November 4, 2004

60 IN '06:

All This and Coattails Too (Best of the Web, 11/03/04)

[D]aschle's defeat may send a message to other red-state Democrats, of whom there are at least 14:

They include a chart showing what the President carried their state by, including Ben Nelson's Nebraska by 35%, though he may just switch partes, and Kent Conrad's North Dakota by 27%, making him the most vulnerable Senator up for election in '06.

Posted by Orrin Judd at November 4, 2004 2:27 PM
Comments

We do need a candidate for North Dakota, though. Really wanted to get their popular governor to run for Dorgan's seat, but he wouldn't bite.

Posted by: John Thacker at November 4, 2004 4:05 PM

It was said many times on Wednesday that the GOP considered a Daschle defeat as a pickup of 3 seats given Daschles obstructionist ability.

I still think you need a decent candidate to unseat an incumbent, even in a deep red state, but '06 may provide more opportunities for GOP pickups.

Posted by: AWW at November 4, 2004 4:09 PM

Switch or not, if Sen. Nelson runs for re-election, Gov. Mike Johanns would beat him in a primary or a general (unless he switches, the White House invokes the incumbent protection rule and bribes Johanns with an appointment). Less likely Rep. Tom Osborne, also a shoe-in, would run--word is he'll run for Gov.

Posted by: AC at November 4, 2004 6:02 PM

Yeah, Johanns will probably beat Nelson in a general election. I'm not so sure about Nelson switching parties. I heard on the Omaha Public Radio station this morning Nelson actually saying that he would be a good candidate for president in 2008 for the Democrats because he is a person the voters in the middle can vote for and he is from the midwest. I don't think he will win but the Dems need to look for someone like him to win it in 2008.

Posted by: pchuck at November 4, 2004 9:42 PM

Nelson reminds me of Tom Bosley or Mr. Peepers - is he tough enough to stay the course as a Democrat or bold enough to switch?

Posted by: jim hamlen at November 4, 2004 11:23 PM

jim:

Phil Gramm was apparently friends with him and had him close to switching two years ago:

http://www.brothersjudd.com/blog/archives/001918.html

Posted by: oj at November 4, 2004 11:32 PM
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