Posted on 08/12/2009 4:39:48 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued
Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), one of the most committed broadcast watchdogs on Capitol Hill, is enjoying a 69% approval rating among citizens of North Dakota, despite their Republican tastes when it comes to presidential candidates. But he may be vulnerable nevertheless, if the even more popular Republican Gov. John Hoeven decides to mount a challenge.
Dorgan entered the House in 1980, and moved up to the Senate in 1992. According to Politico, he has never faced a tough election.
But all bets would be off if Hoeven decides to run for the seat. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has conducted polling which shows Hoeven entering such a race with a 53%-36% edge, making Dorgan look like an incumbent in trouble.
NRSC head John Cornyn (R-TX) is obviously excited at the prospect of picking off an key and otherwise apparently safe Democratic incumbent, and is waiting for Hoevens decision, which he is supposed to make known by sometime in September.
(Excerpt) Read more at rbr.com ...
How many Freepers are in North Dakota? We need them to bombard GOP headquarters with requests that Hoeven run. He’ll announce his decision in a month.
If everything goes right the GOP has the opportunity to make big gains in the Senate. I’m not talking about 2 or 3 seats either.
“If everything goes right the GOP has the opportunity to make big gains in the Senate.”
Very true. The most important factor right now is recruitment.
I think 4.
Hoeven will run if promised enough campaign funds. Our three representatives run on millions in cash raised outside the state. They use the power of incumbency to crush any opponent who has to run on the relatively puny amounts of cash he can collect in state.
“I think 4”
It would be very helpful if you were to ping them. I’m sure they have valuable input to offer, as you do.
Ping
The Dakotas have been a thorn in our side for a long time. Why do they keep sending DemocRATS to the US Senate? I’m glad Thune won in 2004 in SD, but why the inconsistency with their vote in presidential races?
If they vote for Reid or Pelosi as leaders, then they have to go. Votes are fungible. So long as the leadership has its majority, it matters not how particular members vote on an issue in order to placate the local constituency. Pelosi is Speaker, because Raum Emmanuel recruited "centrists" to run in enough conservative leaning districts to switch control to the DemocRATS. The result is not to have a centrist House reflecting the wishes of swing voters but an extreme left wing House reflecting the wishes of the core 10% of the DemocRATS.
A little money has a big bang in a low-population state.
The Golden West: Dorgan can be tipped. Likewise Cadaver Reid, Bennet (CO), Lincoln (AR), and why not Boxer, Wyden(OR) and Murray(WA)?
Murray? Why would the voters in WA wake up. They've already elected this idiot 3 times.
When I lived in Seattle, Murray was noted in both the city and suburbs for her excellent constituent services. You needed a flag for the funeral? Done. You were having problems getting your passport approved? Done., etc. This is the main reason she is well loved by the moronic voters in (western) Washington, and tolerated by the normally sane voters in (eastern) Washington. She is dumb as a box of rocks on the issues, but she has an excellent public outreach team.
Too bad many possible gainers won’t be conservatives. Kirk, Simmons, ect.
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