Modern News

From ChuckDeVore.com

Today, Chuck DeVore called into the Jon and Ken show on KFI 640 and challenged Carly Fiorina to a debate which she refused to take:

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CLICK HERE  FOR TRANSCRIPT OF THE EXCHANGE

CLICK HERE FOR OUR DETAILED FACT CHECK OF CARLY FIORINA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — DeVore for California today responded to Carly Fiorina’s refusal to debate Chuck DeVore.

Fiorina’s refusal came during a live broadbast on KFI 640AM’s John and Ken Show this afternoon. After Fiorina was on the air for twenty minutes, the hosts allowed Chuck DeVore on an open line to challenge her to a future debate on the same program. Fiorina refused, instead choosing to reproach DeVore for his habit of telling the truth about her liberal political past. When the program hosts directly asked her whether she would debate on their show, Fiorina simply said, “Well, we’ll see.”

Following the exchange, Chuck DeVore said, “Democracy is all about debate. I’m ready to debate Carly Fiorina and Tom Campbell any time, in any forum. It’s a shame Fiorina wouldn’t say yes to the generous offer extended to her by John and Ken, but that’s her choice. Open debate is something I hear happens pretty often in the United States Senate, and people who would be Senators should get used to it.”

Leisa Brug Kline, DeVore for California campaign manager, said, “It’s a pity Carly Fiorina won’t debate Chuck DeVore, but not surprising. Her campaign depends on two things: on shielding her from unscripted challenges, and on preventing Californians from learning more about her liberal past. It will fail on both counts, and refusing to debate won’t change that.”

Joshua Treviño, DeVore for California communications director, said, “Carly Fiorina followed up her debate dodge with an outright lie to John and Ken, and to their listenership: she stated directly that she ‘did not back the Wall Street bailout.’ There’s so much direct evidence to the contrary, we’re including it in a separate section of this press release. If Carly Fiorina won’t tell the truth about her political past, we will.”

Treviño continued, “Still — we have to admit that a refusal to engage in substantive debate, plus a willingness to lie in public, does mean Fiorina might fit in all too well in D.C. We’ll see if the voters want that.”

Find transcripts from the show and much more on the DeVore Campaign @ ChuckDeVore.com.

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Rothenberg reports:

In Illinois, Gov. Pat Quinn’s (D) narrow primary victory exposed some significant weaknesses heading into the general election. State Comptroller Dan Hynes surged late but didn’t have enough time to overcome Quinn and now Republicans are happily repeating Hynes’ attack ads and themes.

Quinn will face one of two Republican State Senators, state Sen. Bill Brady (R) or state Sen. Kirk Dillard (R) in the general election.

Here are our latest gubernatorial ratings.
# – Moved benefiting Democrats
* – Moved benefiting Republicans

Lean Takeover (6 R, 7 D)

• Brewer (R-AZ)
• CA Open (Schwarzenegger, R)
• CT Open (Rell, R)
• HI Open (Lingle, R)
• RI Open (Carcieri, R)
• VT Open (Douglas, R)
• Culver (D-IA)
• KS Open (Parkinson, D)
• MI Open (Granholm, D)
• OK Open (Henry, D)
• PA Open (Rendell, D)
• TN Open (Bredesen, D)
• WY Open (Freudenthal, D)

Toss-Up (2 R, 4 D)

• FL Open (Crist, R)
• MN Open (Pawlenty, R)
• CO Open (Ritter, D)
• Quinn (D-IL) *
• Strickland (D-OH)
• WI Open (Doyle, D)

Narrow Advantage for Incumbent Party (2 R, 2 D)

• Gibbons (R-NV)
• GA Open (Perdue, R)
• Patrick (D-MA)
• ME Open (Baldacci, D)

Clear Advantage for Incumbent Party (3 R, 2 D)

• Perry (R-TX)
• AL Open (Riley, R)
• SC Open (Sanford, R)
• Paterson (D-NY)
• NM Open (Richardson, D)

Currently Safe (5 R, 4 D)

• Herbert (R-UT)
• Heineman (R-NE)
• Otter (R-ID)
• Parnell (R-AK)
• SD Open (Rounds, R)
• Beebe (D-AR)
• Lynch (D-NH)
• O’Malley (D-MD)
• OR Open (Kulongoski, D)

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Oh boy… New Gingrich appears poised to step in some nasty RINO sludge again. This time in Utah.

For immediate release-February 4, 2010

Fresh Off NY-23 Humiliation, Gingrich Gives Bennett “Kiss of Dede”
In Utah, Former Speaker Endorses Another Big-Government Republican

WASHINGTON – The Club for Growth PAC today responded to comments by
former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, who yesterday attacked the
non-partisan Club for not blindly supporting all Washington Republican
incumbents. At an event in Utah yesterday, Gingrich endorsed Senator
Bob Bennett and criticized the Club PAC for opposing the three-term
incumbent, sponsor of the Wyden-Bennett government health care takeover
bill, and advocate of the Bridge to Nowhere and the Wall Street bailout.

“Last fall, as conservatives around the country rallied to help Doug
Hoffman in New York’s 23rd district special election, Newt Gingrich
supported the ultra-liberal Dede Scozzafava, right up to the day she
dropped out of the race and endorsed the liberal Democrat,” said Club
President Chris Chocola. “Newt has proven time and again that he will
support any Republican, regardless of policies and principles. That’s
his right, but the Club for Growth PAC puts principles over party.”

“Newt was wrong about New York-23, and he’s wrong about Utah,” Chocola
said. “And pretty soon, Bennett will wish Newt never gave him the kiss
of Dede.”

The Club for Growth PAC announced last month that it opposes Sen.
Bennett’s re-nomination for a fourth term in the U.S. Senate, citing the
Utah Republican’s history of troubling votes on economic issues.
Specifically:

* Bennett voted for TARP, the $750 billion Wall Street bailout;

* Bennett voted for the disgraceful “Bridge to Nowhere” earmark;

* Bennett refused to block funding for any further bailouts of
auto manufacturers;

* Bennett voted against redirecting wasteful Defense earmarks
toward improved health care for disabled veterans;

* Bennett voted against a resolution stating the Senate had a
“moral obligation” to cut spending;

* Bennett’s health care proposal would impose an
unconstitutional individual mandate, increase federal taxes and spending
by hundreds of billions of dollars, and force Americans to pay their
insurance premiums through the IRS.

###

PAID FOR BY CLUB FOR GROWTH PAC AND NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR
CANDIDATE’S COMMITTEE. 202-955-5500.

Press release via Club for Growth PAC… obviously.

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The political winds are shifting and as primaries continue to roll full steam, the closer we get to Nov., the more shifting we’re seeing take place. Stu Rothenberg of the Rothenberg Political Report has just moved Senator Even Bayh, who until now was considered safe, into the narrow advantage column citing former Sen. Dan Coats’ (R) likely entry into the Indiana Senate race along with “voters who are dissatisfied with the direction of the country and the party in power.”

Here are our latest Senate ratings.
#- Moved benefiting Democrats
*- Moved benefiting Republicans

Lean Takeover (0 R, 4 D)

• Lincoln (D-AR)
• Reid (D-NV)
• ND Open (Dorgan, D)
• DE Open (Kaufman, D)

Toss-Up (4 R, 3 D)

• KY Open (Bunning, R)
• MO Open (Bond, R)
• NH Open (Gregg, R)
• OH Open (Voinovich, R)
• IL Open (Burris, D)
• Bennet (D-CO)
• Specter (D-PA)

Narrow Advantage for Incumbent Party (1 R, 1 D)

• Burr (R-NC)
• Bayh (D-IN) *

Clear Advantage for Incumbent Party (2 R,1 D)

• Vitter (R-LA)
• FL Open (LeMieux, R)
• CT Open (Dodd, D)

Currently Safe (11 R, 10 D)

• Bennett (R-UT)
• Coburn (R-OK)
• Crapo (R-ID)
• DeMint (R-SC)
• Grassley (R-IA)
• Isakson (R-GA)
• McCain (R-AZ)
• Murkowski (R-AK)
• Shelby (R-AL)
• Thune (R-SD)
• KS Open (Brownback, R)
• Boxer (D-CA)
• Feingold (D-WI)
• Gillibrand (D-NY)
• Inouye (D-HI)
• Leahy (D-VT)
• Mikulski (D-MD)
• Murray (D-WA)
• Schumer (D-NY)
• Wyden (D-OR)

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Rasmussen Reports:

For incumbent Democratic Senator Blanche Lambert Lincoln, the opponents are interchangeable at this point in her bid for reelection in Arkansas. New Rasmussen Reports polling in the state finds her stuck in the mid-30s against any of five Republican opponents.

Her GOP rivals, including Congressman John Boozman who is expected to enter the race on Saturday, all earn roughly 50% of the vote against the two-term Democrat.

But worse for Lincoln in the latest survey is that her numbers continue to fall. In September and December, her support was between 39% and 41% in these match-ups. Last month, it slipped to 38% or 39% support against any of four Republicans. Now, her support ranges from 33% to 36%.

Boozman, the newest entrant in the race, runs strongest among likely voters in Arkansas for now, beating Lincoln by 19 points, 54% to 35%. State Senator Gilbert Baker also leads Lincoln by 19, 52% to 33%. State Senate Minority Leader Kim Hendren posts a 51% to 35% lead over the incumbent.

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Stuart Rothenberg has released his dangerous dozen open House seats list and given the political wave that seems to be forming for the GOP going into the 2010 election cycle these seats, says Rothenberg, have “a serious possibility to flip.”

Tennessee’s 6th. With few Democratic officeholders downballot in this Middle Tennessee district that went 62 percent for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in 2008 and 60 percent for President George W. Bush in 2004, you can already put retiring Rep. Bart Gordon’s (D) seat into the Republican column. The GOP primary will select the district’s next Member of Congress.

Louisiana’s 3rd. The field hasn’t really started to develop in the race to succeed Rep. Charlie Melancon (D), but the fundamentals look terrible for Democrats in a midterm election year with President Barack Obama in the White House. Bush carried the district in 2004 with 58 percent, and McCain won it with 61 percent four years later. Only a Republican screw-up could keep this district blue.

Delaware’s At-Large. Rep. Mike Castle’s Senate run is a double-edged sword for Republicans, since the party will have a hard time holding his House seat. It isn’t impossible, of course, but they’ll need an unusually strong nominee (and a strong political wave) to beat the likely Democratic nominee, former Lt. Gov. John Carney.

Kansas’ 3rd. For Democrats, this looks like a bad cycle for Rep. Dennis Moore to retire and this seat to come open. The party is not competitive in the two big statewide contests this year, so both national and state dynamics favor the GOP. Both primary fields are wide open, though the early favorite on the Republican side may be the party’s 2008 nominee, former state Sen. Nick Jordan. Of course, another ideological split within the local GOP could get Democrats back into the picture.

Tennessee’s 8th. Rep. John Tanner (D) is retiring, and Democrats got a solid candidate in state Sen. Roy Herron, a strong fundraiser and veteran officeholder. But Tennessee could be a giant headache for Democrats, and being a longtime Democratic state legislator may be more of a liability than an asset in 2010.

Hawaii’s 1st. The yet-to-be-scheduled special election to fill Rep. Neil Abercrombie’s expected open seat could be another rude surprise for Democrats. Without a runoff, Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou (R) could sneak past multiple Democratic hopefuls to give Republicans another seat — and a major public relations victory before the midterms. Democrats need to figure out a way to keep the number of their candidates to a minimum.

Arkansas’ 1st. Bush carried this conservative northeast Arkansas district with 52 percent, but McCain drew a solid 59 percent four years later. Plenty of Democratic officeholders are looking to succeed retiring Rep. Marion Berry (D), while Republican options appear fewer. The key question mark is the size of the GOP wave and how disastrous the cycle is for Democrats in Arkansas.

Illinois’ 10th. If the seat held by Rep. Mark Kirk (R) had come open in 2006 or 2008, it would have been a slam-dunk for Democrats. But the environment is very different. The outlook for November depends somewhat on Tuesday’s primaries, but there is no doubt that Democrats see this as a rare takeover opportunity this cycle.

Arkansas’ 2nd. Retiring Rep. Vic Snyder’s (D) central Arkansas district went narrowly for Bush in 2004 and voted 54 percent for McCain in 2008. Former U.S. Attorney Tim Griffin gives the GOP a solid nominee, but a number of serious Democrats are looking at the race.

New Hampshire’s 2nd. Oh how different things looked in New Hampshire a year ago. Democrats finished up their near sweep of the Granite State, and the GOP’s fortunes there suddenly looked like any other New England state. But the national mood has changed, and GOP optimism has soared. Former Rep. Charles Bass leads a large GOP field, while Democrats have a primary of their own to succeed Rep. Paul Hodes (D).

Pennsylvania’s 7th. The ranking of the last two races depends on whether you are making a selection based on where the race is now or where it may be in the fall. Former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan gives the GOP a serious likely nominee. The district no longer leans Republican — Bush won 47 percent in 2004 and McCain only 43 percent in 2008 — and Democrats have a top-tier candidate of their own in state Rep. Bryan Lentz. Still, in a strong Republican year, Democrats have to be nervous about losing Rep. Joe Sestak’s district.

Washington’s 3rd. Retiring Rep. Brian Baird’s (D) open seat performed slightly better for McCain than for Bush in 2004 (and better than Pennsylvania’s 7th did for the same Republicans). But the nomination won’t be decided until the fall, and Democrats have a slew of bigger names looking at the contest. Still, if the GOP gets the right candidate and a partisan wave builds, this district could move up the list as a takeover opportunity.

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A new Rasmussen Reports poll shows Marco Rubio with a healthy lead over Governor Charlie Crist in Florida’s Senate Primary. The poll released today, February 1st 2010, shows Rubio at 49%, Crist 37%. A comfortable lead, to be sure, but not one to be taken lightly.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely GOP Primary voters in the state finds Rubio leading Crist 49% to 37%. Three percent (3%) prefer another candidate, and 11% are undecided.

The new numbers mark a stunning turnaround. Crist was the strong favorite when he first announced for the Senate seat, and Rubio was viewed as a long-shot challenger.

But Crist’s support fell from 53% in August to 49% in October. By December, the two men were tied at 43% apiece.

Rubio leads Crist by 17 points among men and by seven among women. He also carries 52% of the conservative GOP vote, while moderates prefer Crist.

Here’s an interesting note from Rasmussen:

Democratic Senate incumbents who currently trail their challengers include Harry Reid in Nevada, Michael Bennet in Colorado, Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas and Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania. Barbara Boxer from California, Evan Bayh of Indiana and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin find themselves in more competitive races than usual.

Republicans lead open-seat Senate races in Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota and Ohio. Democrats lead in Connecticut, and the race is close in Illinois. North Carolina incumbent Republican Senator Richard Burr is ahead but potentially vulnerable. Following last month’s upset GOP Senate win in Massachusetts, political analyst Larry Sabato wrote that if the election were held today, “The (59-seat) Democratic majority in the Senate would be reduced to just 52 seats.”

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