Politics
defi cit. Asked what his most New York Democratic Gov. Eliot
WEAKEST LINKS: HOUSE
effective argument against Spitzer resigned after having
Democrats is, he said simply, sex with a prostitute, his suc-
Bobby Bright, D-Ala. Only two House
“Where are the jobs?” cessor, David Paterson, also a
Democrats hold districts more
Meanwhile, the gubernato- Democrat, is struggling to fend
Republican than Bright’s. The GOP is
rial landscape of 2010 is playing off a primary challenge from
eyeing a long list of challengers, out against a backdrop of soar- one of the most famous names
including George Wallace Jr.
ing state budget defi cits and in American politics: state
growing anti-incumbent senti- Democratic Attorney General
Anh “Joe” Cao, R-La. President ment that has prompted many Andrew Cuomo. For their part,
Obama carried Cao’s district by a
governors to call it quits. Of the Republicans are urging former
whopping 52 points, making him
36 gubernatorial races on tap New York City Mayor Rudy
the most vulnerable House GOP
next year, at least 22 are open- Giuliani to run for governor.
incumbent, regardless of who runs against
him. This time around, he won’t have the
seat races. More than 20 seats Illinois Democrats are in disar-
advantage of running against an indicted
are up for grabs, including the ray following Democratic Gov.
incumbent. country’s four most populous Rod Blagojevich’s impeach-
states and others where incum- ment, but they appear to be
Steve Driehaus, D-Ohio Driehaus
bents opted to forgo re-election unifying behind his successor,
faces a rematch with the GOP
bids. Also, Democrats are strug- Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn.
congressman he defeated in 2008. gling to defend two governors’ And in Texas, Sen. Kay Bailey
One big difference: He won’t have
seats on the ballot this fall in Hutchison is resigning to chal-
Obama at the top of the ticket this time.
states Obama carried last year: lenge incumbent Gov. Rick
New Jersey and Virginia. Perry in what promises to be
Mary Jo Kilroy, D-Ohio Poor approval
Currently, Democrats con- a knock-down, drag-out block-
ratings are bedeviling her as she faces
trol 28 governors’ offices; buster fi ght for the GOP nomi-
the possibility of a rematch with the
Republican she barely beat in ’08.
Republicans hold 22. nation.
Both parties are closely mon- One year after Democrats
itoring these races, which will rode a wave of anti-Republican
Frank Kratovil, D-Md. Facing a
have a big impact on congres- sentiment into power, one
possible rematch with the Republican
he narrowly defeated last year in a
sional redistricting and the 2012 thing is clear: Voters now hold
GOP-leaning district, Kratovil has
race for the White House. The Obama and his party account-
voted against the Obama stimulus plan and election could, after all, intro- able for the direction of the
Democratic budget.
duce the country to its next pres- country. From their perch in the
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ident (Obama was elected to the wilderness, that reality isn’t lost
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Betsy Markey, D-Colo. Unlike other
Senate only four years before on Republicans.
I
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/
Democrats in tough districts, Markey he ran for the White House); “The time for their fi nger-
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A
has hewed closely to her party’s
/
D
vice president (Sarah Palin was pointing and excuse-making is
M
leadership. But she’s stockpiling a big
elected governor of Alaska in over,” said Cornyn, the Senate
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war chest, suggesting that she’s gearing up for
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a tough race in 2010.
2006, two years before she was GOP campaign chairman.
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/
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nominated to run for vice pres- “They can and will be held I
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ident); or another prominent responsible for whatever hap-
D
Eric Massa, D-N.Y. Two years after
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Massa beat a vulnerable GOP
voice on the national stage. pens in Washington these next
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incumbent, he will face a much
The gubernatorial races 12 months.”
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stronger threat this time around. With
already feature some familiar Cornyn is right about at least
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that in mind, he voted recently against his names and prominent head- one thing: The next year of /
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party’s climate change bill.
lines. In California, for example, Obama’s presidency is a crucial
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Democrats will choose between period for his party. If all goes
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Walter Minnick, D-Idaho Minnick has two well-known candidates well, Democrats could build a
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tried to protect himself in this GOP-
(former Gov. Jerry Brown and durable power base. If it does
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leaning district by distancing himself
San Francisco Mayor Gavin not, they could be cast aside by
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from Democrats on just about every
Y
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K
Newsom) in the race to suc- a minority party whose return to
O
major agenda item and highlighting his
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bipartisan work.
ceed their celebrity governor, power could spell big trouble for
/
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Republican Arnold Schwarz- Obama as he gears up for his
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enegger. Nearly two years after own re-election battle in 2012.
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38 NEWSMAX / NOVEMBER 2009
30_POL_Midterms.indd 38 10/1/09 12:04 PM
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