Posted on 06/06/2006 6:51:06 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
New Jersey Republicans picked Tom Kean Jr., the son of a popular former governor, to challenge Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez in the fall as eight states held primaries on Tuesday for governor, House or Senate.
In Alabama, Gov. Bob Riley led Ten Commandments judge Roy Moore in early returns for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. Alabama returns also showed overwhelming approval for a state constitutional ban on gay marriage.
But the biggest race of the night was the special election in Southern California to fill the House seat of imprisoned former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, with the political world hoping for clues to the public mood ahead of this fall's midterm elections.
Money and attention from around the country poured into the San Diego-area election, with the Democrats seeing a rich opportunity to capture a solidly Republican district. Cunningham, a Republican, was sent to prison for eight years for taking bribes on a scale unparalleled in the history of Congress.
In New Jersey, Kean easily defeated a more conservative candidate. Menendez, who was appointed to his seat after former Sen. Jon Corzine (news, bio, voting record) won the governorship, beat a little-known challenger. Kean picked up three-quarters of the vote with a third of precincts reporting.
In Alabama, with 6 percent of precincts reporting, Riley led with 32,376 votes, or 69 percent, to Moore's 14,698 votes, or 31 percent. Among the Democrats, Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley was ahead with 17,075 votes, or 54 percent, against former Gov. Don Siegelman — who is on trial on corruption charges — with 13,757 votes, or 44 percent. Voters were supporting the ban on gay marriage by a 4-to-1 margin.
Another Washington corruption case figured in Montana's primary, where GOP Sen. Conrad Burns (news, bio, voting record) sought the nomination for a fourth term. After his ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff became known, Burns saw his popularity fall, and Democrats John Morrison, state auditor, and state Senate President Jon Tester jumped into the race.
Iowa, California, Mississippi, New Mexico and South Dakota also held primaries, as many states reported low turnout.
In the weeks leading up to Alabama's gubernatorial primary, polls showed Riley had pulled ahead of Moore, the former state chief justice who became a hero to the religious right in 2003 when he was ousted over his refusal to remove the Commandments monument from the state judicial building.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger faced no major competition for the GOP nomination, while state Treasurer Phil Angelides and Controller Steve Westly fought a close and nasty contest for the Democratic nomination that left many voters dismayed.
In Iowa, the retirement of Democratic Gov. Tom Vilsack set off a scramble for the Democratic nomination, with Secretary of State Chet Culver considered the front-runner. Republican Rep. Jim Nussle (news, bio, voting record) had no primary competition.
But California's special election drew particular attention, largely because polls showed Democrat Francine Busby with significant support against Republican former Rep. Brian Bilbray.
With national polls showing deep dissatisfaction with Congress, President Bush and the war in Iraq, Democrats hoped to score a victory and build momentum for the fall midterm elections.
Among the House incumbents facing primary challenges Tuesday were GOP Rep. Richard Pombo (news, bio, voting record) and hawkish Democratic Rep. Jane Harman (news, bio, voting record), both of California.
Voters also decided whether to create a $2.4 billion universal preschool program in California and ban gay marriage in Alabama.
A few races brought back some familiar names:
• Jerry Brown — the former California governor, presidential candidate and current Oakland mayor — sought the Democratic nomination for attorney general.
• Chuck Espy, a state lawmaker and nephew of Mike Espy, Mississippi's first black congressman since Reconstruction, sought the Democratic nomination for the House against incumbent Democrat Bennie Thompson.
• George C. Wallace Jr., son of the former Alabama governor, ran in the GOP primary for lieutenant governor.
Republican John Ginty faces Republican Tom Kean Jr., in the June 6, 2006, primary for the U.S. Senate in New Jersey. The winner will face Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., in the November general election. Analysts say if Kean scores anything short of a romp over Ginty, it will signal problems in the Republican's bid to defeat Menendez. (AP Photo/File)
Thanks Norm..kinda quiet out there on this Primary Election night.
Now maybe this time NJ conservatives could take the hint, realise they can't get one of their own to the general election, and actually back the republican instead of hanging him out to dry.
I'd be happy if the conservative won the primary, but I'm tired of giving up general elections out of spite.
Hanging who out to dry?
Everyone is chatting about the primaries on the NJ Locale board.
Are you crazy or something?
This is the election when the success of the ''conservative'' strategy (to let Democrats win) is more critical than ever.
Here, I'll draw you a picture:
AP just declared Riley the winner over Moore.
Damn!
Thanks.
Thanks for the info.
Can't wait for news from the CA race
Welcome..;-)
I heard on the Hobbs' Rush station that there are 12,000 pubbies to 9,000 rats in Lea Co.
At noon turnout was low.
No surprises thus far. The real action is CA-50, which we will probably have to ehar tomorrow, especially East Coasters like me.
Oh, yes, the "shoot yourself in the foot" strategy. I forgot. The pain and loss of blood will make you forget what a democrat-controlled senate means, and by the time you are better Clinton will be president again and it will be like the good old days.
"democrat-controlled senate " DEM SENATE OR RINO SENATE _ PLEZ EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE...........like 0000000
In a Democrat controlled Senate Harry Reid will be majority leader, Chuck Schumer will be chairman of the Judiciary Committee ... want me to go on?
Just got back from the Kean victory party. GO TOM GO!
.
"Harry Reid will be majority leader, Chuck Schumer will be chairman of the Judiciary Committee " I'll go 4 kean in the general based on what i know now. IT IS IRONIC THAT CONSERVATIVES R ALWAYS COUNTED ON 2 SUPPORT THE LESSER OF 2 EVILS. rinos dont always support the party candidate.
Sam Alito, John Roberts, Janice Rogers Brown, etc.
No vote on raising the minimum wage.
No price controls for Medicare Prescription Drug program.
Amnesty for Illegals with no Border Security.
No tax cuts. Tax increases for the wealthy.
This is easy. Just look at the first 5 months of the Bush presidency -- which included the tax cuts. Then Jeffords jumped, democrats took over, and we got a year and a half of blocked conservative appeals justices, No Child Left Behind, federalization of the airport security, and a huge jump in spending.
Sure, they've been bad SINCE 2002 as well on spending and other issues, but not as bad as it was in that year and a half that Democrats controlled the Senate.
We've been "this close" to getting ANWR through the past 3 years. During the dem senate control, when the energy bill from the committee had ANWR, Daschle DROPPED IT and just introduced his OWN BILL, written in his office, which was a pure democrat bill, and we couldn't get ANY republican ideas into the bill because we couldn't get 60 votes to amend it.
The we the senate works, if you have 60 votes it's great, but the majority still controls the agenda. Same with the house.
Primary the people not representing you well, but vote for the best candidate in november -- which will rarely be the democrat.
Who do you think is better on illegal immigration -- Kean or Menendez?
This may sound completely childish, but I can sum this up in five words....Schundler '01. Payback's a bitch.
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