May 12, 2006
Dole: Optimistic, Even As The Wind Blows Against Us
At the Christian Science Monitor breakfast this a.m., NRSC chair Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) said she was "truly excited" about the NRSC's recruits this cycle, but conceded "there's no question that the winds has been in our faces for many months." She began by touting LG Michael Steele (R-MD), state Sen. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ), Rep. Mark Kennedy (R-MN), ex-Safeco CEO Mike McGavick (R-WA), industrialist John Raese (R-WV), ex-Ameritrade COO Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Oakland Co. Sheriff Mike Bouchard (R-MI) (acknowledging there's still a primary in MI.)
As in previous pressers, she emphasized the lone open GOP seat (TN) to the 4 open Dem seats, but acknowledged GOP incumbents "are under no illusion" of the rough nat'l terrain and "are preparing for aggressive, tough races." She said nat'l trends "will play some role, but we'll be focusing" on the one-to-one match-ups and the issues which distinguish individual races. Dole, on nat'l trends affecting SEN races: "Our job is to minimize that." She said NRSC fundraising is up 29% from where it was at this point last cycle.
Dole was asked about several individual races.
- OH: She said voters will learn about Rep. Sherrod Brown's (D) "liberal" record as compared to Sen. Mike DeWine's (R) "mainstream" record.
- WA: She spoke glowingly of McGavick, and noted ex-Green Panther Aaron Dixon's (G) challenge to Sen. Maria Cantwell (D) as a complication for Dems.
- FL: "If no one else has filed, (Rep.) Katherine (Harris) will work her head off. ... The focus will be on (Sen.) Bill Nelson (D)." Asked if Harris can win: "Six months is a lifetime in politics."
- On the nastiness of the TN GOP primary: "They need to focus more on (Rep.) Harold Ford Jr. (D)"
- WV: "The state has really moved out from under (Sen.) Robert Byrd (D) in terms of mainstream values." She noted Byrd's work with Moveon.org and his advertising on DailyKos. She called Raese "a great candidate" and said she had shown his TV ad on docking congressional pay to the Senate GOP caucus.
- On Sen. George Allen (R-VA): "I don't put him in the category of concern."
- RI: "I'm not even going to entertain that (Sen.) Linc Chafee (R) won't win that primary." She noted the withdrawal of Sec/State Matt Brown (D) probably helps Chafee bring indie voters into the GOP primary.
- She characterized Dem attacks on Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) as "pure character assassination" and said voters are "resenting it out there."
- Asked if any potential GOP recruits had turned her down because of their concerns with the nat'l environment: "No." She said Dems had had their own recruiting failures in ME and RI (Reps. Langevin/Kennedy) and wanting, but failing, to clear the field for Rep. Ben Cardin (D-MD)
- Asked if she thinks the "obstructionist" label will work in '06 as it did in '04: "Yeah, I do."
[QUINN MCCORD]
Posted at 12:42 PM
Comments
this woman is delusional. what a complete idiot. so, ignore the fact that the sewage has reached your nostrils, elizabeth? it was suicide for the GOP to put you in charge of this, you failure. but then, all the better for the rest of us.
catherine | 05.15.06 07:13 PM
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I just want people to know that I have emailed, called and written Sen. Dole on many occasions. She has ignored every message. I don't expect much, just a reply saying that she recieved my message. Nothing. She won't be getting my vote.
On the other hand, Sen. Burr has responded specifically to every email I have sent him.
Paul
Paul Stiles | 05.16.06 03:14 PM
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