A Night at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner

Many thanks to the Cleveland Plain Dealer for inviting me to this year’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. I had a blast and Steven Colbert was hilarious… I don’t care what anyone says. Here are photos from the event.

April 29, 2006 | Filed Under DSCC, Photos | Comment 

Ohio: Hanging Out with the Wrong Crowd?

National Journal: The Hotline 

Dems are criticizing Sen. Mike DeWine (R) for co-hosting a $1K/person fundraiser on 4/28 in suburban Cleveland for fellow Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA). “Seizing on DeWine’s recent campaign fundraiser appearence on behalf of embattled” Rep. Bob Ney (R-18), the DSCC “charges DeWine is coming to the aid of too many” GOPers “who are under fire.” Santorum helped head the “K Street Project” and Ney is “under investigation for his ties to” Jack Abramoff. DSCC spokesperson Karl Frisch: “Is there anyone Mike DeWine won’t raise money for?” (Riskind, Columbus Dispatch, 4/20).

April 20, 2006 | Filed Under DSCC, News Mentions | Comment 

Columbus Dispatch: Democrats Attack DeWine for Santorum Fundraiser

By Jonathan Riskind

Democrats are criticizing Ohio Sen. Mike DeWine for co-hosting a $1,000-per-person fundraiser on April 28 in suburban Cleveland for a fellow Republican, Sen. Rick Santorum, of Pennsylvania.

Seizing on DeWine’s recent campaign fundraiser appearance on behalf of embattled Rep. Bob Ney, R-Heath, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee charges DeWine is coming to the aid of too many Republicans who are under fire.

Santorum is considered vulnerable for re-election his year, in part because of questions that have been raised about his relationships with lobbyists as the scandal continues to percolate around disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

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April 20, 2006 | Filed Under DSCC, News Mentions | Comment 

AP: Cheney to Campaign for McGavick, Roulstone in Everett and Spokane

By Nicholas K. Geranios

Vice President Dick Cheney would not seem to be very popular in left-leaning Washington, but that won’t stop Republican political candidates from tapping Cheney’s fundraising ability.

Cheney is scheduled to make campaign appearances Monday in Everett for House candidate Doug Roulstone and in Spokane for Senate candidate Mike McGavick, who is challenging U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.

President Bush and Cheney lost Washington state in both the 2000 and 2004 elections, mostly due to lopsided support for Democrats in the liberal stronghold of greater Seattle. But Cheney is expected to raise plenty of money for the GOP candidates.

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April 17, 2006 | Filed Under DSCC, News Mentions | Comment 

Richmond Times Dispatch: ‘08 Speculation a Distraction in Allen Senate Bid

By Tyler Whitley

U.S. Sen. George Allen, R-Va., had trouble staying on the subject when he kicked off his re-election bid last week.

Instead of answering questions about his Senate plans for the next six years, Allen was asked by reporters whether he would serve out his full term.

Allen said he is focused on re-election but did not promise to serve a full term - adding speculation that he has another focus, seeking the Republican nomination to run for president in 2008.

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April 17, 2006 | Filed Under DSCC, News Mentions | Comment 

Washington: Cheney’s Coming Through, Whether They Like it or Not

National Journal: The Hotline

VP Dick Cheney arrived in Everett, WA, 4/16 and was greeted at the airport by 7 area GOP leaders. He’s speaking 4/17 at a “$250-a-plate luncheon fundraiser” for WA-02 candidate Doug Roulstone (R) before flying to Spokane “to headline a fundraiser for” ex-Safeco CEO Mike McGavick (R) (Cornfield, Everett Herald, 4/17).

Cheney’s seeming unpopularity in “left-leaning” WA “won’t stop” GOP candidates from “tapping” his “fundraising abilities.” McGavick spokesperson Julie Sund: “The fact of the matter is he is still the [VP]. We are happy to have the support of [GOPers] across the board.” With McGavick’s fundraiser a $500-a-person reception — and with the opportunity to pay $2,100 to attend a private reception and have one’s picture taken with Cheney — “only about 100 people are expected to attend.” Sund “said they are trying to get” Pres. Bush “to campaign for McGavick this summer.”

Sund “said McGavick has some differences with Bush,” but DSCC Press. Sec. Karl Frisch disagrees: “Dick Cheney has found yet another rubber stamp for the Bush agenda in Mike McGavick. Unfortunately for McGavick, Cheney is about as popular in [WA] as a root canal without pain killer.” WA Dem Party chair Dwight Pelz disputing McGavick’s claim to be a moderate: “He is bringing the most divisive American [pol] in American politics to Spokane.” Peace and Justice Action League spokesperson Wil Elder “plans to demonstrate at the” fundraiser hotel (Geranios, AP, 4/17).

April 17, 2006 | Filed Under DSCC, News Mentions | Comment 

Washington: Cheney To Visit State On Monday In Support Of McGavick

The Frontrunner

The AP (4/17, Geranios) reports that Vice President Dick Cheney “is scheduled to make campaign appearances Monday in Everett for House candidate Doug Roulstone and in Spokane for Senate candidate Mike McGavick, who is challenging U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.” Though Cheney’s and President Bush’s approval ratings have dropped over the last year, McGavick spokeswoman Julie Sund said, “The fact of the matter is he is still the vice president. We are happy to have the support of Republicans across the board.” Cheney “will stump for McGavick at a $500 per person reception at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane.” Meanwhile, DSCC press secretary Karl Frisch said, “Dick Cheney has found yet another rubber stamp for the Bush agenda in Mike McGavick.” Democrats “argue that bringing Cheney to the state belies McGavick’s campaign pitch that he is a moderate. ‘He is bringing the most divisive American politician in American politics to Spokane,’ state Democratic chairman Dwight Pelz said.” Cheney “will appear at a luncheon Monday in Everett to support Roulstone, who is challenging” WA2 Rep. Rick Larsen (D).

April 17, 2006 | Filed Under DSCC, News Mentions | Comment 

Virginia: Allen’s National Ambitions Provide Campaign Fodder For Democratic Foes

The Frontrunner

The Richmond Times-Dispatch (4/17, Whitley) reports that Virginia Sen. George Allen (R), faced questions on his presidential ambitions as he kicked off his reelection bid last week. Allen’s “travels this year have taken him to North Carolina, South Carolina, Iowa, Texas, California and New Hampshire,” and his Democratic opponents ? Harris Miller and James Webb ? along with the DSCC “have had a field day with Allen’s out-of-state travels. ‘Welcome back to Virginia, Senator Allen,’ the Webb campaign said. ‘George Allen is the only senator from Virginia who has ever kicked off his re-election campaign in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina,’ Webb spokeswoman Kristian Denny Todd said.” DSCC spokesman Karl Frisch said of Allen, “He clearly prefers the people of Columbia, South Carolina, to those of Columbia, Virginia.” Stuart Rothenberg, “who writes a political newsletter in Washington, called the Democrats’ criticism ‘poppycock.’ … ‘Senator [Hillary Rodham] Clinton is running for president; John McCain is running for president; Senator [John] Kerry is still running for president,’ he said. Unless Allen misses a key vote, the voters will not hold it against him, Rothenberg said.”

April 17, 2006 | Filed Under DSCC, News Mentions | Comment 

Maine: Time to Hit the Campaign Trail

National Journal: The Hotline
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R) kicked off her re-election campaign 4/13 telling voters that she offers an “independent voice for those weary of partisan politics.” Snowe: “People are rightfully fed up. More than ever, we need centrists values in the U.S. Senate and the political system.” Author/activist Jean Hay Bright (D) and atty Eric Mehnert(D) are battling for the Dem nomination. Hay Bright: “Her rhetoric doesn’t match her record. She votes (moderate) when it doesn’t count, and then the wrong way when it does.”

Saying Snowe is a heavy favorite “would be an understatement in the eyes of most observers,” and Dems may save their money for more competitive races elsewhere, according to Bowdoin prof. Christian Potholm (Bell, Portland Press Herald, 4/14).

SLIM CHANCES FOR DEMS?

Snowe has raised more than $2M for her re-election effort, with Hay Bright only bringing in about $25K and Mehnert’s last statement totaling $4,500. Colby College Prof L. Sandy Maisel: “She is an extremely formidable candidate. I can’t see Democrats really going after her and investing a great deal of resources in this race if it can’t happen.” But Dems say they are “intent on reclaiming control of the Senate.” DSCC spokesperson Karl Frisch: “Olympia Snowe votes with George Bush eight out of ten times. A vote for her is a vote for the rubber-stamping Republican Senate majority that blindly advances the president’s radical agenda.” Snowe said she is taking nothing for granted in the campaign. Snowe: “I have great respect for the ballot. You never know what’s going to happen” (Bangor Daily News, 4/14).

April 14, 2006 | Filed Under DSCC, News Mentions | Comment 

Bangor Daily News: Popular Snowe Launches ‘06 Campaign

By Jeff Tuttle

She has more than $2 million in the bank and some of the highest approval numbers of anyone on Capitol Hill.

Toppling U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe in her effort to keep her seat isn’t expected to be an easy task, experts say, as the Republican launched her 2006 campaign during a statewide tour Thursday.

“Maine people deserve a voice in Washington as resolute and independent and reasonable-minded as Maine people themselves,” Snowe told a group of about 50 supporters at Husson College. “I believe I have been that leader for you in the United States Senate.”

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April 14, 2006 | Filed Under DSCC, News Mentions | Comment 

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