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Senator Tim Johnson Watch: Tim Johnson’s or Tom Daschle’s Return?
Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., (right), seen with his wife, Barbara, in this photo released by his office in March of 2007, has not yet announced any plans for re-election, but fundraising efforts go on while he continues his recovery efforts.
Remember Senator Tim Johnson from South Dakota who had a brain bleed and brain surgery last December?
Johnson was discharged from the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington on April 27. On June 11, 2007, his doctor said that he would be able to resume his full duties in the Senate.
His wife is quoted in the South Dakota press that he will be returning to his Senate duties sometime after the August Senate recess. In fact, he is making so much progress that he will remain in his Washington area home even though his son will add two adopted grandchildren to his family soon.
Now, no one has seen the Senator since his brain hemorrhage last December and he has been absent from the Senate since then. It seems unlikely that his speech therapy is the likely reason that he cannot make a routine trip home to South Dakota from Washington.
Flap has been dubious from the start that Senator Johnson would make more than a token appearance to resume his Senate duties. Fund raising aside, Senator Johnson will probably retire and NOT run for re-election.
The only reason why he has not quit is because the Senate Democrat majority hinges upon his retention in the Senate. South Dakota’s Republican Governor Rounds would more than likely appoint a Republican replacement and tip the Senate majority back to the GOP.
Today, Robert Novak supports Flap’s hypothesis.
Solicitations for a Sept. 12 fund-raising reception in Washington on behalf of ailing Sen. Tim Johnson give the impression he will be present at the event, but in fact there are no such plans.
Sources close to Johnson say he will not decide his schedule until he is back in the Senate, and there is no firm schedule yet for that. Johnson has not been seen publicly since suffering a brain hemorrhage last Dec. 13, but his staff has been raising funds for his re-election campaign in South Dakota. His campaign has $1.75 million cash on hand.
The $1,000-to-$2,300-a-ticket reception will be held at the home of Johnson’s fellow South Dakotan, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, and his wife, transportation industry lobbyist Linda Daschle, on Foxhall Road millionaire’s row in Washington. It has been speculated that if Johnson cannot run, Daschle could attempt a political comeback.
The South Dakota GOP best be prepared. A crippled and weak Johnson will NOT be running to retain his seat.
Watch for former Senate Majority leader Tom Daschle’s return in 2008.
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Previous:
Senator Tim Johnson Watch: Condition Improves
Senator Tim Johnson Watch: Senator’s Condition Upgraded From Critical to Fair After Brain Surgery
Senator Tim Johnson Watch: Johnson is Improving But Still Requires Ventilator at Night
Senator Tim Johnson Watch: Johnson Remains in Critical Condition
Senator Tim Johnson Watch: Johnson in Stable Condition After Brain Surgery
Senator Tim Johnson Watch: Senate Back to 50-50 Split?
Senator Tim Johnson Watch: Johnson in Critical Condition After Late Night Brain Surgery
Senator Tim Johnson Watch: Senator Undergoes Surgery
Senator Tim Johnson Watch: Democrat Spokesman Says Johnson Did Not Suffer Stroke
Senator Tim Johnson Watch: Johnson Hospitalized with Apparent Stroke
Technorati Tags: TimJ ohnson, South DakotaTom Daschle, Robert Novak
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Rudy Giuliani Watch: A Nationwide Electoral College Strategy
Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani shakes hands after he spoke to supporters in San Francisco, Monday, July 23, 2007.
Yesterday Flap wrote about North Carolina that is likely headed towards changing their Presidential electoral college delegate rules for the 2008 election cycle.
In a similar vein, Dave G over at Race42008 writes about A Red State No More concerning North Carolina and points to a piece over at Eyeon08 that alludes that Missouri may be leaning blue.
But, does this make ANY difference with Rudy Giuliani as the GOP nominee?
Probably not and why?
Giuliani WILL be competitive in states in the East and West Coast that no other GOP nominee can match. Remember this part of the Giuliani campaign strategy.
Michael Duhaime, Giuliani Campaign Manager:
I think we are—or at least the candidate best positioned to win the general election. There’s no doubt in my mind Rudy Giuliani can put in states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Oregon, Washington in the Republican column. He can certainly make states like New York, Illinois, California– very expensive states into very competitive states and ones that certainly the Mayor can win. I don’t believe that any other Republican can make that same claim.
Republican presidential hopeful and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani stops at a Costco to do some shopping and meet with voters during a campaign stop on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 in Phoenix.
Rudy does NOT want to be a GOP nominee who then loses to Hillary. Hence, in the PRIMARY, he is running a national general election campaign.
Look at his travel schedule for this week:
Monday – San Francisco
Wednesday – Phoenix
Friday – Dallas
And this is what it is like every week. Flap receives the Mayor’s schedule from the campaign and the guy is all over the country – week in and week out.
Former mayor of New York City and Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani (R) kisses the hand of Sara Berglund, 6, during a campaign stop in Dallas, Texas, July 27, 2007.
So, Rudy will NOT need to win all of the Red States that President Bush carried over the past two Presidential election cycles. Throw in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, Washington and Oregon, and Rudy may be headed to a massive electoral college win.
But, Hizzoner will take a win.
Next week, the Mayor will start in New Hampshire and move onto Connecticut by mid-week.
Previous:
Rudy Giuliani is Electable – Obvious Statement of the Day
Rudy Giuliani Watch: California Dreamin’ – Summer in the Inland Empire
Technorati Tags: Rudy Giuliani
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Indian Gambling Compacts Headed To February 5 California Referendum
Pechanga Casino in Temecula
Some of the richest California Indian tribes will be fighting with organized labor and racetrack interests this February 5th when California voters go to the polls to select a Presidential nominee.
Setting the stage for a political firefight, a labor union and racetrack owner yesterday filed ballot measures seeking to overturn expansive new gambling compacts for some of the state’s wealthiest Indian tribes.
Backers of the four referenda will have about 60 days to collect 434,000 signatures for each measure to qualify them for the Feb. 5 presidential primary election.
But everyone involved said they believe there is ample time to gather the necessary signatures.The measures would give California voters an opportunity to pass judgment on compacts that would allow Sycuan of El Cajon, Pechanga of Temecula and two other tribes to build some of the largest casinos in the world.
If everyone thinks that California television airwaves will be blistering with ads from Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Clinton, you have seen nothing yet from the Indian tribes who stand to gain billions in gaming revenue.
The media campaign folks and consultants will make the big bucks as the labor unions portray the gaming agreements as the “rich getting richer.”
Will the other less affluent Indian tribes become involved?
Probably and it won’t be pretty.
Stay tuned…….
Technorati Tags: Pechanga, Morongo, Hollywood Park, United Here, Indian Gaming, Indian Casinos
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Day By Day by Chris Muir July 28, 2007