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Republicans quickly branded Jennings a sore loser who wasted taxpayer money on a politically motivated investigation. And the label appears to have stuck. Still, Buchanan seems to be faring not much better. In a recent Research 2000 poll, 32 percent of those interviewed had a favorable impression of Jennings compared with 37 percent for Buchanan.
Also not helpful for Jennings is the fact that Jan Schneider, the Democratic nominee in 2002 and 2004, is running as an Independent on the November ballot. Schneider is not a fringe candidate, taking 45 percent of the vote in her previous campaigns, and she is likely to siphon votes away from Jennings.
15th district
Open seat: Dave Weldon (R)
is retiring
Outlook: Safe Republican
Republicans played Weldon’s retirement perfectly, quickly lining up behind state Sen. Bill Posey and clearing the primary field for his nomination. The charismatic Posey, who also races automobiles, is expected to easily defeat physician Steve Blythe (D), who had only $6,000 in the bank on Aug. 6.
16th district
Incumbent: Tim Mahoney (D)
1st term (50 percent)
Outlook: Tossup
Mahoney won the seat formerly held by disgraced Rep. Mark Foley (R) after allegations emerged that the lawmaker engaged in inappropriate behavior with House pages. After struggling early, the freshman Democrat realized he would be a top GOP target in 2008 and began raising an impressive sum that now tops $2.5 million. As of July 1, Mahoney had $1.2 million in the bank.
Still, Republicans emerged from the late-summer primary in the best situation they could possibly hope for: Despite three credible GOP candidates vying for the nomination, the trio appears to have avoided ripping each other to shreds in the process.
In the end, Republican voters chose former Judge Advocate General and scion of the famed Pittsburgh Steelers family Tom Rooney to challenge Mahoney in the general election. Given the current political climate, Republicans claim Rooney’s relative inexperience and outsider status could help them flip the seat in this conservative-leaning district, which President Bush won by 8 points in 2004.
But Democrats aren’t going to give up without a fight, and this race will likely be ugly and close right up to Election Day.
18th district
Incumbent: Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R)
10th term (62 percent)
Outlook: Likely Republican
Once lumped into a trio of vulnerable Republicans in South Florida seats, Ros-Lehtinen now appears better-positioned than colleagues Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart.
In a recent Research 2000 poll, Ros-Lehtinen was well ahead of local businesswoman Annette Taddeo (D), 58 percent to 31 percent. And as of Aug. 6, the incumbent also had a substantial cash-on-hand advantage over her opponent, $1.9 million to $444,000.
21st district
Incumbent: Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R)
10th term (59 percent)
Outlook: Leans Republican
Former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez (D) is shaking Diaz-Balart’s moorings in a late-developing race that has some Republicans too scared to look in what is normally a GOP stronghold.
For Democrats, Martinez appears to be a political mixed bag, popular in portions of the district that remember the gregarious mayor for his more than two decades in City Hall, but who also perhaps recall his highly publicized 1990s corruption trial. Polling has shown that Martinez has high negative ratings, so look for Republicans to try to drive those numbers even higher.
Adding to the likelihood of a donnybrook, both candidates will have plenty of money to sling mud. As of Aug. 6, Diaz-Balart had $1.7 million in the bank, while Martinez had $1.1 million.
24th district
Incumbent: Tom Feeney (R)
3rd term (58 percent)
Outlook: Tossup
One of Roll Call’s 10 most vulnerable Members in 2008, Feeney acknowledged as much recently when he aired a television ad apologizing for a 2003 golf junket to Scotland he took with now-jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Schumer Advocates for Many on Panel
Nov. 16, 12 a.m.
As Senate Majority Leader, Lyndon Johnson once said of the Joint Economic Committee, “It’s as useless as tits on a bull.” But as that panel’s chairman during the 110th Congress, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) seized the opportunity to elevate the traditionally low-profile post to the forefront of shaping policy. Read Full Article
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