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  • Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010
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Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010The Hotline's Briefing on House Races

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Spotlight

After Murtha

As John Murtha's (D) CD mourns his passing, a special election looms. GOPers have a favorable climate and recent history on their side: In '08, John McCain won a CD that John Kerry (D) carried in '04. But Dems have a big registration advantage and own the turf here (they control 5 of the 7 state Senate seats in the CD).

-- Speculation has centered on two long-time Dem fixtures. Ex-LG Mark Singel (D) hasn't been on the ballot since losing the '94 GOV race, and his current profession (lobbyist) won't help his cause either. State Sen. John Wozniak (D) has also been mentioned, but he's been in the legislature since '80, and voted for the controversial pay raise.

-- GOPers won't have it easy either. '08 nominee William Russell (R) can raise boatloads of money and has a loyal following. But will local party leaders, who will pick the nominee, go with a candidate that's lived in the CD for just a few years? If they go with someone else, will grassroots types revolt?

-- Given their flops in even friendlier GOP territory in the last special elections, the pressure is on the NRCC to win here. After all, can anyone take a 40 seat GOP gain seriously if the party can't win a swing district carried by McCain in this environment?

Top News
  • Federalist (Files) Papers

    Asst. AG John Adams (D) announces a bid for retiring Rep. Snyder's (D-AR 02) seat.

  • A Noble Concept

    Rep. Shadegg CoS Noble (R) becomes one of the few GOPers to turn down a bid for his ex-boss's seat.

  • Things Are Going Se-well

    EMILY's List endorses atty Sewell (D) in the crowded AL-07 open seat. Sewell holds a large CoH lead over ex-Rep. Hilliard's son (D), but she'll need more in order to fight his high name ID.

  • On The Margins

    Polling shows that GOPers in NH-01 and NH-02 appear to be riding the nat'l wave. But beware the wide margin of error.

Contents Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010

Recent Editions
  • Monday, Feb. 8, 2010
  • Friday, Feb. 5, 2010
  • Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010
  • Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010
  • Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010

Today's Frontpage

    Special Elections

  • FLORIDA 19 (D/BOCA RATON -- WEXLER): The Breakfast Club
  • PENNSYLVANIA 12 (D/JOHNSTOWN -- MURTHA): Longest-Serving PA Congressman Dies At Age 77

    Open Seats

  • ALABAMA 07 (D/BIRMINGHAM -- DAVIS): Terri And EMILY's Excellent Adventure
  • ARIZONA 03 (R/PHOENIX -- SHADEGG): A Noble Goodbye
  • ARKANSAS 01 (D/JONESBORO -- BERRY): Causey and Effect
  • ARKANSAS 02 (D/LITTLE ROCK -- SNYDER): Does McCullough Know About This?
  • ARKANSAS 03 (R/FAYETTEVILLE -- BOOZMAN): We Had A Hutch He Wouldn't Run
  • LOUISIANA 03 (D/HOUMA -- MELANCON): No 'Polds Barred
  • NEW HAMPSHIRE 02 (D/CONCORD -- HODES) POLL: Kuster's Last Stand
  • PENNSYLVANIA 07 (D/UPPER DARBY -- SESTAK): You Can Count On Meehan

    Freshmen

  • ALABAMA 05 (R/HUNTSVILLE -- GRIFFITH): Will The Edit Board Be Endorsing Jerry Maguire In '10?
  • FLORIDA 08 (D/ORLANDO -- GRAYSON): Who's The Boss?
  • IDAHO 01 (D/LEWISTON -- MINNICK): Doing The Pennsylvania Polk
  • MISSISSIPPI 01 (D/TUPELO -- CHILDERS): There's A Certain McGlow About Her
  • PENNSYLVANIA 03 (D/ERIE -- DAHLKEMPER): I Love Ya Trevorrow, You're Always A Day Away
  • VIRGINIA 05 (D/CHARLOTTESVILLE -- PERRIELLO): They Don't Just Party At UVA

    Veterans to Watch

  • CONNECTICUT 05 (D/DANBURY -- MURPHY): All That Pentima Up Energy
  • FLORIDA 10 (R/ST. PETERSBURG -- YOUNG): Reject The Culture Club
  • ILLINOIS 08 (D/SCHAUMBURG - - BEAN): Walshing Their Sins Clean
  • NEW HAMPSHIRE 01 (D/MANCHESTER -- SHEA-PORTER) POLL: Shea Goodbye?
  • NORTH DAKOTA AT-LARGE (D -- POMEROY): Time Is On My Side, Yes It Is
  • PENNSYLVANIA 04 (D/O'HARA TOWNSHIP -- ALTMIRE): Double Jeopardy

    Other Updates

  • NEW JERSEY 02 (R/ATLANTIC CITY -- LOBIONDO): It's All About The Children!
  • WASHINGTON 06 (D/TACOMA -- DICKS): Looking Ahead

    In The States

  • TEXAS: If You Think I'll Let You Go, You've Got Another Thing Coming

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