Mark Warner is in the Virginia race, and out of VP consideration
It was only two weeks ago that GOP Senator John Warner announced he would not run for re-election. I wrote at the time that the big question was now whether former Governor Mark Warner (no relation with John) would run to replace him. Polls yesterday showed Warner would start the race with an overwhelming advantage.
Well, we didn't have to wait for long. Mark Warner is set to announce tomorrow morning that he is running for Senate in 2008! This also means that Mark Warner is no longer on the list of potential vice-presidential picks for the Democratic party's nominee next year. Warner will be running in a crucial battle for the Senate at the time the nominee will have to decide his VP, and there is no way Democrats would cede this seat to Republicans by taking Warner out of the Senate race.
This new development adds to the Republican angst over the 2008 Senate picture. Robert Novak's weekly column reveals the extent of the GOP's pessimism.
Novak ponders the possibility here of the GOP losing eight Senate seats in 2008 (which would put Democrats on the brink of a 60 seat filibuster-proof majority. Later in the column, he summarizes the state of the Nebraska race: "If Kerrey passes, this seat leans strongly to Republicans. If it's Kerrey vs. Johanns, it will be a clash of the titans. If it's Kerrey against anybody else, this will probably will be another lost GOP seat. Leaning Democratic Takeover." And he also breaks with conventional wisdom by suggesting that even if Johnson were to retire, Democratic Rep. Stephanie Herseth would have to be considered the favorite to win the open Senate seat.
Democrats have been waiting for decisions from three major figures: Mark Warner, Bob Kerrey in Nebraska and Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire. (Swing State Project has a detailed list of everyone who could still jump in different races). One is now in, and the two others should make their intentions clear in the next few weeks.
Well, we didn't have to wait for long. Mark Warner is set to announce tomorrow morning that he is running for Senate in 2008! This also means that Mark Warner is no longer on the list of potential vice-presidential picks for the Democratic party's nominee next year. Warner will be running in a crucial battle for the Senate at the time the nominee will have to decide his VP, and there is no way Democrats would cede this seat to Republicans by taking Warner out of the Senate race.
This new development adds to the Republican angst over the 2008 Senate picture. Robert Novak's weekly column reveals the extent of the GOP's pessimism.
The decision not to run by Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) now raises to five the possible losses of Senate seats by Republicans. Democrats also are targeting Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) for a sixth seat. If 2008 turns into a Democratic landslide, Senators Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) and even Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) could be in danger.
Novak ponders the possibility here of the GOP losing eight Senate seats in 2008 (which would put Democrats on the brink of a 60 seat filibuster-proof majority. Later in the column, he summarizes the state of the Nebraska race: "If Kerrey passes, this seat leans strongly to Republicans. If it's Kerrey vs. Johanns, it will be a clash of the titans. If it's Kerrey against anybody else, this will probably will be another lost GOP seat. Leaning Democratic Takeover." And he also breaks with conventional wisdom by suggesting that even if Johnson were to retire, Democratic Rep. Stephanie Herseth would have to be considered the favorite to win the open Senate seat.
Democrats have been waiting for decisions from three major figures: Mark Warner, Bob Kerrey in Nebraska and Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire. (Swing State Project has a detailed list of everyone who could still jump in different races). One is now in, and the two others should make their intentions clear in the next few weeks.
posted by Taniel at
8:25 PM
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