House Republicans get two strong recruits
House Republicans got some rare good news today as they convinced two strong candidates to jump in competitive districts. The first is the most fascinating: Mike Sodrel is back for a rematch against Democratic Rep. Baron Hill in Indiana's 9th district. This will be the fourthconsecutive election pitting Hill and Sodrel against each other. Hill won as an incumbent in 2002 before being ousted by Sodrel in 2004 in a very close election. In 2006, Hill benefited from the Democratic wave in Indiana (3 seats switched from red to blue) and took the district back. Now, Sodrel wants his job back.
Republicans are confident that the difference between 2004 and 2002/2006 was that Sodrel's victory came on a presidential year, so that the Republican benefited from the increased turn-out which is bound to help him since IN-09 is a Republican-leaning district. Thus, Republicans argue, Sodrel will once again be helped by presidential coattails in 2008 and come away with a win. Though Hill starts with the advantage of incumbency -- and 2008 looks to be as Democratic a year as 2006 was. Furthermore, will Sodrel benefit as much from presidential turnout next year if the GOP nominee does not inspire his base more first?
The second recruitment coup is in New Mexico, in the district left open by Heather Wilson's running for Senate: Sheriff Darren White will be running for the GOP. Republicans will need everything they can get in this district, which leans Democratic. Heather Wilson had won the seat in 1998 in a special election partly because the Green Party ran a candidate. Democrats are favored to win this race. In 2006, this kind of blue-leaning open seats ended up not even being competitive, as Democrats ran away with them (CO-07, IA-01...).
Meanwhile in Senate news, Lieutenant Governor Risch confirmed that he is running in the Idaho Senate race -- though we already knew he was for a few days. In the rapidly evolving New Mexico race, Rep. Pearce is likely to make his intentions known very soon (possibly tomorrow), while Lieutenant Governor Denish wants us to know she has not ruled a run out.
Republicans are confident that the difference between 2004 and 2002/2006 was that Sodrel's victory came on a presidential year, so that the Republican benefited from the increased turn-out which is bound to help him since IN-09 is a Republican-leaning district. Thus, Republicans argue, Sodrel will once again be helped by presidential coattails in 2008 and come away with a win. Though Hill starts with the advantage of incumbency -- and 2008 looks to be as Democratic a year as 2006 was. Furthermore, will Sodrel benefit as much from presidential turnout next year if the GOP nominee does not inspire his base more first?
The second recruitment coup is in New Mexico, in the district left open by Heather Wilson's running for Senate: Sheriff Darren White will be running for the GOP. Republicans will need everything they can get in this district, which leans Democratic. Heather Wilson had won the seat in 1998 in a special election partly because the Green Party ran a candidate. Democrats are favored to win this race. In 2006, this kind of blue-leaning open seats ended up not even being competitive, as Democrats ran away with them (CO-07, IA-01...).
Meanwhile in Senate news, Lieutenant Governor Risch confirmed that he is running in the Idaho Senate race -- though we already knew he was for a few days. In the rapidly evolving New Mexico race, Rep. Pearce is likely to make his intentions known very soon (possibly tomorrow), while Lieutenant Governor Denish wants us to know she has not ruled a run out.
posted by Taniel at
7:22 PM
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