Free Republic

<p>KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Former Gov. Lamar Alexander last night defeated U.S. Rep. Ed Bryant in the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Tennessee.</p> <p>With 64 percent of the precincts reporting, Mr. Alexander had 54 percent of the vote and Mr. Bryant had 43 percent. Five other candidates split the remainder of the vote.</p>

<p>Reps. Bob Barr and John Linder will know by nightfall on Aug. 20 which one of them will not return to Congress next year.</p> <p>The two conservatives are running against each other for the Republican nomination in Georgia's newly drawn 7th Congressional District. The district is heavily Republican, so the winner of the primary is all but assured re-election to the House. The loser will look for other work.</p>

U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney appears to be locked in a tight re-election battle, and her campaign manager said Thursday he is worried. In a new poll, challenger Denise Majette claims a slight edge over McKinney in the Democratic race for the 4th Congressional District, 41 percent to 39 percent, with less than three weeks until election day. But the 6 percent margin of error makes it a statistical dead heat. About 20 percent were undecided."Yeah, I'm worried; I'd rather be ahead," said Bill Banks, McKinney's campaign manager. Banks admitted this is the toughest campaign fight that the five-term congresswoman has...

<p>The Minnesota Green Party has decided to take on that symbol of Washington power and bipartisan consensus, incumbent Democratic Sen. Paul Wellstone.</p> <p>Paul Wellstone? Currently in the fight of his political life against his Republican challenger, former St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman, Wellstone is the Senate's most left-wing member. In the past year, he's fought hard to prevent drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and he's pushed for fuel efficiency, safe drinking water and clean, renewable energy. It's hard to imagine any environmentalist regarding him as Public Enemy No. 1.</p>

If you have not been stranded on a remote island for the last six months it should come as no surprise that congressional elections will be held Nov. 5. With a single defection having given the Democrats control of the Senate, and a narrow six-seat margin for Republicans in the House, the stakes are high. Some political sailors are saying the winds of conventional wisdom favor an unconventional tack, claiming the historical trend favors the political party in presidential power during times of military crisis. Others contend a surge of patriotism could result in more voters heading to the...

<p>Lynn Rivers could be doing more than salvaging her own career and ending John Dingell's if she wins next week's primary election matchup of incumbent Democratic U.S. House members.</p> <p>She may save gun control.</p> <p>In a year in which Democrats both nationally and in Michigan have soft-pedaled support for new gun restrictions, Rivers has made them a centerpiece of her campaign in the new 15th District that covers Monroe, and parts of Washtenaw and Wayne counties. And as the Aug. 6 election nears, the four-term congresswoman and her gun control allies appear ready to pump up the volume.</p>

Longtime Republican Robert Monks endorses Pingree Monday, July 29, 2002, 2:42 PM Email story to a friend PORTLAND (AP) -- Longtime Republican Robert Monks is throwing his support to Democratic Senate candidate Chellie Pingree in her race against incumbent Senator Susan Collins. Monks, who has unsuccessfully run for the U.S. Senate three times, said he is supporting Pingree because he thinks the best chance to bring about corporate reform in America is by having Democratic control in Congress. Monks finished third in the Republican Senate primary that was won by Collins in 1996. Monks said even though he has...

<p>Although the Missouri primary looms, House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt was confident enough about his chances that he spent three days in Florida last week courting Hispanic voters.</p> <p>Not many Hispanics live in Gephardt's 3rd District. But nationally, their growing numbers at ballot boxes could help determine whether Democrats win enough U.S. House seats this fall to fulfill Gephardt's decade-long quest to become speaker.</p>

Sam Davis, a hardware store owner and Democratic county commissioner from Elizabeth City, put $150,000 of his own money into his campaign for the 1st District congressional seat. The contribution dwarfed the $23,000 he received from other donors, according to a report filed this month with the Federal Elections Commission, and left him with about $157,000 in the bank at the end of June. State Sen. Frank Ballance of Warrenton raised about $107,000 in the three months from April through June and had about $130,000 in the bank at the end of the second quarter. Janice McKenzie Cole, a former...

From Washington Whispers at U. S. News and World Report... A plan born in the wake of the 2000 Florida election crisis, when the GOP sent a strike force to the state for George W. Bush, will be dusted off for the fall House elections. Republicans are working on a "72-hour strategy" of sending Hill aides, lawyers, and lobbyists to the 20 to 40 key House districts to get out the vote for GOP candidates. "It used to be," said one planner, "that the Republicans worked hard all week and kicked back with a martini on the weekends. But that's...

<p>WASHINGTON -- Michael Michaud, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in Maine, went to the federal courthouse steps in Bangor the other day and called on President Bush and Congress to crack down on corrupt executives and accountants.</p> <p>"This will be an important issue in my campaign, and if the current Congress doesn't do its job, it will be a high priority for me when I get to Washington," Michaud declared.</p>

<p>Missouri Republicans, lobbyists and a few election analysts are raising a troubling question about whether Sen. Jean Carnahan is "lost in the Senate."</p> <p>Mrs. Carnahan is one of this year's most vulnerable Democrats. Not only because she has never held elective office before, but also because of growing criticism that she has little grasp of the issues and the legislative process.</p>

Marc Nuttle is having his volunteer rally on Monday, July 29th at 6:30. The rally will take place in the 3rd floor ballroom of the OU-Norman Student Union. Marc Nuttle will speak, and the event will last about an hour. If you can come that would be great. If you can get somebody else to come, even better. It is very important for Marc Nuttle's campaign that he get a good showing at this event.

Democratic congressional leaders yesterday took the unusual step of warning their party's candidates in Maryland's 8th District to refrain from negative attacks, signaling concern that a divisive primary could cost them the opportunity to pick up a critical seat. House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Nita M. Lowey and Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, dean of Maryland's House delegation, issued the sternly worded letter as candidates in the race prepare to pour considerable dollars into television ads that will run in the weeks preceding the Sept. 10 primary. (Snip)

Marc Nuttle is having his "Volunteer Party" on Monday, July 29th on the 3rd floor ballroom of the OU Memorial Student Union. We need as many people there as possible. If you can go great. If you can invite somebody else, even better. This would be a great chance to hear Marc Nuttle speak, and find about ways to help the campaign.

For six years I had the pleasure of serving with Scott Bundgaard in the Legislature and I have watched him closely in the Senate. He has truly distinguished himself by his solid record on behalf of his constituents. His policy initiatives kept the taxpayer in mind, including efforts to freeze property tax rates for seniors and a successful campaign to lower state income taxes. He sponsored bills to cut government spending and make sure tax rates remain low. Scott represents a new future of leadership for our state; one which will ensure that government operates efficiently and does not waste...

Poll: Linder Edging Barr Reported By: Jon Shirek Last Modified: 7/22/2002 5:57:13 PM The first poll results in the Republican congressional race between Bob Barr and John Linder are in. The poll shows Congressman John Linder edging ahead of Congressman Bob Barr in the Republican race for the new 7th District Congressional seat. Who would you vote for if the election was held today? 41% John Linder 30% Bob Barr 29% Undecided "It does suggest it is an uphill battle for Barr," said Matt Towery, chairman of InsiderAdvantage. Readers can access the complete results of the poll, along with detailed...

Minnesota -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coleman, Wellstone Even, GOP Poll Shows A new GOP poll in the Gopher State's closely watched Senate race showed Republican Norm Coleman ahead of Sen. Paul Wellstone (D) by 4 points. The survey, done by Voter/Consumer Research from July 14 to 15, showed Coleman at 46 percent and Wellstone at 42 percent. The margin of error was 4 percent. Independent polling has indicated the race is in a statistical dead heat and new campaign financial disclosure reports show Coleman and Wellstone were second highest in overall spending among Senate contests last quarter. Wellstone spent $2 million while Coleman...

Under The Radar Walters Gets Scant Media, Donor Attention Despite Trailing Inhofe By Just 7 Points Typically, a former governor challenging a relatively junior Senator pricks the ears of the Washington fundraising community and the national press corps. Not so this year inOklahoma. The likely race between former Gov. David Walters (D) and Sen. JamesInhofe (R) is rarely mentioned as a top-tier contest by either national party and has drawn scant media attention to this point. Walters acknowledged that "there are very few candidates in the country, especially challengers that believe they are getting enough attention." But he thinks all...

July 22, 2002McKinney Holds Big Cash Edge Targeted House Member Banks Four Times As Much as Majette in Ga. By Lauren W. Whittington After Artur Davis (D) ousted a five-term incumbent in Alabama last month in a runoff fueled by Mideast politics and out-of-state money, some strategists were privately buzzing that former Judge Denise Majette (D) could be on track to do the same in Georgia's 4th district. Majette is challenging Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D), who has been beset by controversy over her own views on foreign policy and the war on terror, in an Aug. 20 Democratic primary. But...