Free Republic

CURRITUCK — Citing jobs as the number one issue facing North Carolina, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Richard Burr told an audience of Camden and Currituck Republicans Tuesday night that the state must do a better job utilizing its assets if it's to compete for economic development. Burr, a congressman who represents North Carolina's 5th District, also briefly discussed the U.S. Navy's plans to build a practice landing field in Washington County. Burr said state officials are preparing to propose an alternative site to the Navy for the airfield, which is also known as an outlying landing field. In a meeting...

Betty Castor, Bill McCollum Come In Tops The results are in from NewsChannel 2's Orlando Sentinel Poll that focused on the U.S. Senate race. Thirty-three of state Democrats favor former education commissioner Betty Castor -- a wide margin over her nearest challenger, Rep. Peter Deutsch, who took in 16 percent of votes. Miami mayor Alex Penelas came in at 9 percent. Four percent were undecided. On the Republican side, former Rep. Bill McCollum leads former HUD secretary Mel Martinez 27 percent to 18 percent respectively. State Sen. Dan Webster raked in 8 percent. A whopping 34 percent were undecided.

<p>Senate Republicans are in a position to make gains in 2004 because of a combination of vulnerable Democratic seats and likely retirements, according to congressional election analysts.</p> <p>While other political variables, including a weakened economy and a decline in President Bush's popularity, could influence the outcome of next year's Senate races, analysts say Republicans are favored to strengthen their hold on the Senate, which they control 51-48, with one Democratic-leaning independent.</p>

Now, as we drive toward the 10,779-foot Shibar Pass, the gateway to Bamiyan [Afghanistan], we pass ruined Hazara villages, relics of Taliban genocide; our vehicle, ominously, is the only one on the once-busy road. When we arrive in Bamiyan, we find most of the town lying in rubble. Then I take a second look. Everywhere rebuilding is going on: people are making bricks from mud, conjuring their houses and shops back to life. Farmers are loading up trucks with potatoes to sell in Kabul. U.N. vehicles, too, scurry about, part of a massive international campaign to bring Bamiyan back to...

CLASS 3 Senators - 2004 Senate Seats – ‘RATS (19 seats) (Arkansas) Blanch Lincoln (California) Barb. Boxer (Connecticut) Chris. Dodd (Florida) Bob Graham (Georgia) Zell Miller (Hawaii) Dan. Inouye (Indiana) Evan Bayh (Louisiana) John Breaux (Maryland) Barb. Mikulski (Nevada) Harry Reid (New York) Chuck Shumer (North Carolina) John Edwards (North Dakota) Byron Dorgan (Oregon) Ron Wyden (South Carolina) Ernest Hollings (South Dakota) Tommy Dasshole (Vermont) Pat “Leaky” Lehy (Washington) Patty Murray (Wisconsin) Russ Feingold GOP (15 seats) (Alabama) Shelby (Alaska) Murkowski (Arizona) MaCain (Colorado) Campbell (Idaho) Mike Crapo (Illinois) Pete Fitzgerald (Iowa) Charles Grassley (Kansas) Sam Brownback (Kentucky) Jim Bunning...

Clip Jeffords's defection from the Republican Party in May 2001 gave the Democrats control of the Senate. "He gets a supporting actor award, at the very least," Bainwol says, because Democratic control allowed the 2002 campaign to be about Democratic obstructionism rather than the economy. Clip If Suzanne Haik Terrell defeats Mary Landrieu, the Democratic incumbent, in Louisiana's Dec. 7 runoff, Republicans will have 52 seats. And Republican ascendancy will, Bainwol thinks, accelerate in 2004. Then Democrats will be defending 19 seats, Republicans only 15 -- and the political geography will heavily favor the Republicans. Clip eight of the 19...

<p>While the dust has yet to settle on the 2002 elections, with a few races still not finalized and the Louisiana Senate seat held by Mary Landrieu being decided by a December runoff, it is not too early to look at the landscape for the 2004 Senate elections. Several characteristics of the landscape will favor the Republicans.</p> <p>In 2002, there were 20 Republican seats up compared to 14 Democrat seats. In 2004, these numbers will be almost completely reversed, with Democrats having to defend 19 seats to the Republicans' 15.</p>