links for 2010-02-16

Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Wednesday ended speculation that she might leave Congress to run for governor, a spokesman confirmed.

Feinstein spokesman Gil Duran said the San Francisco Democrat spoke with Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown on Wednesday morning and informed him she would not get into the race. Brown has yet to declare himself a candidate but has been raising money and is the only major Democrat still considering a run for the state's highest office.

Most observers did not expect that Feinstein would leave her powerful post in the Senate for a gubernatorial bid, but speculation persisted in some quarters, in part because she is a popular figure who could amass a lot of money, including some from her personal fortune.
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No Surprise here. She would not beat Jerry Brown anyway

Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman now runs dead even with likely Democratic nominee Jerry Brown in California’s gubernatorial contest.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely California voters finds Republican hopeful Whitman and Brown tied with 43% each. Six percent (6%) like some other candidate, and eight percent (8%) are undecided.

A month ago, Brown, a longtime California political figure who now serves as attorney general, posted a four-point lead over Whitman, 43% to 39%. In November, the two were tied at 41% apiece.
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It is Meg's early advertising that has catapulted her to the forefront. Jerry borwn is too tied and worn out to win in November. Unless Whitman blows it she will be elected governor in the Fall.

A spokesman for FreedomWorks' chief Dick Armey posts a clarification:

The New York Times reported recently that FreedomWorks Chairman Dick Armey has endorsed Sen. John McCain in the GOP primary in Arizona. This is not the case, though this story has been picked up and repeated by countless media personalities and reporters around the country.

This seems to be a good case study in how false information can make its way around the Internet and the airwaves before it can be corrected. But we wanted to post a quick statement for all of you who have asked us about this.

Thanks!
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On the other hand….Armey's Tea Party group will NOT be involved in the McCain race

As former Rep. J.D. Hayworth prepares to officially enter the Republican primary race against incumbent Sen. John McCain, he probably had better not count on any support from FreedomWorks, the national conservative group closely associated with the Tea Party movement.

In a telephone interview former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, FreedomWorks' chairman, delivered a surprisingly harsh assessment of Hayworth, with whom he served on Capitol Hill:

"We're a small organization with a limited budget. There's an awful lot of places where our presence would be needed and can really make a difference. We don't see this Arizona race as one where we need to be actively involved. It's hard for us to believe that J.D. Hayworth could mount a credible challenge to John McCain. Obviously, we'll watch the race. But J.D. had a fairly short, undistinguished congressional career with virtually no initiative on his part. I just don't see any reason why we should be concerned about that race."