Posted on 12/19/2006 10:31:20 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
Rep. Tom Allen (D-01) '04 manager Michael Cuzzi confirmed they have brought on Heather Quinn as finance dir. should Allen decide to run for SEN. Last cycle, Quinn managed Rep. Mike Michaud (D-02)'s campaign. Some ME Dem sources say this is Allen's attempt to break into ME-02. Cuzzi said he will also play a significant role in Allen's pending campaign.
(Excerpt) Read more at hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com ...
New England Democrats smell Republican blood in the water, and Tom Allen is no exception. Some say this will be like the Sheldon Whitehouse/Lincoln Chafee race this year, but Maine is not Rhode Island.
I thought Maine already had two Democratic senators.
Guess Allen is getting antsy in the House. Our best case scenario would be for Allen and Michaud to both jump into the race and smash each other to bits. Might pick up the Michaud seat in that case. ;-)
Michaud is pro-life, and knows he'd be at a huge disadvantage in the Dem statewide primary (Portland is very socially liberal); if anything, Rhode Island is more likely to elect a pro-lifer than Maine is. I don't think Michaud will jump in.
Allen will be a formidable opponent, and if '08 is a repeat of '06, the RINO Collins will lose. But I think the tide will turn before '08 comes around and that Collins will be reelected, albeit not as comfortably as against Pingree in '02.
BTW, as crappy as Collins's voting record is, she's Vernon Robinson compared to Lincoln Chafee. I think conservatives should hold our noses and support Collins's reelection.
With Rudy or Mormon Mitt on the top of the ticket, I think Collins will be insulated from any Blue Thunderstorm. Collin sshould be thankful that she's running in 2008, not 2006.
I seriously doubt that having a liberal Republican as our presidential nominee will have a "coattail effect" on congressional races. If anything, it will cause some conservatives to stay at home, which will result in fewer votes for congressional Republicans. A liberal Republican as our presidential nominee will also cause more RINOs to go and vote, and in most cases such RINOs will vote for the Democrat congressional candidate rather than for a conservative Republican.
BTW, of the "big three," only Giuliani is clearly a liberal RINO. Romney used to take liberal positions on which he has backed away of late, so we don't know if he'll attract RINO voters and drive away conservatives. As for McCain, he's a "conservative RINO," someone who appears to be hell-bent on hurting the GOP in order to promote himself yet who takes conservative positions on nearly all issues.
Rudy might produce a coattail effect in some New England races. It's the South and the rural Midwest where he could cause some to not vote.
"Rudy might produce a coattail effect in some New England races."
Ping!
Okay you Rudy Lovers, care to share your comments in regards to post 8. I want to examine a potential Rudy candidacy from all angles.
Using the Lamont example, what might benefit us, or solely for the Presidential nominee, is if Bloomberg jumps in as a Liberal Independent with Hillary as the 'Rat nominee. But with 2 liberals, that would aid the 'Rats retaining Congress even as we'd win the WH.
I think having Perot on the ballot in 1996 may have helped the GOP keep Congress. Much of the 1996 Perot support gravitated toward Bush in 2000 and 2004. The '96 Perot voters left us in 2006.
As for Bloomberg as a 3rd party candidate, he would hurt Rudy, but help a dark horse like Duncan Hunter or Sam Brownback. Bloomberg could challenge Ah-nuld as the King RINO.
I think having Perot on the ballot in 1996 may have helped the GOP keep Congress. Much of the 1996 Perot support gravitated toward Bush in 2000 and 2004. The '96 Perot voters left us in 2006.
As for Bloomberg as a 3rd party candidate, he would hurt Rudy, but help a dark horse like Duncan Hunter or Sam Brownback. Bloomberg could challenge Ah-nuld as the King RINO.
Actually Rudy is not a liberal. I think the best thing to call him is an Urban Conservative. He cut taxes and government in NYC. He was a law and order man. He is not pro gay marriage as some say. His immigration stance is for border control. As Mayor he was in favor of "regularizing" illegals. But, then NYC had such a heavy immigration population he could hardly do anything else(I hope he grows on that one). His anti illegal stance is closer to our freeper thinking than W's or McCain. He is in favor of abortion but I will bet you that most of the GOP congressmen are as well. only Rudy admits it. I have no doubt Rudy would seriously help in the North east s far as bringing in GOP congressmen and in other purple and blue areas as well. If Conservatives do not support him they are just hurting themselves. Social Conservatives like yourself who do gripe are probably putting yourself in a strong position should he come in to office. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Rudy has the moderates locked up and he will have to keep social Conservatives like your self happy. This will be opposite to the past where Republican Presidents lock up the Conservatives and then ignore them to placate the moderates or independents.
I think you are a bit off here. Rudy is probably the only GOP candidate who would lose to a Clinton or Obama. Outside of NY, his time has past. The GOP needs someone of higher moral fiber and conviction. Gingrich has potential, but might have too much baggage in the past. Romney cannot run from his liberal past. McCain, as much as the media loves him (and Rudy), could never win a GOP primary. I think Brownback has to be considered the top option. He is socially conservative, but not an abrasive conservative. Once he gets some exposure, people will see this is a guy who is very easy to like. Rudy, particularly being a New Yorker, would not sell in the Red States.
Tom Andrews is more influential than that empty suit.
Both Allen and Andrews are moonbats (although Andrews probably a smidge more). Collins has seemed a weak candidate (she was one of our few GOP candidates to lose in 1994 when she ran for Governor, coming in 3rd place), and Allen would probably be the most formidable candidate she could face (solely based on demographics, although Maine isn't as rodent as some might think). Allen would have to make the argument that the state would be better served having a rodent representing it in the Senate. Collins would also best remember that running far to the left will not shore up her position, either, as we can see what that did for Chafee and DeWine.
I wouldn't hold that run against her in terms of elective success. It just wasn't happening that year, no face time or money, though she made a good impression on the electorate. We elected a conservative reformer (or, alternatively, ex-Democrat Angus King) instead.
Ever since she got to run against Joe Brennan she's been pretty golden. Sometimes all you need is that one big break.
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