New Print Edition: Louisiana Senate & Michigan 7
The August 18, 2008 print edition of the Rothenberg Political Report is on its way to subscribers. The print edition comes out every two weeks and the content is not available online. Subscribers get in-depth analysis of the most competitive races in the country, as well as quarterly House and Senate ratings, and coverage of the gubernatorial races nationwide. To subscribe, simply click on the Google checkout button on the website or send a check.
PUBLISHING NOTE: As our long-time readers are well aware, we alter our publication schedule toward the end of every election year to provide the fullest coverage before Election Day. We are trying to send another issue to the printer before the Democratic convention, and we plan to publish three times each in September and October.
Here is a brief sample of what's in this edition...
Louisiana Senate: Lonely Challenger
By Nathan L. Gonzales
It’s not just Republicans’ brightest spot in Senate races, Louisiana is their only shot of winning a Democratic Senate seat this cycle. But it’s not going to be easy ousting Sen. Mary Landrieu (D).
Between the political environment, no Democratic retirements, and South Dakota Sen. Tim Johnson’s health problems, Landrieu finds herself as the lone defensive front in the Democratic battle plan on the Senate side.
National Republicans dreamed of Cong. Bobby Jindal (R) taking on Landrieu, but he was just elected governor last fall. Instead, Republicans convinced state Treasurer John Kennedy to switch parties and take on the incumbent.
Kennedy may not be the perfect candidate, but Landrieu has a history of extremely close races. And despite surviving without a serious misstep, Landrieu continues to hover near 50% in a state that Republicans are enjoying some recent success on the heels of Jindal’s win.
This isn’t exactly the first time the two have faced each other. In 1995, Landrieu ran for governor while Kennedy ran the campaign for former Gov. Buddy Roemer (R). The candidates finished less than 9,000 votes apart.
It’s most likely to be another barnburner in the Bayou. Subscribers get the whole story in the print edition.
Michigan 7: Grrrrrreat Race
There are certain conservative members of Congress that Democrats seem to love to hate. Michigan’s Tim Walberg has been in office less than one term, and yet Democrats hold him in low regard and are already targeting his defeat.
Walberg’s 7th Congressional District leans slightly Republican by the numbers, but Democrats are excited about their candidate, state Senate minority leader Mark Schauer, in part because of his demonstrated ability to win in GOP-leaning areas.
Last cycle, Walberg defeated moderate Cong. Joe Schwarz in the GOP primary and fell just short of 50% in the general election against a candidate that spent hardly any money. All of those factors fuel Democratic excitement for taking over this seat in November. Subscribers get the whole story in the print edition.
