Nation: Free Enterprise Fund Endorses Two GOPers
The Free Enterprise Fund Political Action Committee, a conservative, Washington, D.C.-based organization dedicated to limited government and tax relief, endorsed Republican candidates in two competitive open-seat primaries on Tuesday.
In the four-way GOP race to replace Rep. Mark Kennedy (R-Minn.), who is running for Senate, the PAC has endorsed Minnesota state Rep. Phil Krinkie (R). And in the three-way primary to replace retiring Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), the group is backing ex-Rep. Van Hilleary (R-Tenn.).
“Congress needs leadership on free enterprise issues that matter to the men and women throughout the country who make this country work,” said Free Enterprise Fund PAC Chairman Mallory Factor. “We are confident that, from among all the candidates for the House and Senate throughout the United States, Van Hilleary and Phil Krinkie will provide leadership and activism on the free enterprise agenda.”
— Josh Kurtz
NEVADA
Report: Porter Helping Heller Beat Mrs. Gibbons
This could be a bit awkward: The Ralston Newsflash, a political tipsheet in the Silver State, reported this week that Rep. Jon Porter (R) was scheduled to host a fundraiser Tuesday night in Washington, D.C., for Nevada Secretary of State Dean Heller, one of three Republicans seeking to replace Rep. Jim Gibbons (R).
Problem is, Heller is running against former state Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons (R), Congressman Gibbons’ wife, who is seeking to replace her husband as he runs for governor in 2006.
Porter and Heller share the same political consultant, Mike Slanker of the Las Vegas-based GOP firm November Inc. Most of the state’s Republican establishment has already rallied around Heller in the 2nd district race.
Assemblywoman Sharron Angle is also seeking the GOP nomination.
— J.K.
OHIO
Race for Oxley’s Seat Gets 2 New Candidates
Two more Republicans entered the 4th district race to succeed Rep. Mike Oxley (R) this week.
State Rep. Mike Gilb and Mansfield-Richland Area Chamber of Commerce President Kevin Nestor announced their candidacies, bringing the total number of GOP candidates to five.
Gilb, 45, is in his third term in the state House. Nestor, 49, is a former Ohio director of the Concord Coalition, a West Point graduate and an Army veteran. This is his first run for office.
State Sen. Jim Jordan (R) has been considered the early frontrunner in the contest. He has the backing of Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, who is seeking the GOP nod for governor in 2006.
Richland County Commissioner Ed Olson (R) and Findlay resident James Stahl (R) are also running.
No Democrats have stepped forward yet in the solidly Republican district.
— Lauren W. Whittington
INDIANA
Poll Shows Chocola With a 6-Point Lead
A newly released Democratic poll in the 2nd district race found Rep. Chris Chocola (R) with a 6-point lead over businessman Joe Donnelly (D), although the two-term incumbent was under the 50 percent mark.
Chocola led Donnelly 46 percent to 40 percent in the poll conducted by Cooper & Secrest Associates, the Alexandria, Va.-based firm that is working for Donnelly.
Donnelly garnered 45 percent of the vote against Chocola in 2004, although he was outspent by a 2-to-1 margin.
The survey polled 504 likely voters and was taken Nov. 28-29. It had an error margin of 4 percent.
— L.W.W.
OREGON
McCain Pens Appeal for DeFazio Opponent
Jim Feldkamp (R), seeking to upend Rep. Peter DeFazio (D) in the 4th district, is hoping a fundraising appeal by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) can help collect $41,000 for his campaign by the end of the year.
“Jim and I share a bond — we both flew combat missions for the U.S. Navy,” McCain wrote. “Jim Feldkamp and I share many beliefs on how to ensure our nation’s security. We’ll make sure that taking care of our families, our businesses, and our way-of-life are top priorities on the country’s agenda. We’ll support efforts to protect our nation from terrorist threats.”
McCain served in Vietnam; Feldkamp is a veteran of the Gulf War.
The letter asks for contributions of $500, $250, $100 “or whatever you can afford.” DeFazio beat Feldkamp last year by 23 points, outspending him $909,000 to $591,000.
President Bush lost to Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in the district in last year’s presidential race by less than 1 point, a poorer showing than 2000, when he beat then-Vice President Al Gore by 5 points.
— David M. Drucker
MINNESOTA
Fellow Veterinarians Host D.C. Fundraiser for Bell
Veterinarian Ford Bell (D) held a fundraiser for his Senate campaign in the Washington, D.C., area last Wednesday.
The $250-per-person reception was held at the Chevy Chase, Md., home of Kristen and Chand Khanna.
The Khannas are trained veterinarians like Bell; Chand Khanna works for the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Md., and Kristen Khanna is president of Animal Clinical Investigation, a Bethesda, Md., company.
Bell is competing with Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar and child safety advocate Patty Wetterling for the Democratic nod in the Gopher State’s open Senate race next year.
Taylor: Preventing Another Underwear Bomber
March 19, 4:09 p.m.
The intelligence community faces challenges daily. No example is more emblematic of the problems faced than the so-called underwear bomber of 2009. As threats emerge, the hunt for “persons of interest” must occur in a more reliable and efficient manner because the consequences of inaction can be catastrophic. Read Full Article
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