Down Ballot: Last GOP Yankee standing?
Posted: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 9:29 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:
Congress
Will the lone New England Republican in the House survive this year's anti-GOP tide? It's looking grim for Chris Shays, who’s running against a lesser-known opponent than last time. He's tied at 44% in a new UConn poll.
The Washington Post identifies at least 10 House Dem challengers who could benefit from a surge in black voters to carry them to victory.
Ted Stevens wrapped up his testimony yesterday. "Although dour at times, Stevens was less confrontational than he has been in previous testimony. He was the last witness in his month-long trial on charges that he lied on financial disclosure forms to hide more than $250,000 in gifts and renovations to his house in Girdwood, Alaska, from 1999 through 2006. The Justice Department alleges that many of the gifts and renovations were financed by an oil services company or its top executive, Bill Allen, the government's chief witness. Closing arguments are scheduled for today, and jurors could start deliberations as early as tomorrow. Prosecutors have not introduced any evidence that appears to be a ‘smoking gun.’ Instead, they have relied on a treasure trove of e-mails and handwritten notes and on testimony from Allen to build a circumstantial case that the senator tried to hide gifts and renovations from public scrutiny."
Rep. Michele Bachmann’s opponent Elwyn Tinklenburg raised $810,000 in the 72 hours following her Hardball appearance in which she called for an investigation into anti-American Congressional members. Her opponent had only raised $1 million previously. "National Democrats, sensing opportunity, announced Monday they would pour $1 million into TV ads in the district, which lies on a corridor from the Twin Cities northwest to St. Cloud." Not even Republican Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty would back her up.
The wife of Florida Rep. Tim Mahoney, embroiled in a sex scandal, filed for divorce.
This is something the New York Times doesn't do everyday -- it uses its editorial page to chastise Sen. Chris Dodd. "After reports emerged in June about him having received favorable treatment on two home mortgages from the Countrywide Financial Corporation, Senator Christopher Dodd, a Democrat from Connecticut, promised that he would release documents to support his contention that he never benefited financially from the terms of the loans. The senator has failed to keep his promise, and his excuses are wearing ridiculously thin.”
