The People's Seat

The People’s Seat

I thank the people of Massachusetts for electing me as your next United States senator. Every day I hold this office, I will give all that is in me to serve you well and make you proud.   Most of all, I will remember that while the honor is mine, this Senate seat belongs to no one person and no political party - and as I have said before, and you said loud and clear today, it is the people’s seat.    GOP Senator Scott Brown R-Mass

In a stunning upset to the Democrat dominated the state of Massachusetts, Scott Brown overcame the political odds as a long shot GOP candidate in a “deep blue state” to become the 41^st vote for the Republicans in the US Senate.   Running down by as much as 20 points in the late fall, candidate Brown closed the gap over the Christmas and New Year’s Holiday period, as his “retail campaign” and now famous GMC truck rambled across the home state of John Adams seeking votes.

Brown will become the 41st Republican in the 100-member Senate, which could allow the GOP to block the president's health care legislation. Democrats needed Coakley to win for a 60th vote to thwart Republican filibusters. The trouble may go deeper: Democratic lawmakers could read the results as a vote against Obama's broader agenda, weakening their support for the president. And the results could scare some Democrats from seeking office this fall.

This little campaign of ours was destined for greater things than any of us knew, and the message went far beyond the name on the sign.  It all started with me, my truck, and a few dedicated volunteers. It ended with Air Force One making an emergency run to Logan. I didn't mind when President Obama came here and criticized me - that happens in campaigns. But when he criticized my truck, that's where I draw the line.

We had the machine scared and scrambling, and for them it is just the beginning of an election year filled with surprises. They will be challenged again and again across this country. When there’s trouble in Massachusetts, there’s trouble everywhere - and now they know it.

In every corner of our state, I met with people, looked them in the eye, shook their hand, and asked them for their vote. I didn’t worry about their party affiliation, and they didn’t worry about mine. It was simply shared conviction that brought us all together. 

Prepared remarks, Republican US Senator Scott Brown, R-Mass

Colorado Guv Opts Out

Colorado Guv Opts Out

First term Democrat Governor Bill Ritter surprises supports and his Republican challenger Scott McInnis on Wednesday January 6^th with this announcement:

Gov. Bill Ritter announced today he will not seek re-election this November

to a second term.   

While many pundits, politicians, opponents and journalists have offers reasons why the Governor is not running in 2010, Governor Bill Ritter’s formal reason (as per his office’s press release) is as follows:

It is my family who has sacrificed the most, my wife, Jeannie, my kids, three of whom are here today. I have not found the proper balance where myfamily is concerned, and I have not made them the priority they should be.So today I'm announcing that I'm ending one of my roles. I am no longer a candidate for re-election this November.

As a recovering elected official on a 12-step plan (who served two 4 year terms on the local Durango City Council), and was involved in a 1998 state of Colorado legislative campaign, I can personally attest to the challenges of balancing political and public service with a normal family life.    

However, a number of political factors may have been in play, that weren’t mentioned in the Governor’s official press release and statement to the media.   According to the Rasmussen Reports, December 2009 polling data showed that the incumbent Democrat Governor was trailing leading Republican challenger Scott McInnis by 8%.   In additon, the GOP candidate McInnis has positive favorable vs. unfavorable ratings and leads by 7% points among the critical unaffiliated Colorado voter.

Like many Democrats nationwide these days, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter who was easily elected in 2006 finds himself trailing his chief Republican opponent in a potential 2010 match-up. A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state shows former GOP Congressman Scott McInnis ahead of Ritter 48% to 40%. Four percent (4%) like some other candidate, and seven percent (7%) are undecided. 

Voters not affiliated with either party prefer McInnis to Ritter by a 46% to 39% margin.

Seventeen percent (17%) of Colorado voters have a very favorable view of the current governor, but 27% regard him very unfavorably.  McInnis is seen very favorably by 17% and very unfavorably by 12%.   http://www.rasmussenreports.com 

In addition, Colorado has struggled economically under the Ritter administration, and while the US economy has been weak, the public has not perceived the Democrat Governor as the leader of an economy recovery in the state.   

It has been said political considerations supercede all other considerations.    In case of Governor Ritter, with re-election prospects slipping and polling number weakening, the political reality overcame the official reasons for not running in 2010.

© Jasper Welch, Four Corners Media, www.jasperwelch.org    

Shift in Congressional Seats in 2010

Shift in Congressional Seats in 2010

Polidata Inc. projects from the 2009 estimates that the reapportionment following the 2010 Census will produce four new House seats for Texas, one for Florida, Arizona, Utah and Nevada, and none for California for the first time since 1850. Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Illinois are projected to lose one each, and Ohio two. Americans have been moving, even in (this current) recession, away from Democratic strongholds and toward Republican turf.

For more info visit http://www.polidata.org