Welcome back to Hotline Sort. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will officially announce his presidential campaign in New Hampshire next week, while speculation over a potential WH bid by Sarah Palin is stoked following word that she is embarking on a national tour. Plus, a key Democrat drops out of the race in NV-02, while former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich gets choked up. Here's today's rundown headed into the holiday weekend:
8) In testimony at his federal corruption retrial Thursday, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich choked up at times and denied doing anything illegal.
7) Congress cleared a reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act Thursday, and the Obama administration announced that President Obama signed the bill into law.
6) Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., defended his actions related to the scandal that caused now-former Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., to resign his seat, saying he was "proud" of the way he handled the situation.
5) On Thursday, Democrat
Jill Derby announced she won't run in the NV-02 special election. Derby instead endorsed state Treasurer
Kate Marshall, a fellow Democrat. Marshall's exit follows behind-the-scenes pressure from Democratic leaders in Nevada and D.C., who are promoting Marshall, the Las Vegas
Review-Journal reports. The news is good for Democrats looking to rally around a consensus candidate -- especially if the state Supreme Court overturns a District Court ruling, and restores the election to a "ballot royale" contest.
4) Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair
Patty Murray told reporters Thursday "we expect to have a good, strong candidate within weeks," in the Massachusetts Senate race. Murray didn't disclose a name, but in recent days, speculation has surrounded
Elizabeth Warren, architect of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Several Democrats are already in the race, but none are viewed as overwhelming threats to Brown.
3)
Sarah Palin is announcing plans for a national tour, beginning Sunday in Washington and continuing her "One Nation" tour through stops in New England.
2) Meanwhile, Rep.
Michele Bachmann, R-Minn.,
told reporters in a Thursday evening conference call that she'll be making an announcement, sometime next month, in Waterloo, Ia. Former Sen.
Rick Santorum, R-Pa., will announce the beginning of his presidential campaign June 6 in Western Pa.
1) Former Massachusetts Gov.
Mitt Romney will officially announce his presidential campaign on June 2 in Stratham, N.H.
Leave A Comment