Posted on 02/27/2009 3:12:23 PM PST by NormsRevenge
National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) said Friday that Senate Republicans face a "very promising" landscape in 2010, despite several open seats where Democrats have good chances.
"There are some incumbent seats that we must defend and open seats that we must hold, like in Ohio, Missouri and Florida," Cornyn said in a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference. "But we may also have opportunities in some unexpected places: New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Arkansas, Colorado, Nevada and California."
The three open seats, vacated by retiring Sens. George Voinovich (R-Ohio), Kit Bond (R-Mo.) and Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), could present Republicans with serious problems.
Democrats may face a bloody primary between two statewide elected officials in Ohio, but the winner will be a strong opponent for ex-Rep. Rob Portman (R). The wide-open field in Florida, where Gov. Charlie Crist (R) is still flirting with a bid, will cost both parties millions if Crist runs for reelection instead. And in Missouri, the winner of a competitive GOP primary will face Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D), the state's highest vote-getter in 2008.
Republicans have yet to recruit candidates to run against Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), though serious candidates are contemplating bids in New York and Connecticut. Retiring Sen. Ted Kaufman (D-Del.) and Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.), the scandal-plagued appointee who has not said whether he will run for reelection, are also on Cornyn's target list.
"Ninety percent of the game is to recruit candidates who can communicate our principles, who work hard and who can connect with voters in their states," Cornyn said. "And the NRSC can offer strong candidates the tools and resources they need to win."
Cornyn warned the gathered conservatives, in town for their annual three-day pilgrimage to hear from Republican luminaries, that not all of the candidates the party recruits will adhere to conservative orthodoxy all the time, a message at odds with other speakers at the conference who urged a return to Reaganite roots.
"Not all of these candidates are going to hold conservative positions on every issue," Cornyn said. "It's critical that our candidates fit their states if they're going to win.
"I understand when people are occasionally frustrated with the way some of my colleagues vote. I am too. But a circular firing squad within our party is no solution," Cornyn said. "We must broaden our party and increase our appeal among groups that share our values but dont necessarily identify as conservatives or vote consistently as Republicans."
Cornyn acknowledged the "thumpin' " Republicans took in the last election, though he said the movement is "regrouping, reorganizing and renewing itself."
The conference has been a mixture of self-flagellation, worry about the Obama administration's spending proposals and optimism for the future of the movement. Most speakers slam Democratic leaders in Washington for the economic spending package that passed earlier this month with few Republican votes, and for the domestic spending bill laid out this week, which they say will raise taxes.
Still, others have taken the opportunity to attack Republicans in Washington for having contravened their stated philosophies.
"The future [leaders] of the conservative movement are not here," said Bay Buchanan, a longtime Republican activist who managed ex-Rep. Tom Tancredo's (R-Colo.) presidential campaign in 2008. "When the heat is on and the president of the United States is calling them, they fold. They fold.
"How many years were we in charge when they did nothing about the unborn? They claim to be the party of pro-life, but they did nothing," Buchanan said in her presentation Thursday.
I’m encouraged. But then I saw Rick Santorum, a great conservative, on with Sean Hannity praising earmarks, defending them.
Too many in the party think they can out-bribe the Democrats. Guess what, you can’t.
If you want to see so much as a nickel from me, Cornyn, you’d better drive that scum puke Specter out at the primary stage, and replace him with a reliable conservative.
I understand the anger of the pro-life crowd, but there is this thing called the USSC that keeps getting in the way. I guess she forgets that from time to time.
If it’s not, we’re all toast. 2010 is, IMHO, our last chance to stop this idiot driving our country into the fire. the best we can hope for after a successful 2010 election is a stalemate, but it’s better than what The Benetton President would do with a Democrat congress.
You are not alone on that one. My birth state is losing its mind.
plenty of time for them to blow it.
I think it is quite promising. This could be a real turn a round for us.
Who says we will still be having elections in 2010?
There is only one effective way to do this
Expose the radical staff members of the dimwits, and their radical/lobbiest connections.
Dig deep and often on them, because the skeletons are piled as high as liberal ignorance.
They think they’re protected, and above the law, time to prove otherwise.
Not unless we get all those fraudulent voters off the roles. Dems are guaranteed Ohio, PA, NJ, CA, and others if we don't start lawsuits to purge the voter rolls.
Well, of COURSE the Republicans will have a good year - the conservatives won't.
The Republicans are Democrats themselves, so this new Socialist agenda benefits them perfectly.
Conservatives will just have to be content with watching from rehab.
Yea, there will probably still be elections in 2010.
Yes, if the REPUBLICIANS have RINOs like Charlie Crist running for the open seats.
NO RINOS in 2010!!
Pat Toomey!!!
>> Pat Toomey!!!
Pat Toomey would be great. I wonder if he’d run again.
Wasn’t 40% of the latest pork laden bill...............
Weren’t those pork projects for republicans?
I don’t have high hopes for the republican party in 2010. They still haven’t learned.
I hope he will...Hell, Jack Murtha would be better then Arlan. (At least you know you have a Dem, and not a dem posing as a Republican!)
“Not all of these candidates are going to hold conservative positions on every issue,” Cornyn said.”
They either hold to the platform or they aren’t worth a warm pile of Arlen Spectre.
“How many years were we in charge when they did nothing about the unborn? They claim to be the party of pro-life, but they did nothing,” Buchanan said in her presentation Thursday.”
While I would never vote for a pro-abort politician, the fact must be faced that this issue is for the RNC simply a carrot to dangle in front of the pro-life voting horse, only to be snatched away as a a bully teases a weaker child with a candy bar.
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