Todd Akin, Virginia Style?
May 23, 2013 · 2:05 PM EDT
Until Saturday night, I had never heard of E.W. Jackson, a Harvard Law School graduate and minister who served three years in the Marine Corps and attended Harvard Divinity School.
I’ve never met the man, but I already know that Republicans in the commonwealth of Virginia have a problem with their new nominee for lieutenant governor.
The combination of material on Jackson’s own website and the videos of Jackson speaking for himself suggest that Republicans have nominated a no-holds-barred social conservative who seems destined to utter the sort of controversial comments reminiscent of former Missouri Republican Rep. Todd Akin.
Nominating conventions are inherently dangerous for political parties. The activists who show up invariably are more ideological than most in their party, and they seem to care little about nominating candidates with broad appeal or proven electability. (The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party had this problem for years, which is why the winner at the state convention often lost in the primary.)
As I have noted in recent columns and posts, many Republicans believe their party has been too compromising and needs nominees who are more conservative. Jackson would appear to fill that bill. He is an admirer of Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck (both of…
Anchorage Mayor Not Running in Alaska Senate Race
May 23, 2013 · 8:39 AM EDT
Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan (R) has no interest in running for the United States Senate in Alaska, according to knowledgeable sources, even though he met with officials at the National Republican Senatorial Committee just last week.
But that doesn’t mean there won’t be a Dan Sullivan in the…
In Massachusetts Senate PPP Poll, Read the Numbers — Not the Memo
May 22, 2013 · 2:31 PM EDT
Another public poll, this one from Public Policy Polling, shows a tight race for Senate in Massachusetts. But more interesting is what the Democratic firm does not discuss in its very brief memo about the June 25 special election.
The survey showed Rep. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., leading…
Will Republicans Screw Up Again? Some Are Already Overreaching
May 22, 2013 · 9:48 AM EDT
Some Republicans are so excited at the thought of multiple controversies dogging the White House over the next few months (or longer) that they are already foaming at the mouth.
For example, on his syndicated radio show late last week, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee compared reports of the…
Alaska Senate: Bridge to Victory
SubscriberMay 21, 2013 · 2:30 PM EDT
Democrats don’t win statewide in Alaska. At least not without some help.
Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D) was elected to the Senate in 2008, a great Democratic year, against an incumbent senator under indictment. Begich is unlikely to have the same positive electoral environment in 2014, but he…
