Allen Gets Warm Reception from VFW

Richmond Times Dispatch
By Tyler Whitley

Sen. George Allen’s backing of the Iraq war and his attention to bread-and-butter military issues appear to have won him the favor of a key veterans group.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars greeted the Republican warmly at its state convention here yesterday as he defended the increasingly unpopular war.

Several veterans said the fact that Allen’s Democratic opponent, James H. Webb Jr., is a decorated combat veteran who was wounded in Vietnam would not change their support of Allen, who never served in the military.

Read more

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

Keep Your Money

Daily Press
By David Lerman

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee called on Republican Sen. George Allen to return $3,100 in “tainted” campaign contributions from Sam and Charles Wyly — billionaire brothers from Texas reportedly under investigation for tax evasion.

“George Allen should quit running for president and explain why he won’t get rid of his dirty campaign money,” committee spokesman Karl Frisch said.

The Wylys have denied wrongdoing. Allen’s campaign manager, Richard Wadhams, said there was no need to return money because the Wylys hadn’t been convicted of anything. “In America, you’re innocent until proven guilty,” he said.

Read more

July 16, 2006 | Filed Under DSCC, News Mentions | Comment 

Congressional Ethics an Issue in Minnesota Senate Race

Associated Press
By Patrick Condon

Seizing on a seemingly endless string of Washington scandals in recent months, both of Minnesota’s leading U.S. Senate candidates are trying to make congressional ethics an issue in their hotly contested race.

Endorsed Democratic candidate Amy Klobuchar on Thursday proposed a series of what she called “Minnesota-style” ethics policies for members of Congress including a mimic of the state’s so-called gift ban, which would prevent lawmakers from accepting gifts, free meals or travel from lobbyists.

“The pervasive influence of money in Washington is how we ended up with health policy written by the pharmaceutical companies, and an energy policy written by big oil,” Klobuchar, the Hennepin County attorney, said in a speech at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.

Read more

June 30, 2006 | Filed Under DSCC, News Mentions | Comment 

Democrats Rip Mark Kennedy’s PAC Fundraisers

Minneapolis Star Tribune
By Greg Gordon

Democrats on Thursday assailed the Republicans’ Minnesota Senate candidate, Rep. Mark Kennedy, for appearing at four Washington fundraisers in the past three days, each inviting donations from special interest political action committees (PACs).

Kennedy, they noted, is saying that he will be independent and push for change in scandal-torn Washington, even while appearing at fundraisers sponsored by lobbyists.

He was to appear at an event Thursday night with Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who headed a GOP project to press lobbyists to support Republicans.

Read more

June 23, 2006 | Filed Under DSCC, News Mentions | Comment 

Minnesota: PAC Attack

National Journal: The Hotline

Dems on 6/22 “assailed” Rep. Mark Kennedy (R-06) for appearing at 4 DC fundraisers in the past 3 days, “each inviting donations from special interest” PACs. They noted that Kennedy, who “was to appear at an event” 6/22 with Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) pressing “lobbyists to support” GOPers, “is saying that he will be independent and push for change in scandal-torn” DC “even while appearing at fundraisers sponsored by lobbyists.”

DSCC spokesperson Karl Frisch: “If Mark Kennedy really wants voters to believe he’s going to change Washington, he shouldn’t be shaking down big money special interests for campaign cash between votes.”

Kennedy manager Pat Shortridge “contended” that the Dem fundraising salvos were merely an attempt to create a “smokescreen” and “muddy the water” to protect Hennepin Co. Atty. Amy Klobuchar (D), who was a lobbyist herself in the ’80s and ’90s. Shortridge: “People who support Mark share his beliefs. If they think they’re getting anything else [for their donations], they are mistaken” (Gordon, Minneapolis Star Tribune, 6/22). Filing deadline: 7/18; Primary: 9/12

June 23, 2006 | Filed Under DSCC, News Mentions | Comment 

Poll Shows Tight Race for Senate

Daily Press
By John M.R. Bull

A new poll shows James Webb closing in on Sen. George Allen, whose campaign calls the survey “a joke.”

Democratic candidate James Webb has pulled to within 6 percentage points of incumbent GOP Sen. George Allen, according to a new poll.

“On paper, this is a real race, for logical reasons,” said Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia. “I look at a variety of polls, and they tell me that voters are rendering a judgment on George Allen. Voters really don’t know Jim Webb yet.”

The Wall Street Journal/Zogby Interactive poll released Thursday showed Allen leading 48.8 percent to 43.5 percent. That was within the online poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.

Read more

June 23, 2006 | Filed Under DSCC, News Mentions | Comment 

At The Races: New DSCC Site Pokes Fun at Allen’s Ambitions

Roll Call
By Lauren W. Whittington

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee on Monday launched GeorgeAllenForPrez.com - a spoof Web site aimed at highlighting the presidential aspirations of Sen. George Allen (R).

Allen, considered a likely 2008 White House contender if he survives re-election this fall, was in Iowa for the state GOP convention over the weekend.

“This site is going to help Virginians stay informed about how Allen is focused exclusively on winning over the people of Iowa and New Hampshire when he should be working for the Commonwealth,” DSCC spokesman Karl Frisch said in a statement announcing the site.

Last week, former Navy Secretary Jim Webb won the Democratic nomination to square off against Allen, who is currently favored to win a second term in November.

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

Virginia Senate

The Frontrunner

Sen. George Allen on MSNBC’s Hardball (6/19) was asked how he was going to respond to the challenge of anti-war Democratic senate candidate James Webb. Allen said, “Well, Senator John Kerry came in and supported my ultimate opponent, before he got nominated, he was there at his victory party and so Senator John Kerry and other Massachusetts liberals have a view that what we need and, if you listen to him closely, is what they would like to see is a strategic plan for retreat. I think that Virginians and all Americans think that what we need to do is bring together the American people, our allies, as well as countries around Iraq, whether that’s Bahrain, Turkey and Jordan and have a strategic plan for success rather than tuck and tail and running.”

Webb Challenges Allen To Five Debates.

The Richmond Times Dispatch (6/20, Whitley) reports, “Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jim Webb yesterday challenged Republican incumbent Sen. George Allen to five debates. Allen said he would welcome debates, as long as they include a broad range of issues.” Webb’s campaign manager “said the debates could focus on ‘the issues that are most important to the people of Virginia,’ including the war in Iraq, immigration policy, globalization and what she called abuse of power by President Bush. Dick Wadhams, Allen’s campaign manager, replied pointedly that the two might also debate federal judicial nominations, obstructing welfare reform, obstructing energy legislation, the marriage-protection amendment and medical-malpractice reform.”

Read more

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

Allen: Don’t Give Up The Ship, and Other Lession from the Navy

National Journal: The Hotline

Though “faced with a newly named” Dem challenger, Sen. George Allen (R-VA) “wasn’t about to waste precious time.” With his Senate seat “suddenly considered threatened by” ex-Navy sec. Jim Webb (D), “Allen held a private fundraiser” 6/17 “and headlined a lunch for the” GOP “faithful that drew several hundred admirers.” But this “campaigning took place far from” VA. Allen “was a star attraction at the” IA GOP Convo, where some 2K “party activists gathered.” Though he insisted “his focus this year would be on” VA SEN, Allen “said he felt obliged to come to Des Moines after accepting an invitation months ago.”

Read more

June 19, 2006 | Filed Under DSCC, News Mentions | Comment 

Fighting on Two Fronts, Allen’s Running War

Daily Press
By David Lerman

Campaigning for two seats at the same time, the Republican senator woos Iowans for 2008 while preparing for a re-election fight in Virginia.

Faced with a newly named Democratic challenger, Republican Sen. George Allen wasn’t about to waste precious time.

With his Senate seat suddenly considered threatened by former Navy Secretary James Webb, Allen held a private fundraiser Saturday and headlined a lunch for the Republican Party faithful that drew several hundred admirers.

But the weekend campaigning took place far from the Virginia voters who must decide whether to return him to office in November.

Read more

June 18, 2006 | Filed Under DSCC, News Mentions | Comment 

Next Page →