Welcome back to Hotline Sort. Elizabeth Warren posts an eye-popping fundraising haul in Massachusetts, while David Dewhurst makes a strong statement in Texas. Romney is looking strong in New Hampshire and takes the lead in the Iowa caucuses. And Linda Lingle could make Hawaii an unlikely Senate battleground.
8) Second verse, same as the first? Wisconsin Democrats are mounting another recall campaign, this time attempting to oust GOP Gov. Scott Walker from office. Democrats need to gather 540,000 signatures in 60 days in order to start the recall process. The move was announced by party chairman Mike Tate on MSNBC during Ed Schultz's show -- during the Milwaukee Brewers' NLCS playoff game
But the move doesn't come without risk. As the New York Times writes: "Some supporters of President Obama have expressed concern about complicating the president's re-election efforts with the contentious fight over the governor."
It will be interested to hear what Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., has to say about the recall efforts as she runs for the open Senate seat. One of the more liberal members of Congress, she's been trying to position herself to the center for the Senate campaign. Siding with the recall helps her with the Democratic base, but it's an open question whether less-partisan voters will embrace the state party's efforts.
7) Several Senate candidates are already posting big fundraising numbers: Massachusetts Democrat Elizabeth Warren is poised to be the big fundraising winner this quarter, bringing in over $3.1 million with assistance from national groups excited about her campaign against Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass. Brown did well himself, raising $1.55 million, and now has a healthy $10.5 million cash-on-hand. Meanwhile, Texas GOP lieutenant governor David Dewhurst posted a big initial haul, bringing in $2.64 million. It's a strong total, but money evaporates fast in the Lone Star State.
6) Former Hawaii Gov.
Linda Lingle is expected to announce she's running for the Senate on Tuesday, according to the
Honolulu Star-Advertiser. It's a major recruiting coup for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which now has a shot at competing in the deeply-Democratic confines of President
Obama's birth state.
Rep.
Mazie Hirono and former Rep.
Ed Case are facing off in a Democratic primary for the nomination. Lingle narrowly defeated Hirono in her first gubernatorial campaign, back in 2002.
5) Virginia is shaping up to be a major Senate battleground. A new Quinnipiac poll shows former Democratic National Committee Chairman
Tim Kaine in a statistical dead heat with former GOP Sen.
George Allen, with Kaine up 45 to 44 percent. Both candidates are viewed favorably by the state's electorate.
4) Meanwhile, a little bit of good news for Obama - or at least what passes for it these days. The president's job approval has ticked up slightly to 45 percent in the Quinnipiac poll, up five points from last month. Most importantly, he's gained ground among independents (up nine points to 38 percent) and voters in Northern Virginia (up nine points to 49 percent) from the last Quinnipiac poll. In Virginia, he is in a statistical dead heat against former Massachusetts Gov.
Mitt Romney, trailing 45 to 44 percent.
3) Up until now, the assumption has been that Romney wouldn't spend time competing in Iowa because it's influential evangelical voters are skeptical both of his religion and his stands on issues such as abortion and civil unions. But with so many candidates -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry, businessman
Herman Cain, Rep.
Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., and former Pennsylvania Sen.
Rick Santorum -- dividing their vote, Iowa may not be such
unpromising territory for Romney after all, writes
National Journal's
Alex Roarty. NJ/CBS traveling reporter
Sarah Huisenga finds some evidence on the ground that he might have cause for hope. A just-released
NBC/Marist poll shows Romney with a tenuous hold on first place, leading Cain just 23 to 20 percent.
2) New Hampshire is shaping up to be a very favorable state for Romney - in both the Republican primary and a potential matchup against Obama. A new
NBC/Marist poll out shows Romney dominating the GOP field there, holding a 44 to 13 percent lead over his two closest rivals, Cain and Rep.
Ron Paul, R-Texas. Against Obama, Romney leads comfortably, 49 to 40 percent.
1) The poll sets the stage for tonight's debate in the Granite State focusing on economic issues, co-sponsored by the
Washington Post and Bloomberg News. (It's airing at 8 p.m. on Bloomberg TV.) For the first time, Perry and Romney won't be standing next to each other. Cain, who has been surging in polls, will be positioned between the two of them.
Leave A Comment