Thursday,
February 10 2005
ELECTION NEWS & NOTES: Another afternoon edition
of news & notes:
Al
Franken will not run to replace Mark Dayton in the
United States Senate. Too bad. Potential DFL candidates
include activist Buck Humphrey (grandson of Hubert), Minneapolis
lawyer Mike Ciresi, Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson,
state Senator Steve Kelley, former Congressman Bill Luther,
Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar, and former public
development official Rebecca Yanisch. Possible GOP candidates
include former U.S. Sen Rod Grams, U.S. Reps. Mark Kennedy
and Gil Gutknecht, and Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer.
Rep.
Jim Davis announced he will run for Governor of Florida
in 2006. Other Democrats likely to seek the nomination
include Lawton "Bud" Chiles, state Democratic
Party chairman Scott Maddox, and former state education
commissioner Betty Castor. Possible Republican candidates
include Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings, Florida Attorney General
Charlie Crist and Florida Chief Financial Officer Tom
Gallagher.
A
new
Quinnipiac poll confirms Hillary is in good shape
to win reelection, clearing the way for a 2008 bid for
the Presidency. Overall, New Yorkers are split (46-48)
on whether Hillary should run for President, though nearly
7 in 10 Democrats support the idea.
Speaking
of Hillary in '08, USA
Today/CNN/Gallup is out with a new poll showing 40%
of Democrats favor Hillary to be the nominee. John Kerry
came in 2nd with 25% and John Edwards 3rd at 17%.
For
Republicans, the results were as follows: Rudy Giuliani
34%, John McCain, 29%; Jeb Bush, 12%, Bill Frist of Tennessee,
6%.
On
a related note, Quinnipiac
released a new poll today showing NY Governor George
Pataki with his lowest approval rating ever (34%). Even
though 8 in 10 New Yorkers don't think Pataki should run
for President in 2008, 45% say he is either "very
likely" or "somewhat likely" to win the
nomination. Go figure.
