Posted on 07/02/2003 10:53:03 PM PDT by LdSentinal
WEST
California. Rosario Marin stepped down Monday as the 41st treasurer of the United States, paving the way for a possible challenge in 2004 to Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer.
Marin, a Republican, formerly served in GOP Gov. Pete Wilson's administration as legislative analyst for the Department of Developmental Services. She was also mayor of Huntington Park.
California political consultant Kevin Spillane said Marin would make an announcement this month about running against Boxer, whose lukewarm fundraising and liberal voting record have made her a prime Republican target in 2004. Toni Casey, the Republican mayor of Los Altos Hills, already has announced she will seek the GOP Senate nomination.
SOUTH
Louisiana. Like fellow Democratic Senators Bob Graham in Florida and John Edwards in North Carolina, Louisiana's John Breaux can't seem to decide whether he wants to run for reelection in 2004.
The hold-up comes from the state's gubernatorial race. There are seven Republicans and five Democrats running. "Sen. Breaux will not make a decision about his plans until a new governor is chosen," a Breaux spokesman said.
South Carolina. Republicans hoping to replace Democratic Sen. Ernest Hollings took a break Tuesday to attend former Sen. Strom Thurmond's funeral in Columbia. Rep. Jim DeMint spent the first part of the holiday recess fundraising but was due to fly back to Washington late Tuesday, DeMint's campaign spokesman Brian Aufmuth said.
DeMint will spend Independence Day with his family in the nation's capital, Aufmuth said, adding that the congressman has raised close to $1 million to date. Former attorney general Charlie Condon has been crisscrossing the state raising money and building his political organization, he said Tuesday. Condon refused to say how much he has raised but did say it has been going "surprisingly well." Other Republicans in the Senate primary include real-estate developer Thomas Ravenel, Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride and ex-Rep. Tommy Hartnett. One critical question yet to be answered is whether Hollings, 81, will seek an eighth term in the Senate. The senator, whose daughter died earlier this year, has sent mixed signals.
MIDWEST
Ohio. Eric Fingerhut must be frustrated.
The Democratic state senator from Cleveland has already announced he will challenge Republican Sen. George Voinovich next year, and a February poll by the University of Cincinnati found that 71 percent of those surveyed have an unfavorable opinion of Jerry Springer, Fingerhut's only possible contender. But so far all the buzz has been generated by the TV talk-show host -- notorious for probing into the most intimate details of people's sex lives -- and he hasn't even declared his intentions.
"The Springer nomination is by no means certain," said Paul Beck, a political scientist at Ohio State University. "Fingerhut is a well-liked state senator, and will provide a solid option to many in his party."
Still, the Fingerhut people are reluctant to say how much -- or how little -- money they've raised.
Springer's net worth has been estimated as high as $400 million.
EAST
New York. Despite Republican Party officials having given up on beating Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer next year, and, despite Schumer's $15 million war chest, Michael Benjamin plows ahead.
The 33-year-old former securities trader has raised about $250,000 -- or $3,000 per day -- since he launched his campaign earlier this year.
"I am not intimidated by how much money Schumer has raised," Benjamin told The Hill. The Republican will spend the Fourth of July campaigning.
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