 53%-47% Obama win in the actual election. Still, as Dave Weigel points out, 12% of African-Americans would vote for Allen, and 19% would consider it -- which does seem rather odd.

Curt Schilling

Curt Schilling Considering GOP Bid For Ted Kennedy's Senate Seat

Eric Kleefeld | September 2, 2009, 5:16PM

Fmr. Major League Baseball Player Curt Schilling (R)

Curt Schilling, the former baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Boston Red Sox, appears to be considering a possible run as a Republican for Ted Kennedy's Senate seat. Schilling previously campaigned for George W. Bush in 2004 and John McCain in2 008.

Schilling told New England Cable News that he's been contacted about that race, but that as of today, he was "probably not" running. Nevertheless, the idea remains. "I do have some interest in the possibility," Schilling wrote. "That being said to get to there, from where I am today, many many things would have to align themselves for that to truly happen. I am not going to comment further on the matter since at this point it would be speculation on top of speculation."

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VA-GOV

Could Walk-Back From Thesis Hurt McDonnell With GOP Base?

Eric Kleefeld | September 2, 2009, 4:46PM

VA-GOV Candidates Creigh Deeds (D) and Bob McDonnell (R)

Bob McDonnell, the Republican nominee for Governor of Virginia, has been working hard lately to walk back from his 1989 thesis, in which the then-34-year-old McDonnell laid out a plan for a hard religious-right agenda. But does the walk-back have a price of its own?

The Washington Post has an interesting quote from Victoria Cobb, president of the Virginia-based Family Foundation. "Bob McDonnell got where he is because pro-family Virginians have seen him as a champion for their cause," Cobb said. "If he expects to motivate those same voters, they need to continue to see him as that champion."

So if McDonnell works too hard to prove that he's not a right-wing theocrat, maybe that could actually depress enthusiasm among the people who genuinely like that sort of thing.

Afghanistan

Holbrooke Brushes Off Afghanistan Election Problems -- Compares Them To Minnesota Senate Race!

Eric Kleefeld | September 2, 2009, 4:25PM

In a press conference in Paris, U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke downplayed the issue of fraud in the Afghanistan election -- even comparing it to the Minnesota Senate race!

"During that process there are going to be many claims of irregularities; that happens in every democracy," said Holbrooke. "We recently had a senatorial election in Minnesota which took seven months to determine the outcome, there were so many charges of irregularities. It certainly won't take that long in Afghanistan, but that happens in democracies, even when they are not in the middle of a war."

Two points immediately jump to mind. First, there is widely-documented mass fraud in Afghanistan, while the meticulousness of the Minnesota litigation in fact showed that, while the process had its imperfections and reasonable doubts, widespread fraud was not involved. And second, Holbrooke says how it won't take as long to sort out the situation in Afghanistan. Oh, if only Al Franken and Norm Coleman had guns!

Jim Greer

Florida GOP: Keep Obama Out of Our Schools!

Eric Kleefeld | September 2, 2009, 2:53PM

President Barack Obama

I just spoke with Florida Republican Party press secretary Katie Gordon, regarding state party chairman Jim Greer's denunciation of President Obama's upcoming national address to schoolchildren on Tuesday. Gordon stood by the party's press release -- and said that children should not be subjected to what she said is a clear attempt at political indoctrination by the Obama administration. Indeed, she said parents should be able to opt-out their kids from the speech.

The Department of Education's press release says about the address: "The President will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning. He will also call for a shared responsibility and commitment on the part of students, parents and educators to ensure that every child in every school receives the best education possible so they can compete in the global economy for good jobs and live rewarding and productive lives as American citizens."

But Gordon says there's a lot to be worried about. "I think that's certainly the concern, is that we don't know what this speech is about," said Gordon. "There's no advanced copy being given to parents, teachers or principals. I think that's certainly our concern, because if you look at the teaching tools that are being provided, it's certainly extremely biased."

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VA-GOV

Poll: McDonnell Still Ahead, Thesis Not A Big Issue (For Now, Anyway)

Eric Kleefeld | September 2, 2009, 12:51PM

VA-GOV Candidates Creigh Deeds (D) and Bob McDonnell (R)

A new Rasmussen poll of the Virginia gubernatorial race finds that Republican candidate Bob McDonnell -- who was recently revealed to have written a thesis when he was 34, laying out a hard-right political program -- still leads Democrat Creigh Deeds.

The numbers: McDonnell 51%, Deeds 42%. This is essentially unchanged from the 49%-41% McDonnell lead from a month ago.

The pollster's analysis points out that that the thesis story may not have fully sink in yet to its fullest potential extent: "To this point, just 49% of Likely Voters say they've followed news stories on this topic even somewhat closely ... It is possible that the thesis itself or the views expressed in the document could become a bigger factor in the campaign this fall."

Sarah Palin

Levi Johnston: Palin Offered To Adopt Baby, Talked About Resigning After 2008 Election To "Triple The Money"

Eric Kleefeld | September 2, 2009, 9:44AM

Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK)

In the upcoming (and much-awaited) article in Vanity Fair, Levi Johnston dishes some serious dirt on Sarah Palin. In the excerpts that have been teased out this morning, Johnston, says that Palin didn't like being governor, thinking that it was too hard, and immediately after the 2008 election she began to think about resigning in order to pursue something more lucrative:

Sarah was sad for a while. She walked around the house pouting. I had assumed she was going to go back to her job as governor, but a week or two after she got back she started talking about how nice it would be to quit and write a book or do a show and make "triple the money." It was, to her, "not as hard." She would blatantly say, "I want to just take this money and quit being governor." She started to say it frequently, but she didn't know how to do it. When she came home from work, it seemed like she was more and more stressed out.

Read more »

Chris Van Hollen

Van Hollen On GOP And Medicare: "The Hypocrisy Is Shameless"

Eric Kleefeld | September 1, 2009, 6:10PM

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

In an interview with Ezra Klein over at the Washington Post, DCCC chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) shot back at the current Republican arguments about protecting Medicare from the Democrats:

The hypocrisy is shameless. I won't go through the history of Medicare, but for Republicans to say that you should trust us on Medicare is like Colonel Sanders guarding the chicken coop. I think most seniors know that, and these scare tactics will boomerang. I don't think people will buy it, since the guys peddling this stuff are the very people who have been trying to undermine and weaken Medicare for years and years. There was a budget alternative put forward by Paul Ryan this year that would have ended Medicare as we know it and given all seniors a voucher to get their health care on the private market. And they voted for it. So we know what they wanted to do with Medicare.

Harry Reid

Reid: Kennedy's Death Will Help On Health Care, "He's An Inspiration To Us"

Eric Kleefeld | September 1, 2009, 2:07PM

Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was asked by the Reno Gazette-Journal what effect Ted Kennedy's death will have on the health care bill -- and Reid said it would help.

"I think it's going to help us," said Reid. "He hasn't been around for some time," he added, seemingly in response to the (unstated) issue of Kennedy's vote getting lost. Reid also said the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will have a new chairman, either Chris Dodd or Tom Harkin.

"He's an inspiration for us," Reid said of Kennedy. "That was the issue of his life and he didn't get it done."

MA-SEN

Report: Massachusetts Attorney General Gets In Race For Ted Kennedy's Senate Seat

Eric Kleefeld | September 1, 2009, 12:45PM

Massachusetts Atty. Gen. Martha Coakley (D)

The Boston Globe reports that Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley picked up nomination papers for Senate this morning, from the Secretary of State's office -- launching a campaign for Ted Kennedy's Senate seat.

This would make Coakley the first candidate to officially get in the race since Kennedy's death..

TPM has placed requests for comment with Coakley's campaign committee and the state Attorney General's office.

VA-GOV

Deeds Campaign, Moderate Former GOP Legislators Slam McDonnell For Walking Back Right-Wing Thesis

Eric Kleefeld | September 1, 2009, 11:18AM

VA-GOV Candidates Creigh Deeds (D) and Bob McDonnell (R)

On a conference call with reporters just now, the campaign of Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds continued to hammer away at Republican Bob McDonnell for his right-wing thesis from 20 years ago, in which the then-34-year-old McDonnell laid out a plan of action for legislating a Christian right agenda.

And this time, the Deeds campaign brought out some moderate Republican former state legislators, to hammer McDonnell for walking away from it, after a lengthy conference call yesterday in which he disavowed all those positions.

"I've been following closely, of course, the breaking news of the thesis," said former state Sen. Marty Williams. "And quite frankly as someone who served with Bob for years, the thesis didn't have any surprises for me."

Williams later said that this was not a college paper by a 18-year old kid, but a detailed thesis by a man of 34: "My biggest surprise is that he is running away from it. I read that thesis, and it's the Bob I've always known."

Read more »

Michele Bachmann

Bachmann To Activists: Slit Our Wrists And Become Blood Brothers Against Obama's Health Care

Eric Kleefeld | September 1, 2009, 10:01AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) spoke yesterday to the right-wing Independence Institute, the Colorado Independent reports, and she called on conservative to really come together in the fight against President Obama on health care.

"What we have to do today is make a covenant, to slit our wrists, be blood brothers on this thing," said Bachmann. "This will not pass. We will do whatever it takes to make sure this doesn't pass."

The sanguinary rhetoric continued. "Right now, we are looking at reaching down the throat and ripping the guts out of freedom," she said. "And we may never be able to restore it if we don't man up and take this one on."

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NJ-GOV

Poll: Christie Up By Five In New Jersey

Eric Kleefeld | September 1, 2009, 9:50AM

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

Another poll from New Jersey has Democratic Jon Corzine trailing his Republican opponent, former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie -- though it's not as bad as the Quinnipiac poll with Christie up by 10 points.

The new Fairleigh Dickinson University poll has Christie with 47% to Corzine's 42%, with a ±4% margin of error. This is not significantly changed from the previous FDU poll from two months ago, which had Christie up by 45%-39%.

The pollster's analysis finds that Christie has locked up 85% of Republicans, while Corzine only has 73% of Democrats in this reliably blue state: "The Republican appears to be in pretty good shape headed into Labor Day. The question is whether he has peaked while Corzine still has voters to win over."

Late Update: Corzine campaign spokesperson Lis Smith gives us this comment: "The FDU poll and a variety of other public polls show that the Governor's message is beginning to resonate. New Jersey residents will have a very clear choice in November between a candidate that is working to get the state back on the right financial track and a candidate that has never created a job and has no plans to do so now."

NJ-GOV

Poll: Christie Still Ahead Of Corzine, Despite Recent Scandals

Eric Kleefeld | September 1, 2009, 8:59AM

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

The new Quinnipiac poll of the New Jersey gubernatorial race finds that recent scandals haven't hurt Republican former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie against Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine -- indeed, Christie's lead has actually increased slightly over the unpopular incumbent.

The numbers: Christie 47%, Corzine 37%, and independent Chris Daggett at 9%. Three weeks ago, the figure for the three-way race was 46%-40%-7%.

The pollster's analysis finds that Corzine's ads about Christie having given contracts to people tied to the Bush administration are not getting through -- people view it as an unfair attack. The issue of Christie's undisclosed loan to Michele Brown, his former subordinate in the U.S. Attorney's office scores a little higher -- but even here, a 49%-43% plurality view it as not being a legitimate issue.

Senate '10

Honoré: I'm Not Running Against Vitter -- And I'm Not A Republican

Eric Kleefeld | August 31, 2009, 6:13PM

Lt. General Russel L. Honoré Ret.

Retired Army Gen. Russel Honoré, who has been on a daylong media tour trying to knock down rumors that he was looking at a possible run for Senate in a Republican primary challenge against Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), has given his most specific denial to date, the Louisiana Weekly reports.

Honoré said he did not even know Joe Berry, the Republican consultant who claimed to have met with him to discuss a bid. "I am not running for office," said Honoré. "I don't know who this is. I was not at my home two weeks ago. I have no idea who this gentleman could be."

He also strongly disavowed that he was even a registered Republican, and that an official spokesman named Charles Lamley had said he was not ruling out a run: "I never declared myself as a Republican during the Reagan Administration. I have never lived in Zachary as he claimed. I have never heard of Charles Lamley."

Read more »

VA-GOV

McDonnell Disavows Controversial Right-Wing Ideas From His Thesis

Eric Kleefeld | August 31, 2009, 5:29PM

VA-GOV Candidates Creigh Deeds (D) and Bob McDonnell (R)

Bob McDonnell, the Republican nominee for Governor of Virginia, just had an unusually long conference call with reporters -- about 80 minutes -- in which he sought to walk back and minimize any political damage that might occur from his recently-revealed 1989 master's thesis at Regent University, in which the then-34-year-old McDonnell laid out a comprehensive religious right political program.

(For more goodies from the thesis, check out our write-up at TPMmuckraker.)

Said McDonnell: "A contention by my opponent [state Sen. Creigh Deeds] that a 20-year-old academic exercise somehow represents my 18-year career in public service is just a flat misrepresentation, and the Senator well knows that.'

McDonnell, point by point, disowned the positions he took in the thesis -- even at one point minimizing it as a "term paper." He said that he respects women in the workplace; that he would not try to re-restrict divorce; that he does not advocate discrimination against gays; and that he does not regard civil law is subject to Biblical law.

Read more »

MA-SEN

Patrick Announces January 19 For Special Election

Eric Kleefeld | August 31, 2009, 3:38PM

Gov. Deval Patrick (D-MA) has announced that January 19 has been set as the date for the special election to replace Ted Kennedy in the United States Senate -- and that he is still pushing for legislation to allow an interim appointment.

The Boston Globe pointed out today that the primary election would be held on December 8 under such a schedule. The winner of the Democratic nomination will be heavily favored to ultimately win the seat.

Patrick acknowledged that the possibility of an interim appointment had been rejected when the law changed in 2004 -- when state Democrats stripped then-Republican Gov. Mitt Romney of the ability to appoint a Senator, in case John Kerry would have won the presidency. But Patrick said he was not there at the time, and is not familiar with all the facts, but that the best way to get the state full representation is through an appointment.

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VA-GOV

Tim Kaine Blasts McDonnell's Right-Wing Thesis

Eric Kleefeld | August 31, 2009, 3:01PM

DNC Chair Tim Kaine

DNC chairman and outgoing Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine is now hopping on the organized party assault against Bob McDonnell, the Republican nominee for Governor of Virginia, over the thesis McDonnell wrote 20 years ago describing a comprehensive religious-right political philosophy and political plan of action.

In an e-mail sent out to supporters of his state political PAC, Moving Virginia Forward, Kaine asks recipients to read the Washington Post's article on the thesis.

"After years of working with Bob, I believe this article is an accurate reflection of his sincere and long-standing views," Kaine says. "But I do not believe that this philosophy, which Bob has worked strenuously to implement as an elected official, is the right direction for Virginia. In fact, I think it would take us backwards and jeopardize much of the success we have achieved in the Commonwealth in recent years."

Check out the e-mail after the jump.

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NY-SEN

Peter King Not Running For Senate, Further Boosting Gillibrand's Prospects For 2010

Eric Kleefeld | August 31, 2009, 2:09PM

Rep. Peter King (R-NY)

Rep. Peter King (R-NY) has announced that he will not run for Senate in 2010 against appointed incumbent Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, after having publicly eyed the race for months.

Polls had previously shown King running competitively against Gillibrand, with high undecided numbers due to a lack of overall brand recognition for the incumbent. But King admitted in his official statement that he would face tough obstacles: "The reality is that a statewide Democratic candidate starts the race with a voter registration edge of almost 3 million. To overcome such a large margin, there would have to be intensive media coverage of the race and I would need to raise at least $30 million."

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NJ-GOV

Corzine Ad Attacks Christie Over The Michele Brown Loan

Eric Kleefeld | August 31, 2009, 12:09PM

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

A new TV ad from Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) attacks his Republican opponent, former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, over the undisclosed $46,000 loan that Christie made to Michele Brown, a subordinate of his in the U.S. Attorney's office who recently had to resign over the scandal:

"When he was caught, Christie said it was a 'mistake,' But he prosecuted people who did the same thing," the announcer says. "Chris Christie. One set of rules for himself. Another for everyone else."

Also note that the announcer first refers to Christie as "Republican Chris Christie" -- pushing the message to voters in this Democratic state that Christie is not only shady, but he's a Republican.

VA-GOV

Deeds Campaign Slams McDonnell's Right-Wing Thesis As "Blueprint For Governing"

Eric Kleefeld | August 31, 2009, 12:01PM

VA-GOV Candidates Creigh Deeds (D) and Bob McDonnell (R)

Democrats are now pouncing hard in the Virginia gubernatorial race against Republican nominee Bob McDonnell, who was revealed by the Washington Post to have laid out a meticulous religious-right political agenda in his thesis 20 years ago at Regent University.

In McDonnell's thesis at Regent -- the school founded by Pat Robertson -- the then-34-year old grad student laid out how his fundamental concern was the decline of the traditional family unit, and how government policies must be designed to counteract the nefarious influences that have contributed to it. As examples, McDonnell cited women joining the workforce, abortion and contraception (he even pined for the old days when non-marital sex was by itself a crime), and what he called a socialist effort to have the state replace the family unit.

On a conference call with reporters just now, the campaign of Democratic nominee Creigh Deeds laid into McDonnell.

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Harry Reid

Reid To Newspaper: "I Hope You Go Out of Business"

Eric Kleefeld | August 31, 2009, 10:44AM

Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) apparently had some choice words last week his home-state's largest paper, the Republican-leaning Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Review-Journal columnist Sherman Frederick wrote that the paper's advertising director Bob Brown met up with Reid at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon, and that Reid told Brown: "I hope you go out of business."

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