Posted by
cehwiedel on Tuesday, October 03, 2006 12:58:40 PM
From today's OpinionJournal Political Diary:
"Almost every Democratic polling memo that comes across my desk... argues that voters want change or are dissatisfied with the direction of the country. And they are right, but only so far. The problem for Democrats is that in most cases, that won't be enough by itself to get voters to fire GOP incumbents. That's particularly true if Republicans pound away at their challengers, making them the issue in their races and decreasing their appeal as vehicles for change. Of course, not all Republican incumbents are doing that yet. And that's a mistake that some Republicans could well come to regret" -- Election analyst Stuart Rothenberg, writing in the Capitol Hill newspaper "Roll Call" to question Democrats who interpret negative polling sentiment for Republicans as equivalent to positive sentiment for Democrats.
Democratic smugness and Republican laxity will not play a role in the outcome of California's Senate election. Dianne Feinstein will be re-elected. But it might play a role in
Jon Kyl's campaign in Arizona, or
Rick Santorum's campaign in Pennsylvania.
The Blogging Caesar at
Election Project has changed a weak GOP hold to a weak Dem gain for the Tennessee Senate seat opened by the retirement of Majority Leader Bill Frist. Former Chattanooga Mayor
Bob Corker, a Republican, is running against Democratic Congressman
Harold Ford. If you are a frustrated Californian looking for a campaign where your financial contribution would make a difference, any of these three would be worth consideration.
[You are invited to visit
www.cehwiedel.com, where I write on many topics other than the members of the California delegation to the United States Senate.]