Posted on 01/18/2011 6:55:14 AM PST by sunmars
North Dakota Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad plans to announce his retirement today, according to two informed Democratic sources, creating a potentially prime pickup opportunity for Republicans in a GOP-leaning state. Conrad, who currently chairs the Senate Budget Committee, has been in office since 1986 and risen to become one of the most influential -- and intellectual -- policy makers operating in the nation's capital. Conrad had been open about his ambivalence about running for another term and those doubts almost certainly increased following a 2010 election that decimated the Democratic party. Former Sen. Byron Dorgan retired in the face of a challenge from popular Governor-now-Senator John Hoeven while former Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D) was defeated by Rick Berg. Outside interest groups -- the conservative American Future Fund and liberal-aligned Commonsense Ten -- have already run ads in North Dakota, suggesting that the race would be a major priority for both national parties. And, Public Service Commissioner Brian Kalk (R) had already announced an exploratory committee to pursue a challenge to Conrad. The GOP field is likely to expand considerably in the wake of Conrad's retirement. Among Democrats, Pomeroy as well as former state Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp and her brother Joel Heitkamp are seen as possibilities. And, Democrats insist they will contest the seat with no Hoeven-like figure on the horizon for Republicans. Conrad is the first Democrat to decide not to seek reelection. Last week, Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) announced she would not run again. There are 23 Democrats and Democratic-aligned independents up for reelection in 2012 as compared to 10 Republicans.
(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...
A former governor, Schaffer, would be a great candidate.
FYI..check out the lead story today at nationalreview.com...about the likelihood that Ensign, Lugar, and Hatch will face primaries..
Claire McCaskill (Obama worshiper of MISERY)
Jon Tester (barely won as a RAT in Montana of 2004)
Ben “Payoff” Nelson (Nebraska’s shame)
BILL Nelson, (’rat of Florida)
D. STABENOW (’rat of the extremely unemployed MICHIGAN)
I think these are LIKELY pick-ups with solid GOP candidates. Add in Conrad’s seat and that is +6. If we can win 50% of the others, that is +8.
I'd prefer a candidate with a public track record of conservatism, rather than an ambitious young lawyer (hardly an endangered species in DC).
I dunno... Dalrymple can spend money like water.
Here in ND, we are still laughing about that.
Wont be any appointment or special election. He is just saying he wont run for reelection in 2012, but will be there until then.
There will be more. Look for Nelson of NB and perhaps Nelson of FL to do the same.
Haralambidis (sp?) of the FL house has already declared for Nelson of FL’s “seat”.
Excellent, Smithers!
- JP
Yes, but now it makes it easier. The only priority now is to put a Reagan Republican in the seat and not a half-asser. A good litmust test might be to ask if they support homosexualizing the military. Of course, some military service themselves might be good but that’s probably a bridge too far.
Yes, but now it makes it easier. The only priority now is to put a Reagan Republican in the seat and not a half-asser. A good litmust test might be to ask if they support homosexualizing the military. Of course, some military service themselves might be good but that’s probably a bridge too far.
Wow, he attended Georgetown? Uhm, did he attend Fort Benning or Camp Lejeune?
What I was trying to say was that people get preferential treatment all the time, but what makes this different is that this guy was given preferential treatment because he was a Senator.
These Senators and Congressmen didn’t even realize that they were doing anything wrong because pay to play is how Progressive fascism works. It’s an intrinsic part of Progressivism.
joyous news
I think it'll be someone that we haven't heard of - a mayor or state rep. Former governor Schaffer isn't interested, although he'd be a great conservative, unlike Hoeven. I don't believe Wrigley would do it. I think he wants to be governor. Possibly our attorney general, Wayne Stenehjem, maybe public service commissioner Tony Clark. Both good conservatives. The Left will run Roger Johnson, former Ag Commissioner. Possibly retreads like Heidi Heitkamp or even Earl Pomeroy.
What, is that your wise retort?
I wasn’t bragging him up for going to Georgetown, MS-FU, I was giving his biography.
As I noted he doesn’t even specify where the hell he went to school, probably realizing self-made geniuses like you will find it offensive.
What I heard back home was that he worked in the Philadelphia D.A.’s office, although that doesn’t show up in the wiki-bio either.
Tell you what. Bright boys like you can feel welcome to sit around and hope punks like Conrad continue to run and win the national seats. That way you don’t ever have to hope for any victories or any improvements, and you can stew in your own sour pity pots from now till eternity.
By the way-—what branch did Sarah Palin serve in? What theater did Ronald Reagan fight in? Maybe you wouldn’t vote for them either? Are you maybe more of a McCain man? Or a Bushie? Or maybe Jimmy Carter gives you the necessary little lift in your britches?
Listen, I agree. I’d prefer a hell of a lot of things, given the choice.
I don’t know if you live in North Dakota. I don’t anymore, but I have all my family there-—rock-ribbed conservatives-—and I’m back for business reasons just about every month.
If you know North Dakota politics, you know the paucity of reasonable, electable Republicans, let alone strong solid conservatives.
That’s why I pointed out that Hoeven might have chalked up a win against the Dems, but he’s hardly the guy to carry the conservative standard.
Dalrymple maybe does spend money, I don’t know about his earlier legislative record. These days EVERYBODY spends money in Bismarck, because there’s so damn much oil money around to spend-—and that’s a real failing on the Republicans’ part, in my opinion.
All I know is the guys who have met Dalrymple speak of him as a damn shrewd businessman, and as generally pro-business & anti-regulation.
Hell yes, I’d rather have George S. Patton run for the seat but given some of the recent stiffs N.D. Republicans have put up, I’ll take Wrigley, barring some other unexpected candidate.
I appreciate your thoughts...
Conrad saw the writing on the wall. I think our chances are good.
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