I wrote yesterday about the most recent New York poll showing both Governor Paterson and Senator Gillibrand in trouble in their 2010 re-election bids. The Politico notes that these races are just one part of a what seems to be a hopeful GOP resurgence in the region:
In Connecticut, there is an unexpected opportunity to unseat veteran Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) in 2010. In New Jersey, incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine (D) trails his Republican challenger in the polls. Several House races seem promising in neighboring New York, where Democratic Gov. David Paterson’s bungling of a recent Senate appointment has jeopardized both his seat and the one now held by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)…
The economic crisis is also fueling opposition to Dodd, a five-term senator whose personal financial dealings and role as Senate Banking Committee chairman have been closely scrutinized and under attack. His recent admission concerning the insertion of a provision into the stimulus legislation — the one that effectively allowed American International Group employees to receive millions in bonuses — threatens to derail his bid for a sixth term in 2010.
Former Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.), who entered the race last week, immediately blasted Dodd for “failing in his oversight duties” as chairman. And he accused Democrats of backing legislation that would stifle economic growth — sounding off on the major theme of his campaign…
After seeing the party’s 2006 gubernatorial nominee get thrashed by Spitzer, Republicans are optimistic about their chances in 2010 — especially if former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who has said he is considering a gubernatorial campaign, jumps in. Polls have shown him leading the embattled Democratic governor.
Elsewhere in New York, several promising GOP recruits have emerged in upstate House races where Republicans have traditionally run well. Businessman Richard Hanna, who came within 4 points of defeating Rep. Michael Arcuri (D-N.Y.) last year, is seriously considering a rematch. And 31-year-old Assemblyman Greg Ball, a Republican who has attracted notice for bucking his party’s Albany establishment, is poised to present a tough challenge to Rep. John Hall (D-N.Y.).
These aren’t the only races in the Northeast where Republicans can be competitive next year. Apart from the 3 New York races, there are several prominent GOPers looking at a race against Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH). There will be strong Republican candidates in several races in Pennsylvania, and I am hearing talk of promising candidates against other New York Democrats. According to Charlie Cook, there are 10 House seats in New England, New York, and Pennsylvania whose partisan performance is such that Republicans could run competitive races. By way of comparison, Republicans currently hold 10 seats in the entire region. I don’t expect to win all of them, but we ought to run competitive candidates in all of them. And if we win half, we will have expanded our representation in the region by 50 percent.
All this begins of course, with a win in New York’s 20th Congressional district a week from today. You can do your part to get the ball rolling by donating to Tedisco today:
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Should be interesting
tarheels23 Tuesday, March 24th at 9:49AM EST (link)(liberal poster)
The key will be selecting the correct kind of Republican. I think the Northeastern races will be a measuring stick as to how far the party is willing to widen its tent.
Social conservatives aren’t likely to be terribly enthused about Republicans campaigning seriously in the Northeast, but the presence of moderate Pubs would be healthy for the party — and the country — as a whole.
Though Kos and others would disagree, a one-party system will only lead to disaster for the country.
Decent point.
noufa Tuesday, March 24th at 4:42PM EST (link)Though I’m not entirely convinced that ideology is the problem. Local Republican Parties ought to get behind SOMEONE, moderate or conservative. If the national Republicans don’t like it, the locals can tell us to kiss off.
Many insurgent conservative candidates have bucked the national party establishment. Even on the Presidential level: Goldwater over Rockefeller, Reagan over Ford & Buchanan over Bush.
The conservative won’t always win. And losing is no fun. But a year before the elections, who would’ve thought Liddy Dole & George Allen would be vulnerable? Showing up is half the battle. Moderates don’t seem to appreciate that fact.
It probably sounds like I’m blaming the victim. And to a degree, I am. But take Jim Jeffords. As a moderate, he was uncomfortable with the party. Abandoning the party only made it more conservative.
The same thing happens at the grass-roots level. There are moderates at my local caucus. They often seemed bored & detached from what was going on. I’m happy to work with them. But many stop volunteering. They totally abandon their chance to influence the party platform.
Why? We’re Republicans, for crying out loud. We don’t like creating big scenes.
“Obama is not a centrist. He was never centrist. He is a uniter. He does reach across the aisle. But he always do so in pursuit of progressive ends.”
-Jonathan Stein of Mother Jones 1/31/08
The 80-20 and Speak No Evil Rules in Effect
texas214 (Diary) Tuesday, March 24th at 10:19AM EST (link)I’m a southern conservative, however I know the advantages of having a growing northeastern GOP base. While it may not be absolutely my brand of conservatism, I cannot forget the two rules Reagan set forth, that that we speak no evil about other Repub’s and maybe most importantly the80-20 rule. Where no one is in complete lock step, however Repub’s should agree on 80% of items before the American people.
While you/I may feel strongly about one single item(ex. abortion), a northeastern conservative my not, however he/she may agree completely regarding liberty, defense, balanced budgets, conservative judges…. By pushing away on a single item does no one any favors.
Reagan was right, as long as the core values are generally there the 80-20 rule should be in effect. Let’s all do our best to support these candidates as we need to grow the party, not shrink it.
Good perspective
tarheels23 Tuesday, March 24th at 10:37AM EST (link)There’s no reason not to support a candidate along those lines in the Northeast.
It’s obviously going to be more of a challenge when you’re talking about a national candidate, but that’s not the major concern for the right in 2010.
I’d like to see them become re-involved in the Northeast and West Coast, because the unchecked liberalism there is much less attuned to the needs of the people than in other areas.
My congressional district is a prime example. This is an extremely liberal area of North Carolina, and thus a pro-choice voting record and (D) beside a candidate’s name ensures victory.
To that end, David Price gets sent to congress every time out despite the fact that he voted in favor of the PATRIOT Act and other pieces of legislation this community doesn’t support.
Last fall, I actually voted for a pro-life Republican out of protest. We aren’t getting the representation here we really want, and Price just continues to coast by.
Strongly Agree
DavidSage (Diary) Tuesday, March 24th at 10:41AM EST (link)There are conservatives out there that think if a Republican isn’t pro-life, they’re not worth supporting. They would actually prefer the liberal Democrat to win.
The truth is, there are parts of the country where this type of conservatism just won’t sell, and we need all the allies we can get. To only run Rick Santorum-type Republicans will only cede large swaths of the country to the Democrats. Conservatives can build effective coalitions with moderate Republicans.
I’ll gladly take the moderate Republicans running for these positions over the Democrat alternative.
Michael Steele's.....
texas214 (Diary) Tuesday, March 24th at 3:45PM EST (link)apppeal in this area is what is needed, a conservative moderate voice. Not in representing the party, but in the way of organizing and growing the party. A staunch southern conservative (probably like me) would tend to turn off folks in the northeast.
When you look at who the lib’s are afraid of, it’s not southern conservatives (they feel they can marginalize them), it’s the people they feel will expand the party (African-Americans, hispanics, women). This doesn’t mean turn our backs on the core constituencies, but grow our constituencies.
it's about Marketing... there is something in the Republican Platform for everyone....
JLenardDetroit (Diary) Tuesday, March 24th at 4:01PM EST (link)As for Steele (whom I supported for Chair)… Not impressed so far! He’d better step up soon and remember he is supposed to be talking about alternatives to Democrats and the Socialist agenda – IGNORE THE DARN RUSH QUESTIONS and the like, already… He needs to remember he will NEVER be the MSM darling that John McCain is, so stop playing into their moronic narrative and start putting forth OUR (Republican PLATFORM) MESSAGE!
Our Leaders (including Mr. Steele) must start using the Media properly, as Democrats always do, by ignoring the Question and Answering what we want. Every answer to any Question we know to be diversionary/BS, should begin with: That is not important, and a non-issue, we are focusing on getting the country back on track. Returning to Fiscal discipline, etc….
I’ll still defend his “hip-hop” comment… Meijer, Kmart, Target, WalMart, etc, all sell the same Tide and/or many other of the same products – THEY MARKET THOSE SAME PRODUCTS TO DIFFERENT MARKETS IN A FASHION THAT REACHES THEM THOUGH – or to Market their Store (also true of the GOP) in general to announce that there is something inside for everyones tastes! That is the “hip-hop” message (the correct one, anyway)… NOT that we change the Platform to open it up and Change it, but that we MARKET it more effectively! We do NOT Pander to Groups, but it is just plain dumb to not think you sometimes have to work on the delivery methods! You don’t blast Thrash-Metal out speakers at a Country-music audience OR VICA-VERSA!!!!!! Simple marketing, let’s remember the correct arguments to be having. Noting wrong with “targeted marketing” as long as it is indeed an honest representation of the same Product.
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Okay
red4ever (Diary) Tuesday, March 24th at 10:43AM EST (link)Where is the party apparatus to take advantage of this? We need organization to actually do something about this change. Or has the party written off the Northeast long ago?
The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.
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