Archive

Senate Control Remains a 50/50 Matter

by Stuart Rothenberg May 18, 2012 · 2:00 PM EDT

The big news over the past three months in the fight for the Senate undoubtedly was Maine Senator Olympia Snowe’s retirement, and even GOP partisans will tell you that surprise announcement threw a monkey wrench into their plans to take over the Senate in November.

But with signs that the…

2012 Senate Overview (May 18, 2012) Arizona - Michigan

May 18, 2012 · 1:59 PM EDT

ARIZONA – Open; Jon Kyl (R), not seeking reelection. August 28 primary.

Democrats are optimistic about their chances to play offense in this open seat, basing their hopes on a strong recruit in former U.S. Surgeon General (under George W. Bush) Richard Carmona, has a clear primary field. The…

2012 Senate Overview (May 18, 2012) Minnesota - Ohio

May 18, 2012 · 1:58 PM EDT

MINNESOTA – Amy Klobuchar (D), elected 2006 (58%). August 14 primary . 

Klobuchar is an excellent politician, very popular, and had $5.2 million in the bank on March 31. Pete Hegseth (R), executive director of Vets for Freedom, had $130,000. St. Bonifacius City Councilman Joe Arwood had $17 in…

2012 Senate Overview (May 18, 2012) Pennsylvania - Wyoming

May 18, 2012 · 1:57 PM EDT

PENNSYLVANIA – Bob Casey (D), elected 2006 (59%).

The party-endorsed candidate, businessman Steve Welch, was knocked off in the April GOP primary by wealthy retired coal company executive Tom Smith, who pumped personal money into the race. Sen. Casey had $5.3 million in the bank on April 4 to…

Context Often a Casualty in ‘War on Women’

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 17, 2012 · 9:40 AM EDT

If you ask a Democratic lawmaker what she had for lunch yesterday, she’d probably tell you about the Republican “war on women.”

But, as with many partisan talking points, context is often ignored in the discussion of one of Democrats’ favorite statistics.

“There have been 1,100 bills…

Nebraska Senate: Republicans Still Favored, Just With Unexpected Nominee

by Jessica Taylor May 16, 2012 · 1:07 PM EDT


In the end, it was neither the establishment candidate nor the anti-establishment candidate who can claim victory in the GOP Senate primary in Nebraska.

State Sen. Deb Fischer took 41 percent of the vote on Tuesday to win the Republican nomination and will face former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D) in…

Is Pennsylvania In Play for November? Maybe.

by Stuart Rothenberg May 16, 2012 · 9:32 AM EDT

I never include the Keystone State in my list of presidential swing states for November. Am I making a mistake? Possibly.

There are plenty of reasons to leave the commonwealth of Pennsylvania off any list of the most competitive states that will decide the next president.

While the 2000…

Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones ...

by Stuart Rothenberg May 11, 2012 · 9:20 AM EDT

Little did I know that what I figured was a relatively innocuous column about the Democrats’ problems in North Carolina, where the party will hold its national convention in early September, would generate such a flood of angry attacks.

“Dear Stuart,” emailed one man from Beulaville, N.C.,…

Indiana Primaries: Lugar Loses, House Races Come Into Focus

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 9, 2012 · 1:00 PM EDT

To loyal readers of the Rothenberg Political Report, Sen. Richard Lugar’s primary loss is not a surprise.

“Lugar is a highly-respected moderate conservative with a reputation of being willing to work across the partisan aisle to get things done. But in the current political environment,…