Two of the Republicans in the race to fill Bill Frist's Senate seat are gaining early momentum. Bob Corker, a former mayor of Chattanooga, has amassed more money than any other candidate, Republican or Democrat. He's got three times more cash on hand than the likely Democratic nominee, Rep. Harold Ford Jr., according to Political Moneyline.
Journalism
Clips from my work.
U.S. Senator Jon Corzine handily beat Doug Forrester in New Jersey's race for governor. The Democrat won 53% to 44% thanks to strong turnout from his base in key North Jersey urban counties and adjacent suburban districts. The strong showing by union voters gave Mr. Corzine a somewhat bigger win than last-week's tightening polls suggested.
Who was the winner in this weekend's debate between Doug Forrester and Jon Corzine? It was the moderator, WNBC's Gabe Pressman. Mr. Pressman was visibly pleased by the candidates' near constant sparring: Accusations and denials punctuated answers to almost every question. Mr. Pressman, a local legend, has been on the air in the New York City area for 60 years and is credited with coining the term "hippie" among other broadcast coups.
Quick, take this test: A candidate who opposes renewing a nuclear power plant's license, opposes development on prime riverfront land, balks at lowering income taxes and is pro-choice is from which party?
In an act of self-preservation, the Pennsylvania State Senate last night voted unanimously to repeal its latest pay package.
Jack Carter, son of the former Democratic president, is exploring a run for Nevada's senate seat in 2006. If early poll numbers are an indication, don't expect to hear the word "dynasty" and Mr. Carter's name in the same sentence. But weak as he polls, Democrats have yet to field other candidates to challenge Republican incumbent John Ensign.
In New Jersey's governor's race, Republican candidate Doug Forrester has significantly chipped away at Democrat Jon Corzine's lead, from 18 points this summer to seven points last week, according to a Quinnipiac poll. If Mr. Forrester doesn't catch up and loses, it may be his best campaign proposal that does him in.
The air war between New Jersey's gubernatorial candidates is white hot, but it hasn't yet reached its crescendo. In the latest commercial, Republican Doug Forrester has a narrator speak about Democrat Jon Corzine's relationships with scandal-tainted Democrats and a $470,000 loan he forgave for a former girlfriend, Carla Katz, who heads the state-employee labor union that endorsed him soon after.
Here's a cautionary tale for Republicans everywhere. Machiavelli would be proud of Ted Gatsas, an ambitious GOP member of the New Hampshire state senate, where the chamber's president resigned his leadership post last month after a row with Mr. Gatsas that split the GOP caucus and rallied Democrats to one faction's side. As a result, Mr. Gatsas is the new Senate president.
The race among Democrat-Farm Labor candidates to replace retiring Minnesota Senator Mark Dayton is getting crowded. Child-safety activist Patty Wetterling will formally announce her candidacy this weekend. She's been exploring and raising money since February. She joins Hennepin County prosecutor Amy Klobuchar and Ford Bell, a veterinarian whose grandfather was a founder of General Mills (though Mr. Bell says he can't self-finance his campaign).