2008 House and Senate Races
Under my New York, New York post below, a reader asks what our Democratic pickup opportunities are in the West in the House and Senate in 2008.
The way I see it there are lots of opportunities in the House:
Ethical issues: Rick Renzi (AZ-01), John Doolittle (CA-04), Jerry Lewis (CA-41), Gary Miller (CA-42)
Possible retirements: AK-AL, CA-24, CA-25, CA-41, CA-52, MT-AL, WY-AL
Other close races from 2006: CO-04, ID-01, NM-01, NV-02, NV-03, WA-08
However, there are fewer good opportunities in the Senate. Beyond a very promising pick up opportunity in CO, possible retirements include AK, ID, and NM.
With falling presidential poll numbers and no end in sight to the war in Iraq, GOP will have its hands full defending seats all across the country. Overall, some of our best chances come in the Southwest (AZ, CA, CO, NM, NV) where the GOP has been driving away the Hispanic vote with mean-spirited rhetoric. Success in the West will also depend to some extent on the strength or weakness of the presidential ticket. Obama or Richardson would be better than Clinton in this regard.
Anyone want to add to this list?
Leo Brown | July 11, 2007 | Comment on This Post (6 so far) |
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Comments
You can cross MT-AL off the list.
Is there any buzz about Gary Cubin taking on the WY-AL race again?
Posted by: Jay Stevens | Jul 11, 2007 9:36:19 AM
In Oregon, Senator Gordon Smith - the only Republican on the west coast - is quite vulnerable, and he's being targeted by grassroots activists and the national party folks. Check out Stop Gordon Smith (a site that I built.)
Posted by: Kari Chisholm | Jul 14, 2007 3:25:41 AM
Kari,
Good catch. I've been so focused on the Southwest, I overlooked blue Oregon. Gordon Smith has been scrambling to distance himself from the President on the war. See http://rawstory.com/news/2007/GOP_Senator_Gordon_Smith_calls_Iraq_0710.html
Who would be the best candidate to defeat Smith?
Posted by: Leo Brown | Jul 14, 2007 6:54:57 AM
A new development may put Colorado's races and electoral votes, now poised to go blue, into grave jeopardy: the anti-choice forces are driving to put an abortion ban on the '08 state ballot, which likely won't succeed, but will draw out a lot of nutty knuckledraggers who otherwise would have stayed home, especially if the national GOP remains as imperiled as it is today.
Posted by: Jake Stanford | Jul 18, 2007 11:29:37 AM
A correction is required as there is no NV senate race in 08.
Posted by: Dan Hinkley | Jul 27, 2007 2:58:25 PM
No NV Senate race, but three NV House races, two of which are pickup opportunities.
Posted by: Leo Brown | Jul 28, 2007 6:43:28 AM
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(and yes, we know that sometimes they're very, very wrong. Other times, they're right on.)
