Monday, Aug. 11, 2008
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A Tough Roe To Hoe
After all that ink was spilled on Steve Cohen's (D-TN 09) 8/7 non-race, it turns out the real TN action was in TN-01, where David Davis (R) was defeated by Johnson City Mayor Phil Roe (R). Many now say Roe's "big oil" attacks on Davis provided the mortal wounds, but is that the case?
-- Possibly, but there's a bigger explanation for Davis' loss: himself. If you had to search through your Almanac Fri. morning to see just who Davis was, you probably wouldn't be alone. Davis hasn't made much of a mark since coming to DC after winning his seat with just 22% in '06. And he didn't appear to take his re-election seriously, as he barely raised more cash than Roe. The fact that he stayed in DC for the GOP "protest" last week, instead of campaigning at home, adds to these suspicions.
-- In short, Davis did the opposite of everything Cohen did in his re-election bid. They both came to office after winning very unimpressive primaries, and had much to prove. Cohen took that challenge and raised tons of cash, and also earned many endorsements of many who had supported others in '06.
-- Sure, "big oil" provided Roe an opening to attack Davis. But in the end, Davis should be assigned the majority of blame for what happened to him 8/7.
The Race Is Still Young
Dem polling shows Rep. Young (R-AK AL) leading GOP primary.
Monday, Aug. 11, 2008
Freshmen
MISSISSIPPI 01 (R/TUPELO -- CHILDERS)
1. We Have A Bridge In Tupelo To Sell You, Too
Having "reorganizing his staff" and apologized "for the tone of previous campaigns," '08 special election nominee/Southaven Mayor Greg Davis (R) "is hoping a higher turnout boosts the GOP's chances of" beating Rep. Travis Childers (D).
Davis "said according to his campaign's post-election analysis," many GOPers "didn't vote." GOP chair Brad White "said the party will help push voters to the polls for Davis and other GOP candidates." White: "I'm not betting my house on it, but I believe it's extremely doable."
But Univ. of Mississippi prof. John Bruce "said higher turnout probably will help Childers more." Bruce: "The higher turnout will likely be Obama supporters."
Analysts predict Obama's "popularity among African Americans will help down-ticket races" in MS, "because more than half" of Dem voters "in the state are African American."
Davis, who tried to link his opponent with Obama before," said he's apologizing to voters for 'the mud.'" Davis: "We promise our campaign will be based on votes and issues and the differences between us" (Chandler, Jackson Clarion-Ledger, 8/11).
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