Are Republican Seats Safe Anywhere?

By: Lowell
Published On: 3/9/2008 7:21:19 AM

For more, see here and here.  I particularly love this: "The result also could be an omen for November, when two other Illinois congressional seats are up for grabs following Republican retirements, and Sen. Barack Obama could bring out a huge turnout if he's the Democratic presidential nominee."  

By the way, there's absolutely no reason why the same result as in Illinois couldn't happen here in Virginia as well, in districts like the 2nd, 5th, 10th, 11th...who knows, maybe even the 6th (possibly Sam Rasoul or Drew Richardson) and 7th? Let's do it!


Comments



Absolutely nowhere!! (Shenandoah Democrat - 3/9/2008 9:20:13 AM)
To answer your query: Republican congressional seats are at risk everywhere!!!! (it's almost as good as football)
Expect a growing surge of congressional resignations as the rethug representatives recalculate their chances, and even more seats coming into play!!! (hehe) Besides Dems taking at least 4 vulnerable seats here in Virginia, the election of Mark Warner as our Senator is contributing to speculation that a filibuster-proof Senate is a possibility!
Here's a great article in the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03...

60 votes in the Senate?
Sort of like the chances given to Democratic take-over of the Senate last year, remember? (e.g. What were Jim Webb's election chances exactly 2 years ago??)
It's very possible--look at some of the Rethug seats in play-
Virginia
Minnesota
Maine
New Hampshire
Alaska (!)
Oregon
Colorado
New Mexico
Mississippi
Kentucky
North Carolina
and even Oklahoma?!
We'd have to win 9 of these 12, or maybe somewhere else. Not to raise expectations, but if we work as hard and effectively as we did last year, progressives in Virginia can expect great things and contribute to a real national make-over!!



Include Texas (MorrisMeyer - 3/9/2008 12:53:27 PM)
I've been told my friends back in Texas that Rick Noriega's race against John "Box Turtle" Cornyn is a possible pick-up opportunity this cycle with Obama at the top of the ticket.


Don't write off Steve Love in TX-32 (mikuleck - 3/9/2008 9:00:29 PM)
He is in a run off from March 4th's primary but he he has a plan!


Obama helped Foster (teacherken - 3/9/2008 10:33:22 AM)
cutting an ad for him, helping with fundraising, and I presume voter id and GOTV as well

it is worth noting that one advantage of having run a 50 state primary campaign is that you have already laid the groundwork to do similar things for other downballot candidates across the country.



I will not post this elsewhere (spotter - 3/9/2008 11:06:53 AM)
because I don't feel like spending the rest of the weekend being called names, but thanks, Ken, for standing up for the truth.  Another couple of weeks of these campaign tactics, and even Aznew will be agreeing with what I said long ago.  Welcome to the world of "Hillary Haters."


I (leftofcenter - 3/9/2008 10:55:40 AM)
am particularly thrilled by the fact that the RNC had to put-I think-about 1/3 of their cash on hand to defend Hastert's seat.
And they lost it.

WHAT   A   SHAME.

Wonder how much they'll give to Gilmore to run against Warner? ZERO.



How about the First? (mikuleck - 3/9/2008 11:52:44 AM)
Why not the First district?  Mathews Dems are ready to work!


Dr. Keith Hummel (Chris Guy - 3/9/2008 11:56:32 AM)
appears ready to run against Wittman. Just waiting for it to become official.


Hooooray!!!!! That's the spirit! (mikuleck - 3/9/2008 8:57:14 PM)
I just posted a diary ranting about this.  


Do you know any more about this? (mikuleck - 3/31/2008 9:18:19 PM)
I am getting some very bad reports about the internal politics of VA-01.


What people will ignore (Va Blogger2 - 3/9/2008 12:18:17 PM)
Is that Oberweis was an absolutely terrible candidate.


I heard (tx2vadem - 3/9/2008 1:45:38 PM)
the Republican Primary there was pretty nasty, and that it had some effect on Republican turnout.  Why is Oberweis a bad candidate?


I hear he's very abrasive (Lowell - 3/9/2008 2:00:16 PM)
but besides that, this was a huge victory for the Democrats.


For starters, (Va Blogger2 - 3/10/2008 7:07:55 AM)
He's run for four races (Congressional, Governor, and Senate) in the last eight years, and has won none of them. The only reason why he runs is because he's wealthy.

He lacks substance, and all to easily falls back on boilerplate language instead of actually making an effort to connect with voters. Any good politician would have seen the environment he was running in and offered something different.

It would be a mistake for the NRCC to invest money in this race in the fall. Just cut our losses and hope for a good recruit in 2010.



The other good news... (Kindler - 3/9/2008 12:26:07 PM)
...is that the newly-elected Congressman from Illinois, Bill Foster, is a scientist.  

Considering the tendency of politicians and media hacks to dismiss climate change and other scientific issues out of sheer ignorance, it will be an advantage to have more real scientists with power inside the Beltway.



Depends on who is on top (phillip123 - 3/9/2008 12:55:23 PM)
Obama on top we can have a super majority in the house and senate HRC on top MAYBE we can hold the house and senate likely not in 2010.  Jim Webb running with Hillary in 2012 it was nice knowing you Jim hope you enjoy retirement.


yes some are safe (notwaltertejada - 3/9/2008 1:54:48 PM)
but we do have a really good shot at the 2nd and maybe the 10th. it looks like leslie byrne will finally have her seat back in the 11th after all these years.
let's not forget our friends across the potomac in maryland. after the republicans dumped wayne gilchrest in the primary that seat could be a potential pick up this year.


In the Sixth, pick Drew Richardson (Rick Howell - 3/9/2008 7:50:27 PM)
It is great to contemplate the enourmous possibilities for Democratic victories this year all across this country. In our Sixth District race against Bob Goodlatte (pro Iraq-war; anti-health care), we must absolutely pick the best candidate. That person is clearly Drew Richardson, a writer, professor, forensic scientist and former FBI agent who has the experience and credibility to give us a competitive race against an entrenched incumbent! Make it Richardson in the Sixth and Dems will have a shot....


don;t you think you should disclose your relationship (teacherken - 3/9/2008 9:07:17 PM)
some of us here know, but others may not, about your association with Richardson's campaign


No problem.... (Rick Howell - 3/10/2008 9:21:17 PM)
...I'm currently working as treasurer for the Richardson campaign....sorry for the oversight.