Archive

Huge GOP Gains Weren’t Always Inevitable This Year

by Stuart Rothenberg July 30, 2010 · 10:45 AM EDT

Sometimes, you can almost hear the conventional wisdom and expectations shift, even when they are based on faulty premises.

I’ve heard dozens of times over the past few months that large Democratic losses in the House were inevitable this year because of sweeping Democratic victories in 2006…

Florida Governor: Just Where Exactly Did Rick Scott Come From?

by Stuart Rothenberg July 28, 2010 · 1:27 PM EDT

The story of Florida gubernatorial hopeful Rick Scott (R) surely is one of the weirder stories in what is already an unusual political year.

Scott began his bid for the state’s top office as a political unknown who had run a company, Columbia/HCA, which was accused of defrauding Medicare and…

New York 1: Nixon Grandson Finds the Going Rocky in Bid for Congress

by Stuart Rothenberg July 28, 2010 · 10:07 AM EDT

Republican insiders are quietly skeptical that the grandson of the late President Richard M. Nixon, attorney/businessman Chris Cox, will make it out of the Republican primary in New York’s 1st Congressional District.

Cox, 31, made a splash when he entered the race. Former Secretary of State…

Nevada Senate: Sharron Angle’s Pink Slip to Harry Reid

July 27, 2010 · 5:12 PM EDT

Republican Sharron Angle is trying to raise money by asking people to send a Pink Slip to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. It's not going to win any awards for creativity, but with amount of money she's raising, it's tough to criticize.

NRCC’s Independent Expenditure Is Armed With Shields

by Nathan L. Gonzales July 26, 2010 · 7:00 AM EDT

First in a series of profiles of committee independent expenditure directors.

Republican strategist Mike Shields survived back-to-back Democratic waves in 2006 and 2008 and lived to tell about it. This year, he’s on the front lines of the Republican effort to take back the House majority.

The…

July 23, 2010 Senate Ratings

July 23, 2010 · 9:33 AM EDT

Senate Is in Play, but GOP Has Reasons to Worry

by Stuart Rothenberg July 23, 2010 · 9:31 AM EDT

Until about 10 days ago, I agreed with the conventional wisdom that control of the House of Representatives was up for grabs this fall but that Republicans had yet to put the Senate into play. I no longer believe that.

The chances that the next Senate will have a Republican majority are not…

Oregon Senate: The Memo Said “Wyden Is Vulnerable in 2010”

by Stuart Rothenberg July 22, 2010 · 3:13 PM EDT

Last week, the folks at Moore Information, a long-time GOP survey research firm based in Portland, Oregon, distributed a poll memo asserting that Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, who has been in the Senate since winning a special election in 1996, is vulnerable this year.

Was I skeptical? Sure.…

Pennsylvania 15: Callahan Running Against Rudy Giuliani?

by Stuart Rothenberg July 22, 2010 · 1:36 PM EDT

When I met Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan (D), I was impressed. Democratic insiders had told me he would be a good candidate, and they were right.

He’s articulate, personable, and able to talk about his accomplishments in a persuasive way. He’s also a proven vote getter and a strong fundraiser.…

Tancredo Seriously Exploring Gov Run as Independent

by Nathan L. Gonzales July 21, 2010 · 4:21 PM EDT

Former GOP Rep. Tom Tancredo, who ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and is known nationally for leading the charge against illegal immigration, is seriously exploring a run for governor of Colorado as an Independent and will announce his intentions soon.

“We cannot win the…