Of all the annual events in every state, there's only one that attracts electioneering politicians and demands that they gorge on the most notable hot treat: State Fairs. With the State Fair season about half over, Whispers asked some notable Washingtonians and politicians for their favorite State Fair chow.
Some, like Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown and Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar said that they stick with the standards, while others like Minnesota Sen. Al Franken went with the local exotic treat. Below are a sampling of the favorite fare at state fairs.
"I love a stuffed baked potato loaded with toppings," says Brown. "The Big E fair in Springfield, Massachusetts, has the best."
South Dakota Sen. John Thune sticks with pork sandwiches, not a bad choice considering he'll probably be eating a lot more if he does what most expect and tosses his hat into the 2012 GOP presidential caucus in pork-rich Iowa.
Minnesota's Franken has several favorites at the Minnesota State Fair including Walleye-on-a-stick, roasted corn.
CNN's John King has a bunch of favorites he's had at the many state fairs he's covered in his journalism career. But one stands out: Beer-on-a-stick, which is essentially a wooden paddle that holds three cups of beer. "I had beer-on-a-stick at the Minnesota State Fair last year. Can't beat that. The deep fried Reese's was surprisingly good, too, and they have amazing chocolate chip cookies there. Sen. Amy Klobuchar tried to sell me on the chocolate dipped bacon, but I passed."
New York Sen. Chuck Schumer likes to nosh on a local favorite, maple-flavored cotton candy.
Indiana's Lugar goes for the tried and true Indiana State Fair pork tenderloin.
Ray LaHood, the Transportation secretary and former Illinois congressman, likes the state fair lemonade shakeup.
Tennesee Sen. Lamar Alexander's favorite booth serves up sliced Grainger County tomatoes on a country ham biscuit.
US News
Thursday, September 16, 2010
GOP Establishment Versus Tea Party in Primary Showdowns
WASHINGTON — Establishment Republicans vied with challengers favored by tea party activists one last time Tuesday in a multi-state finale to a primary election season marked by economic recession and political upheaval.
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Highlighted by GOP-tea party showdowns in New Hampshire and Delaware, six states chose candidates for governor and five featured contests for nominations to the Senate.
In New York, 40-year veteran Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel faced the voters for the first time since the House ethics committee accused him of 13 violations, most of them relating to his personal finances.
So far this year, seven incumbent members of Congress have tasted defeat, four Republicans and three Democrats. And that does not include a lengthy list of GOP contenders who fell to tea party-supported challengers despite having the backing of party officials eager to maximize their gains in November.
With unemployment high and President Barack Obama's popularity below 50 percent, Republicans said the primaries reflected an enthusiasm that would serve the party well in the fall, when control of Congress will be at stake.
Democrats, however, said the presence of tea party-supported Republicans would prove costly to the GOP on Nov. 2 — a proposition that remained to be tested in seven weeks' time.
In Delaware, Rep. Mike Castle sought the nomination to a Senate seat held for 36 years by Vice President Joe Biden in a primary that took a sharp turn for the negative three weeks ago when the Tea Party Express announced it would come to the aid of challenger Christine O'Donnell.
Castle, a former two-term governor and a veteran of nearly two decades in the House, was repeatedly assailed as a liberal, a Republican in name only. He and the party responded by challenging O'Donnell's fitness for public office and her ability to win a statewide election
in the fall.
While Republicans brawled, New Castle County Executive Chris Coons coasted to the Democratic nomination without opposition. Biden resigned the seat in early 2009, and his successor, Democratic Sen. Ted Kaufman, pledged not to run for a full term.
Republicans in New Hampshire sorted through a crowded field of candidates for the nomination to a seat long held by retiring GOP Sen. Judd Gregg.
Former Attorney General Kelly Ayotte was the party-backed favorite, and she added support from prominent conservatives who have played a heavy role in several primaries this year, including former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
Her principal opposition came from Ovide Lamontagne, a lawyer and former head of the state board of education. He campaigned with the support of tea party activists and claimed to be the most conservative candidate in a race that also included businessmen Bill Binnie and Jim Bender.
The winner will face Democratic Rep. Paul Hodes, who is giving up his seat in the House to run for the Senate.
Republicans must gain 10 seats this fall if they are to win control of the Senate, and their chances count heavily on their ability to prevail in both Delaware and New Hampshire.
In Wisconsin, businessman Ron Johnson faced two minor opponents for the Republican nomination to oppose three-term Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold in November in what polls show is a tight race. Johnson has said he will spend millions of his own money to finance his campaign through Election Day. [See who is donating money to Feingold.]
In New York, Democratic Attorney General Andrew Cuomo faced no opposition for the party's nomination for governor, and he will be the prohibitive favorite in the fall for an office his father held for three terms a generation ago.
Former Rep. Rick Lazio vied with political novice Carl Paladino, a wealthy developer who got tea party support, for the Republican nomination.
In Maryland, former Republican Gov. Bob Ehrlich sought the nomination for a rematch against the man who ousted him from office in 2006, Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley.
There were gubernatorial nomination contests in Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Wisconsin, where Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker collided with former Rep. Marc Neumann for the Republican line on the fall ballot. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was heavily favored for the Democratic nomination.
Rangel's principal challenger for the nomination in his Harlem-based district was Adam Clayton Powell IV, a state assemblyman whose father Rangel defeated 40 years ago. In the decades since, Rangel rose to become chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, with enormous power over taxes, trade, Medicare and more, but Democrats forced him to step aside from that panel while he battles ethics charges.
He is accused of accepting several New York City rent-stabilized apartments, and omitting information on his financial disclosure forms. He's also accused of failing to pay taxes from a rental property in the Dominican Republic, and improperly soliciting money for a college center to be named after him. He has vowed to fight the charges, and faces an ethics committee trial, possibly after the elections.
Rhode Island had a rare open seat in its two-member House delegation, following the decision of Democratic Rep. Patrick Kennedy to retire. Providence Mayor Bob Cicilline, who is openly gay, was favored over three rivals for the Democratic nomination. The winner will be a prohibitive favorite in the fall in the heavily Democratic district.
In addition to the seven state primaries, Washington, D.C., chose nominees for local office.
Democratic Mayor Adrian Fenty drew a strong challenger for the nomination, and spent several weeks apologizing to voters for behaving arrogantly during four years in office.
US News
Click here to find out more!
Highlighted by GOP-tea party showdowns in New Hampshire and Delaware, six states chose candidates for governor and five featured contests for nominations to the Senate.
In New York, 40-year veteran Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel faced the voters for the first time since the House ethics committee accused him of 13 violations, most of them relating to his personal finances.
So far this year, seven incumbent members of Congress have tasted defeat, four Republicans and three Democrats. And that does not include a lengthy list of GOP contenders who fell to tea party-supported challengers despite having the backing of party officials eager to maximize their gains in November.
With unemployment high and President Barack Obama's popularity below 50 percent, Republicans said the primaries reflected an enthusiasm that would serve the party well in the fall, when control of Congress will be at stake.
Democrats, however, said the presence of tea party-supported Republicans would prove costly to the GOP on Nov. 2 — a proposition that remained to be tested in seven weeks' time.
In Delaware, Rep. Mike Castle sought the nomination to a Senate seat held for 36 years by Vice President Joe Biden in a primary that took a sharp turn for the negative three weeks ago when the Tea Party Express announced it would come to the aid of challenger Christine O'Donnell.
Castle, a former two-term governor and a veteran of nearly two decades in the House, was repeatedly assailed as a liberal, a Republican in name only. He and the party responded by challenging O'Donnell's fitness for public office and her ability to win a statewide election
in the fall.
While Republicans brawled, New Castle County Executive Chris Coons coasted to the Democratic nomination without opposition. Biden resigned the seat in early 2009, and his successor, Democratic Sen. Ted Kaufman, pledged not to run for a full term.
Republicans in New Hampshire sorted through a crowded field of candidates for the nomination to a seat long held by retiring GOP Sen. Judd Gregg.
Former Attorney General Kelly Ayotte was the party-backed favorite, and she added support from prominent conservatives who have played a heavy role in several primaries this year, including former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
Her principal opposition came from Ovide Lamontagne, a lawyer and former head of the state board of education. He campaigned with the support of tea party activists and claimed to be the most conservative candidate in a race that also included businessmen Bill Binnie and Jim Bender.
The winner will face Democratic Rep. Paul Hodes, who is giving up his seat in the House to run for the Senate.
Republicans must gain 10 seats this fall if they are to win control of the Senate, and their chances count heavily on their ability to prevail in both Delaware and New Hampshire.
In Wisconsin, businessman Ron Johnson faced two minor opponents for the Republican nomination to oppose three-term Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold in November in what polls show is a tight race. Johnson has said he will spend millions of his own money to finance his campaign through Election Day. [See who is donating money to Feingold.]
In New York, Democratic Attorney General Andrew Cuomo faced no opposition for the party's nomination for governor, and he will be the prohibitive favorite in the fall for an office his father held for three terms a generation ago.
Former Rep. Rick Lazio vied with political novice Carl Paladino, a wealthy developer who got tea party support, for the Republican nomination.
In Maryland, former Republican Gov. Bob Ehrlich sought the nomination for a rematch against the man who ousted him from office in 2006, Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley.
There were gubernatorial nomination contests in Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Wisconsin, where Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker collided with former Rep. Marc Neumann for the Republican line on the fall ballot. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was heavily favored for the Democratic nomination.
Rangel's principal challenger for the nomination in his Harlem-based district was Adam Clayton Powell IV, a state assemblyman whose father Rangel defeated 40 years ago. In the decades since, Rangel rose to become chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, with enormous power over taxes, trade, Medicare and more, but Democrats forced him to step aside from that panel while he battles ethics charges.
He is accused of accepting several New York City rent-stabilized apartments, and omitting information on his financial disclosure forms. He's also accused of failing to pay taxes from a rental property in the Dominican Republic, and improperly soliciting money for a college center to be named after him. He has vowed to fight the charges, and faces an ethics committee trial, possibly after the elections.
Rhode Island had a rare open seat in its two-member House delegation, following the decision of Democratic Rep. Patrick Kennedy to retire. Providence Mayor Bob Cicilline, who is openly gay, was favored over three rivals for the Democratic nomination. The winner will be a prohibitive favorite in the fall in the heavily Democratic district.
In addition to the seven state primaries, Washington, D.C., chose nominees for local office.
Democratic Mayor Adrian Fenty drew a strong challenger for the nomination, and spent several weeks apologizing to voters for behaving arrogantly during four years in office.
US News
Media Bias? New Report Details Journalists' Political Campaign Contributions
Journalists From Fox, Washington Post, ABC News all coughed up campaign cash
Questions about partisan reporting are sure to be raised by a new report showing that 235 journalists from organizations like Fox, ABC, the Washington Post, Atlantic and New York Post have donated some $469,900 to federal political candidates, committees, and parties during the 2010 election cycle.
Click here to find out more!
Among those named in the Center for Responsive Politics analysis is Michael Kinsley, the Atlantic columnist just hired by Politico; Christopher Hayes the Washington editor of The Nation; Paul Tharp, a business reporter for the New York Post, and dozens of others.
Said the Center: "People identifying themselves as working for hard news outlets such as the Washington Post, the New York Times, the New York Post, News Corp., Vanity Fair and Reuters are among the listed donors. Also listed are employees from outlets offering lighter fare—ESPN, Vogue—or community news. Some have donated thousands of dollars."
Several news organizations bar donations, but not all, and media critics have dumped criticism on those who do, claiming that contributions to candidates or causes reveal a reporter's bias.
The center has a thorough story on the contributors and an Excel list of those who have given in the 2010 election cycle here.
US News
Questions about partisan reporting are sure to be raised by a new report showing that 235 journalists from organizations like Fox, ABC, the Washington Post, Atlantic and New York Post have donated some $469,900 to federal political candidates, committees, and parties during the 2010 election cycle.
Click here to find out more!
Among those named in the Center for Responsive Politics analysis is Michael Kinsley, the Atlantic columnist just hired by Politico; Christopher Hayes the Washington editor of The Nation; Paul Tharp, a business reporter for the New York Post, and dozens of others.
Said the Center: "People identifying themselves as working for hard news outlets such as the Washington Post, the New York Times, the New York Post, News Corp., Vanity Fair and Reuters are among the listed donors. Also listed are employees from outlets offering lighter fare—ESPN, Vogue—or community news. Some have donated thousands of dollars."
Several news organizations bar donations, but not all, and media critics have dumped criticism on those who do, claiming that contributions to candidates or causes reveal a reporter's bias.
The center has a thorough story on the contributors and an Excel list of those who have given in the 2010 election cycle here.
US News
Small Business Credit Measure Clears Senate Hurdle
WASHINGTON — In a win for President Barack Obama and his political allies, Senate Democrats on Tuesday won a crucial vote to clear the way for a bill to create a $30 billion government fund to help open up lending for credit-starved small businesses.
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Democrats cracked a GOP filibuster of the bill with the help of two Republicans: Sens. George Voinovich of Ohio and George LeMieux of Florida.
The 61-37 tally sets the stage for a final vote later this week to return the measure to the House, which is likely to approve it for Obama's signature.
The bill is probably the last piece of Democrats' ambitious jobs agenda that would become law before midterm elections, which will determine whether Democrats keep their majorities in the House and Senate. Democrats started the year with ambitious plans for a series of bills designed to boost the economy and job creation but have relatively little to show for it. The nationwide unemployment rate ticked up to 9.6 percent last month.
The new fund would be available to community banks with less than $10 billion in assets to encourage lending to small businesses. The bill would combine the fund with about $12 billion in tax breaks aimed at both large and small businesses over the coming decade.
Democrats say banks should be able to use the lending fund to leverage up to $300 billion in loans, helping to loosen tight credit markets. Some Republicans, however, have likened it to the unpopular bailout of the financial industry.
Democrats say the measure is needed to help small businesses cope with a credit crunch that worsened dramatically after the financial crisis two years ago.
"This bill is about righting a wrong that was done to small business when Wall Street closed Main Street down and cut off access to capital," said Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.
"Small businesses are holding off on hiring while they wait for us to act," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. "Banks large and small are holding onto their capital while they wait for us to act."
On Tuesday, Republicans focused their attention on amendments to ease a requirement in Obama's health care overhaul bill that businesses file tax forms called 1099s for every vendor that sells them more than $600 in goods. Business groups say it would create a paperwork nightmare for small businesses. Competing Democratic and GOP measures to address the matter each failed.
Democrats had hoped to pass the bill in July, but Democrats couldn't win any GOP converts and fell just short of defeating a filibuster that was called because Democrats blocked Republicans from offering unrelated amendments.
The small business tax cuts in the bill include breaks for restaurant owners and retailers who remodel their stores or build new ones. Larger businesses could more quickly recover the costs of capital improvements through depreciation. Long-term investors in some small businesses would be exempt from paying capital gains taxes. And loan caps under the Small Business Administration's chief lending program would be significantly raised.
The measure also would allow small business owners to deduct the costs of health insurance for themselves and their families from self-employment taxes, but only for the 2010 tax year.
Much of the bill would be paid for by allowing taxpayers to convert 401(k) and government retirement accounts into Roth accounts, in which they pay taxes up front on the money
they contribute, enabling them to withdraw it tax-free after they retire. Taxpayers who convert accounts this year would pay the taxes in 2011 and 2012, generating an estimated $5.1 billion.
US News
Click here to find out more!
Democrats cracked a GOP filibuster of the bill with the help of two Republicans: Sens. George Voinovich of Ohio and George LeMieux of Florida.
The 61-37 tally sets the stage for a final vote later this week to return the measure to the House, which is likely to approve it for Obama's signature.
The bill is probably the last piece of Democrats' ambitious jobs agenda that would become law before midterm elections, which will determine whether Democrats keep their majorities in the House and Senate. Democrats started the year with ambitious plans for a series of bills designed to boost the economy and job creation but have relatively little to show for it. The nationwide unemployment rate ticked up to 9.6 percent last month.
The new fund would be available to community banks with less than $10 billion in assets to encourage lending to small businesses. The bill would combine the fund with about $12 billion in tax breaks aimed at both large and small businesses over the coming decade.
Democrats say banks should be able to use the lending fund to leverage up to $300 billion in loans, helping to loosen tight credit markets. Some Republicans, however, have likened it to the unpopular bailout of the financial industry.
Democrats say the measure is needed to help small businesses cope with a credit crunch that worsened dramatically after the financial crisis two years ago.
"This bill is about righting a wrong that was done to small business when Wall Street closed Main Street down and cut off access to capital," said Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.
"Small businesses are holding off on hiring while they wait for us to act," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. "Banks large and small are holding onto their capital while they wait for us to act."
On Tuesday, Republicans focused their attention on amendments to ease a requirement in Obama's health care overhaul bill that businesses file tax forms called 1099s for every vendor that sells them more than $600 in goods. Business groups say it would create a paperwork nightmare for small businesses. Competing Democratic and GOP measures to address the matter each failed.
Democrats had hoped to pass the bill in July, but Democrats couldn't win any GOP converts and fell just short of defeating a filibuster that was called because Democrats blocked Republicans from offering unrelated amendments.
The small business tax cuts in the bill include breaks for restaurant owners and retailers who remodel their stores or build new ones. Larger businesses could more quickly recover the costs of capital improvements through depreciation. Long-term investors in some small businesses would be exempt from paying capital gains taxes. And loan caps under the Small Business Administration's chief lending program would be significantly raised.
The measure also would allow small business owners to deduct the costs of health insurance for themselves and their families from self-employment taxes, but only for the 2010 tax year.
Much of the bill would be paid for by allowing taxpayers to convert 401(k) and government retirement accounts into Roth accounts, in which they pay taxes up front on the money
they contribute, enabling them to withdraw it tax-free after they retire. Taxpayers who convert accounts this year would pay the taxes in 2011 and 2012, generating an estimated $5.1 billion.
US News
Patrick Kennedy Retirement Spurs Heated Primary to Succeed Him in Rhode Island
Winner of Democratic primary is favored to take Kennedy's place in the House
Predictions are flying about the likelihood of the House and Senate changing party hands in November's midterm elections. But before parties can plan their agendas for the next congressional session, their candidates first have to make it through their primaries. After Tuesday, the last big day of the 2010 primary season, nearly all of the nominees for the general election will be chosen. Altogether, voters in seven states plus the District of Columbia will on Tuesday finalize their November ballots for 61 House seats, six Senate seats, and six gubernatorial races. Only the Hawaii primary and a House runoff primary in Louisiana will remain after this.
Click here to find out more!
RHODE ISLAND
In Rhode Island's First District, the retirement of Democratic Rep. Patrick Kennedy has opened the way for six candidates who hope to take his place in the 112th Congress.
The Democratic field for Tuesday's primary is heavy with political experience. David Segal, who founded voting rights organization FairVote, has at age 30 already served for four years on the Providence City Council and four years as a state representative. Attorney Bill Lynch was the chairman of the Rhode Island Democratic Party for 12 years. David Cicilline has been mayor of Providence for nearly eight years. Rounding out the field is businessman Anthony Gemma, who is new on the political scene.
An August poll by Brown University showed Cicilline leading among the four Democrats, with the support of 32 percent of likely primary voters. Lynch was next, with 15 percent, followed by Gemma with 11 percent, and Segal with 5 percent. However, the 35 percent of respondents who were undecided, not to mention the poll's 7.4-percent margin of error, suggest that it may be too soon to tell who will come out on top.
Cicilline also leads in fundraising, with $1.4 million in receipts. Gemma, the next most successful fundraiser, is behind by nearly $1 million, having taken in $445,000 this cycle. He has used this money to purchase a series of negative advertisements that accuse Cicilline of being "quite possibly the most ineffective mayor in [Providence's] history." In keeping with this aggressive campaign ethic, Gemma has also appealed to Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to ask Cicilline to end his campaign, citing "unscrupulous practices" and alleging that the city of Providence overpaid Cicilline by $20,000 over the last four years. Cicilline has promised to refund any overpayment.
While the seat is expected to remain in Democratic hands after the election, Republicans are hoping to capitalize on the discord among the Democratic candidates. The Republican field features two candidates, Kara Russo and John Loughlin. Loughlin, the Rhode Island House minority whip, is considered the frontrunner, with the preponderance of financial support, political experience, and the support of establishment Republicans. Loughlin held a fundraiser with Arizona Sen. John McCain, for example, and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has expressed his support. The assistance seems to have helped, as Loughlin has raised over $470,000 thus far. Loughlin has used this money to hire the consulting team that helped Massachusetts Republican Sen. Scott Brown to victory in the special election to fill the seat vacated when Ted Kennedy passed away earlier this year.
Loughlin has been highlighting economic issues in his campaign, emphasizing that he wants to lower taxes and cut "excessive" government regulation of businesses. Russo, on the other hand, often highlights her socially conservative viewpoints in debates. She describes herself as "strongly pro-life and pro-family," and her campaign Web site says that she produces prolife television shows across the state of Rhode Island. She has not devoted her full attention to her congressional campaign, as she is also running for lieutenant governor of Rhode Island. She has no fundraising reports available from the Federal Election Commission, which suggests that her money totals may be minimal--candidates are not required to file reports until their campaigns have raised $5,000 or more.
In Rhode Island's Second District, long a Democratic stronghold, the Democratic primary may be a tougher race than the general election. Democratic Rep. Jim Langevin, in office for nine years, has won all four of his reelections with over 70 percent of the vote. If he wants to repeat that success in November, he will first have to defeat his two opponents on the primary ballot--Betsy Dennigan, a nurse and attorney, and Ernie Greco, a political science professor. In the August Brown University poll, Langevin had a formidable lead, with 55 percent of respondents saying they would vote for him. Twelve percent said they would support Dennigan, and 1 percent were Greco supporters and 30 percent were undecided.
According to Congressional Quarterly, Langevin is a dependably party-line Democrat, voting with his party on 99 percent of the votes that divided mainly along party lines. Dennigan's platform shows her to be a liberal Democrat, as she expresses support for a health insurance public option, abortion rights, and same-sex marriage. Greco, for his part, is more moderate than Dennigan and Langevin. He has criticized Langevin's voting record as being too liberal and has also argued against the healthcare reform package and further stimulus spending.
Of the three, Langevin has by far fared the best in the fundraising arena. Langevin has raised nearly $950,000 and still had $516,879 in the bank as of August 25. Dennigan has rasied $273,097, including $170,000 from her own pocket. She has spent much of this in her fight to defeat Langevin, with less than $80,000 in her coffers according to her latest filing. There are no FEC fundraising reports available for Greco's campaign.
Among the four candidates in the Republican primary, business consultant Mark Zaccaria may be most familiar to voters. Zaccaria faced Langevin in the 2008 general election and is hoping to fare better this November if he makes it past Tuesday's race. He is facing a tough challenge from former business executive Bill Clegg, who leads in fundraising with $140,000, including $90,000 that he loaned to the campaign himself.
Zaccaria has taken in only $20,000 less than Clegg, with $118,000 in receipts, but has spent far more of his money: as of August 25, he only had $15,000 in his campaign account, compared to Clegg's $97,000.
US News
Predictions are flying about the likelihood of the House and Senate changing party hands in November's midterm elections. But before parties can plan their agendas for the next congressional session, their candidates first have to make it through their primaries. After Tuesday, the last big day of the 2010 primary season, nearly all of the nominees for the general election will be chosen. Altogether, voters in seven states plus the District of Columbia will on Tuesday finalize their November ballots for 61 House seats, six Senate seats, and six gubernatorial races. Only the Hawaii primary and a House runoff primary in Louisiana will remain after this.
Click here to find out more!
RHODE ISLAND
In Rhode Island's First District, the retirement of Democratic Rep. Patrick Kennedy has opened the way for six candidates who hope to take his place in the 112th Congress.
The Democratic field for Tuesday's primary is heavy with political experience. David Segal, who founded voting rights organization FairVote, has at age 30 already served for four years on the Providence City Council and four years as a state representative. Attorney Bill Lynch was the chairman of the Rhode Island Democratic Party for 12 years. David Cicilline has been mayor of Providence for nearly eight years. Rounding out the field is businessman Anthony Gemma, who is new on the political scene.
An August poll by Brown University showed Cicilline leading among the four Democrats, with the support of 32 percent of likely primary voters. Lynch was next, with 15 percent, followed by Gemma with 11 percent, and Segal with 5 percent. However, the 35 percent of respondents who were undecided, not to mention the poll's 7.4-percent margin of error, suggest that it may be too soon to tell who will come out on top.
Cicilline also leads in fundraising, with $1.4 million in receipts. Gemma, the next most successful fundraiser, is behind by nearly $1 million, having taken in $445,000 this cycle. He has used this money to purchase a series of negative advertisements that accuse Cicilline of being "quite possibly the most ineffective mayor in [Providence's] history." In keeping with this aggressive campaign ethic, Gemma has also appealed to Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to ask Cicilline to end his campaign, citing "unscrupulous practices" and alleging that the city of Providence overpaid Cicilline by $20,000 over the last four years. Cicilline has promised to refund any overpayment.
While the seat is expected to remain in Democratic hands after the election, Republicans are hoping to capitalize on the discord among the Democratic candidates. The Republican field features two candidates, Kara Russo and John Loughlin. Loughlin, the Rhode Island House minority whip, is considered the frontrunner, with the preponderance of financial support, political experience, and the support of establishment Republicans. Loughlin held a fundraiser with Arizona Sen. John McCain, for example, and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has expressed his support. The assistance seems to have helped, as Loughlin has raised over $470,000 thus far. Loughlin has used this money to hire the consulting team that helped Massachusetts Republican Sen. Scott Brown to victory in the special election to fill the seat vacated when Ted Kennedy passed away earlier this year.
Loughlin has been highlighting economic issues in his campaign, emphasizing that he wants to lower taxes and cut "excessive" government regulation of businesses. Russo, on the other hand, often highlights her socially conservative viewpoints in debates. She describes herself as "strongly pro-life and pro-family," and her campaign Web site says that she produces prolife television shows across the state of Rhode Island. She has not devoted her full attention to her congressional campaign, as she is also running for lieutenant governor of Rhode Island. She has no fundraising reports available from the Federal Election Commission, which suggests that her money totals may be minimal--candidates are not required to file reports until their campaigns have raised $5,000 or more.
In Rhode Island's Second District, long a Democratic stronghold, the Democratic primary may be a tougher race than the general election. Democratic Rep. Jim Langevin, in office for nine years, has won all four of his reelections with over 70 percent of the vote. If he wants to repeat that success in November, he will first have to defeat his two opponents on the primary ballot--Betsy Dennigan, a nurse and attorney, and Ernie Greco, a political science professor. In the August Brown University poll, Langevin had a formidable lead, with 55 percent of respondents saying they would vote for him. Twelve percent said they would support Dennigan, and 1 percent were Greco supporters and 30 percent were undecided.
According to Congressional Quarterly, Langevin is a dependably party-line Democrat, voting with his party on 99 percent of the votes that divided mainly along party lines. Dennigan's platform shows her to be a liberal Democrat, as she expresses support for a health insurance public option, abortion rights, and same-sex marriage. Greco, for his part, is more moderate than Dennigan and Langevin. He has criticized Langevin's voting record as being too liberal and has also argued against the healthcare reform package and further stimulus spending.
Of the three, Langevin has by far fared the best in the fundraising arena. Langevin has raised nearly $950,000 and still had $516,879 in the bank as of August 25. Dennigan has rasied $273,097, including $170,000 from her own pocket. She has spent much of this in her fight to defeat Langevin, with less than $80,000 in her coffers according to her latest filing. There are no FEC fundraising reports available for Greco's campaign.
Among the four candidates in the Republican primary, business consultant Mark Zaccaria may be most familiar to voters. Zaccaria faced Langevin in the 2008 general election and is hoping to fare better this November if he makes it past Tuesday's race. He is facing a tough challenge from former business executive Bill Clegg, who leads in fundraising with $140,000, including $90,000 that he loaned to the campaign himself.
Zaccaria has taken in only $20,000 less than Clegg, with $118,000 in receipts, but has spent far more of his money: as of August 25, he only had $15,000 in his campaign account, compared to Clegg's $97,000.
US News
Congress Not Expected To Do Much With 2010 Election Looming
A small business jobs bill, extending the Bush tax cuts, and lots of fighting are on the agenda
As Congress returns from its August recess, it faces a full plate of legislation, including leftovers from the summer and new offerings from President Obama. But with lingering partisan rancor—and the midterm election season revving into full gear—observers wonder whether Congress will finish anything during the next month.
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"Clearly, the Republicans have not been in a very cooperative mood, since the beginning of the Obama presidency," says the Brookings Institution's William Galston, who was a domestic policy adviser in the Clinton White House. "With the election campaign now in full swing, it's hard to imagine that things will get better." Michael Tanner, a senior fellow at the libertarian Cato Institute, agrees, predicting that annual appropriations bills will likely have to be wrapped up into an omnibus bill to prevent holdups in government activities. "It's an election year, and the Republicans are not inclined to cooperate to get things done."
First up is the Small Business Jobs Act, which includes $12 billion in tax breaks and would establish a $30 billion lending fund for small businesses. Although Senate Democrats previously fell two votes shy of the 60 needed to bring the matter to a vote, they are now optimistic that a deal struck on the legislation—which would ease some of the vendor tax-reporting requirements included in the recently enacted healthcare law—will bring in enough votes to secure passage. "We've got a pretty firm commitment that we'll be able to see it through," says Richard Carbo, a spokesman for Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, a sponsor of the bill.
The Senate will begin procedural votes on amendments to the bill Tuesday morning.
After that, the House and Senate will also likely consider competing proposals to extend some or all of the so-called Bush tax cuts passed in 2001 and 2003, as well as legislation to continue a number of tax exemptions and breaks, such as corporate tax credits for research and development and biofuel use. Congress also is expected to take up food safety legislation and the Disclose Act, which would increase disclosure requirements for corporate campaign spending. With Senate Democrats one vote shy of the 60 votes needed to cut off a filibuster, they will have to woo Republicans if they hope to accomplish any of their agenda before lawmakers leave for the campaign trail.
Extension of the Bush-era tax cuts could take up much of the congressional oxygen—likely carrying over into a lame-duck session after the November elections. In a speech last week in suburban Cleveland, Obama aggressively pushed his proposal to extend the tax cuts for most Americans, but to allow the rates to rise for individuals earning more than $200,000 annually and joint filers earning more than $250,000.
[Read both sides of the debate over extending the Bush tax cuts.]
Because Republicans have vowed to oppose legislation that would let any of the tax cuts expire, Democratic sources in the Senate say their strategy is to force the GOP into the awkward position of opposing a tax cut for the middle class.
On Sunday, House Minority Leader John Boehner, an Ohio Republican, indicated he might be willing to budge, stating that he'd be in favor of extending only the middle tax cuts if it were the "only option." But Republicans overall remain strongly opposed to Obama's plan. Galston says the Republicans might ultimately have the upper hand, since an impasse would let all the current tax cuts expire as scheduled at year's end, raising rates across the board. "It's relatively unlikely that Democrats would like to be fingered as the people who allowed tax cuts for the middle class to expire," he says. "If the net result for the legislative process is that taxes go up for everybody, that goes into the familiar Republican narrative."
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As Congress returns from its August recess, it faces a full plate of legislation, including leftovers from the summer and new offerings from President Obama. But with lingering partisan rancor—and the midterm election season revving into full gear—observers wonder whether Congress will finish anything during the next month.
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"Clearly, the Republicans have not been in a very cooperative mood, since the beginning of the Obama presidency," says the Brookings Institution's William Galston, who was a domestic policy adviser in the Clinton White House. "With the election campaign now in full swing, it's hard to imagine that things will get better." Michael Tanner, a senior fellow at the libertarian Cato Institute, agrees, predicting that annual appropriations bills will likely have to be wrapped up into an omnibus bill to prevent holdups in government activities. "It's an election year, and the Republicans are not inclined to cooperate to get things done."
First up is the Small Business Jobs Act, which includes $12 billion in tax breaks and would establish a $30 billion lending fund for small businesses. Although Senate Democrats previously fell two votes shy of the 60 needed to bring the matter to a vote, they are now optimistic that a deal struck on the legislation—which would ease some of the vendor tax-reporting requirements included in the recently enacted healthcare law—will bring in enough votes to secure passage. "We've got a pretty firm commitment that we'll be able to see it through," says Richard Carbo, a spokesman for Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, a sponsor of the bill.
The Senate will begin procedural votes on amendments to the bill Tuesday morning.
After that, the House and Senate will also likely consider competing proposals to extend some or all of the so-called Bush tax cuts passed in 2001 and 2003, as well as legislation to continue a number of tax exemptions and breaks, such as corporate tax credits for research and development and biofuel use. Congress also is expected to take up food safety legislation and the Disclose Act, which would increase disclosure requirements for corporate campaign spending. With Senate Democrats one vote shy of the 60 votes needed to cut off a filibuster, they will have to woo Republicans if they hope to accomplish any of their agenda before lawmakers leave for the campaign trail.
Extension of the Bush-era tax cuts could take up much of the congressional oxygen—likely carrying over into a lame-duck session after the November elections. In a speech last week in suburban Cleveland, Obama aggressively pushed his proposal to extend the tax cuts for most Americans, but to allow the rates to rise for individuals earning more than $200,000 annually and joint filers earning more than $250,000.
[Read both sides of the debate over extending the Bush tax cuts.]
Because Republicans have vowed to oppose legislation that would let any of the tax cuts expire, Democratic sources in the Senate say their strategy is to force the GOP into the awkward position of opposing a tax cut for the middle class.
On Sunday, House Minority Leader John Boehner, an Ohio Republican, indicated he might be willing to budge, stating that he'd be in favor of extending only the middle tax cuts if it were the "only option." But Republicans overall remain strongly opposed to Obama's plan. Galston says the Republicans might ultimately have the upper hand, since an impasse would let all the current tax cuts expire as scheduled at year's end, raising rates across the board. "It's relatively unlikely that Democrats would like to be fingered as the people who allowed tax cuts for the middle class to expire," he says. "If the net result for the legislative process is that taxes go up for everybody, that goes into the familiar Republican narrative."
US News
Libertarian Not Stepping Aside for Lisa Murkowski
JUNEAU, Alaska — If U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski decides to re-enter the race, it won't be as a Libertarian.
That party's candidate, David Haase, told The Associated Press on Monday that he's not stepping aside.
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Haase would have to withdraw his candidacy by Wednesday to clear a spot on the party's ticket. He said last week he would consider doing so if Murkowski personally asked him to do so. Surrogates did, he said, but she did not.
"I think she's come to the conclusion that she could walk on water and announce she's a Libertarian and people would throw tomatoes at her," he said.
Murkowski campaign manager John Bitney said Murkowski "wasn't anticipating" going the Libertarian route.
The Libertarian Party chairman did not immediately return a message.
Murkowski has said that friends of hers — without her direction — approached the Libertarians, asking whether they'd consider putting her on; she met with Haase, as a courtesy to them, last week. But she also made clear the decision of whether she'd be on the ticket would have to be the Libertarians' and that she was not changing her views.
There was a lot at stake with this option, on both sides. Murkowski, a Republican, would have had to join the party and sign a pledge that states she does not believe in or advocate the initiation of force for social or political goals. For the Libertarians, as appealing as was the prospect of potentially electing a U.S. senator, there was the risk of angering the rank-and-file, many of whom opposed Murkowski running as their candidate.
"If we had a Libertarian U.S. senator, that would be a really good thing," Haase said. "But if we had a Libertarian (Senate candidate) who was something else, and (who) loses, the party loses, too. So, it's a tough decision, but continuing any longer (without making a decision) is not going to help anybody."
Congress resumed its work session Monday without Murkowski; she's been in Alaska, mulling whether to re-enter the race after receiving an outpouring of encouragement. She conceded the GOP race to Joe Miller last month.
Should she opt to run, Murkowski could do so as a write-in candidate. A decision could come this week.
"I would guess she's making lots of calls," Bitney said. "What's important is that she makes a good decision."
Miller, meanwhile, is headed to Washington later this month for fundraising and for meetings with Republicans. Since winning the primary, Miller has begun receiving endorsements from GOP leaders and the establishment, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
And Democrat Scott McAdams began airing his first radio ad of the general election campaign. In it, he emphasizes his blue-collar roots — saying he didn't go to Yale, like Miller did — and makes other contrasts with Miller, too, notably on the issue of federal funding.
Miller has said he wants to get a reign on government spending, arguing that spending in Washington is out of control, but McAdams says his belief is that a senator should fight for Alaska's "fair share."
McAdams' campaign says the ad is running in Anchorage and Fairbanks market but would not disclose the size of the ad buy.
US News
That party's candidate, David Haase, told The Associated Press on Monday that he's not stepping aside.
Click here to find out more!
Haase would have to withdraw his candidacy by Wednesday to clear a spot on the party's ticket. He said last week he would consider doing so if Murkowski personally asked him to do so. Surrogates did, he said, but she did not.
"I think she's come to the conclusion that she could walk on water and announce she's a Libertarian and people would throw tomatoes at her," he said.
Murkowski campaign manager John Bitney said Murkowski "wasn't anticipating" going the Libertarian route.
The Libertarian Party chairman did not immediately return a message.
Murkowski has said that friends of hers — without her direction — approached the Libertarians, asking whether they'd consider putting her on; she met with Haase, as a courtesy to them, last week. But she also made clear the decision of whether she'd be on the ticket would have to be the Libertarians' and that she was not changing her views.
There was a lot at stake with this option, on both sides. Murkowski, a Republican, would have had to join the party and sign a pledge that states she does not believe in or advocate the initiation of force for social or political goals. For the Libertarians, as appealing as was the prospect of potentially electing a U.S. senator, there was the risk of angering the rank-and-file, many of whom opposed Murkowski running as their candidate.
"If we had a Libertarian U.S. senator, that would be a really good thing," Haase said. "But if we had a Libertarian (Senate candidate) who was something else, and (who) loses, the party loses, too. So, it's a tough decision, but continuing any longer (without making a decision) is not going to help anybody."
Congress resumed its work session Monday without Murkowski; she's been in Alaska, mulling whether to re-enter the race after receiving an outpouring of encouragement. She conceded the GOP race to Joe Miller last month.
Should she opt to run, Murkowski could do so as a write-in candidate. A decision could come this week.
"I would guess she's making lots of calls," Bitney said. "What's important is that she makes a good decision."
Miller, meanwhile, is headed to Washington later this month for fundraising and for meetings with Republicans. Since winning the primary, Miller has begun receiving endorsements from GOP leaders and the establishment, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
And Democrat Scott McAdams began airing his first radio ad of the general election campaign. In it, he emphasizes his blue-collar roots — saying he didn't go to Yale, like Miller did — and makes other contrasts with Miller, too, notably on the issue of federal funding.
Miller has said he wants to get a reign on government spending, arguing that spending in Washington is out of control, but McAdams says his belief is that a senator should fight for Alaska's "fair share."
McAdams' campaign says the ad is running in Anchorage and Fairbanks market but would not disclose the size of the ad buy.
US News
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