Posted on 10/11/2009 7:19:23 PM PDT by Saije
Politically speaking, Sen. John Ensign of Nevada is about as battered as it gets.
The Republican senator in June acknowledged an extramarital affair with a campaign aide, who was married to his best friend, who has castigated Ensign in television interviews as a shameless Lothario.
In recent days, after the New York Times reported on Ensign's efforts to silence his mistress' husband, Doug Hampton, the Senate ethics committee launched an investigation and talk surfaced of a possible FBI inquiry.
Ensign has said he won't resign, and Nevada's GOP is widely considered too emasculated to push him out. Regardless of what voters think -- Ensign's approval rating in August was a dismal 30% -- they can't weigh in until 2012.
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Nevada's political elite -- including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat -- is struggling with whether to stand by its man. Last week alone, liberals castigated Reid for staying out of the Ensign fray and one of Reid's potential challengers, Sue Lowden, for defending him.
As long as Ensign's woes keep making headlines, candidates will be asked to comment on his travails. In a state with fewer residents than Orange County and only a few major campaign donors, there are risks to either embracing or ignoring the onetime GOP golden boy.
"No one wants to speak ill of him if this blows away, especially if he wins reelection and remains a political player," said Kenneth Fernandez, an assistant professor ..."But right now, he's sort of a pariah. No one wants to get too close to him."
Complicating things: Ensign's greatest potential sin -- possibly helping Hampton sidestep a federal lobbying law -- is tough to explain to voters. Even as watchdog groups call for Ensign's head, many Nevadans are preoccupied with the state's 13% unemployment rate.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
What’s ironic is that even with all this hanging over Ensign’s head, Harry Reid still doesn’t look good by comparison. He also has very high negatives.
I’m not sure how, but I am sure that he should go. And I might also add that I’d like to see the New York Times show some interest in their own back yard (CHARLES RANGEL, to be precise).
Dingy Harry is up for re-election. The campaign has begun.
Sen. Ensign is not up for re-election.
The state Democrat Party and their acolytes are using the Ensign scandal as their main weapon in Dingy Harry's election. The ads say nothing about the reedy one. They are just anti-Ensign.
State Republican Party leaders are concerned the Ensign scandal will have negative peripheral effects in 2010 races. In particular, the contest for the 3rd House District where Democrat Dina Titus, having won with less than 50% of the vote (47%) is vulnerable.
yitbos
“The state Democrat Party and their acolytes are using the Ensign scandal as their main weapon in Dingy Harry’s election. The ads say nothing about the reedy one. They are just anti-Ensign.”
By starting this so early (Hillary advising them?), Dims leave an easy option to the GOP, i.e., “This has all been hashed over before, Republicans care about the future.”
Sure. The retort is Charlie Rangell.
Just reporting inside poop.
In Nevada, if Ensign retires, the governor's replacement is in effect until the next election. Just saying, the party could do without this mess in this state.
There is not going to be anyone paying for TV time to counter the Dems on Ensign. Their ads are not even campaign ads, they are just "Republicans are immoral and corrupt and Ensign is the proof. And there he is in Washington trying to deny little kids health care."
yitbos
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