2009/2010: Crist ducks Obama visit
Posted: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 9:15 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:
2009, 2010
FLORIDA: The Washington Times has a little fun at Charlie Crist's expense for ducking Obama's visit to the state earlier this week. It is worth noting that when Obama went to Louisiana, Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal WAS there to greet the president.
NEW JERSEY: A new Quinnipiac poll shows Jon Corzine leading Chris Christie 43%-38%, with independent Chris Daggett at 13%. An Oct. 14 survey had Christie ahead of Corzine, 41%-40%. Of those who said they supported Daggett, “38 percent say they might change their mind: 43 percent say Christie is their second choice, while 27 percent say Gov. Corzine is number two.”
New Jersey is in World Series corridor, sandwiched between New York and Philly. As a result, "The World Series will have a very serious impact on this campaign because nobody's going to be focused," said Brigid Harrison, a political scientist at Montclair State University and a Phillies fan. Time on newscasts usually devoted to the gubernatorial race will now be all about the Yankees and Phillies --although the new focus may be a boon for wealthy candidate Jon Corzine, who can afford airing commercials in pricey game-time slots.
NEW YORK: "The floodgates have officially opened on the Republican leaders who are trying to hold together Member support, or at least minimize outright opposition, for the party’s nominee, Dede Scozzafava, in next week’s special House election in upstate New York," Roll Call writes. "On Tuesday, former National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole (Okla.), Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) spurned the leadership by endorsing Doug Hoffman’s third-party campaign in the New York special election, following the lead of Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.), who announced his support for Hoffman on Friday. Other national conservative GOP leaders, such as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Sen. Fred Thompson (Tenn.), have also endorsed Hoffman, and Thompson is now appearing in a Hoffman TV ad that began airing Tuesday."
And Hoffman appears to be the DCCC's main target now. "They’re running neck and neck,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Ryan Rudominer said of Hoffman and attorney Bill Owens, the Democratic nominee. As a result, the party is shifting its advertising attacks from Scozzafava to Hoffman, with a $245,000 ad buy this week criticizing Hoffman as out of touch and for supporting 'failed' economic policies. The DCCC also raised the specter of Hoffman winning a seat in Congress to solicit funds Tuesday."
Also, a new Dem-leaning ad is whacking Hoffman.
New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg and City Comptroller Bill Thompson squared off for their second and final debate -- and it was a nasty one. The New York Daily News: "One pointed exchange came when [Bloomberg was] asked ... whether he was out of touch with New Yorkers. 'I don't think so,' Bloomberg said. 'That's not what the public sees. The public sees someone who cares and does understand their problems and is trying to do something about them.' Thompson was more blunt: 'I think everybody recognizes that the mayor is out of touch.'"
