2006 Top Targets: Governorships

[displacedyankeedem]

1. Tim Pawlenty (Minnseota): The MN GOP lost pretty badly on the state level getting drubbed in both the State House and Senate Races. It is an important target because having a Dem gov will make the state much easier to win in 2008.
Probable Opposition: State Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson (the anti-Norm Coleman)

2.Mitt Romney (Massachusetts): Time for the local level Dems(read House Leader Tom Finneran) to pull their head out of the sand and kill this guy in the cradle before he becomes a national level problem.
Probable Opposition: Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich

3. Bob Erlich (Maryland): Yet another Governor who could become a national level problem. Let's kill him in his political cradle too and replace him with a strong dynamic leader in....
Probable Opposition: Baltimore Mayor Martin O' Malley

[rndmprsn]

1. Ehrlich days are numbered...

o'malley is going to wipe the floor with him...it was sinclair broadcasting (based in owings mills MD) that help get him elected and the truth is now out about them, and there is organized resistance to them...o'malley is a very popular mayor (i live in baltimore MD) and i for one will be in the front lines of that battle...bring it on.

[displacedyankeedem]

2. good to hear

[LTR]

3. What about Arnold?

The golden boy losing California would hurt the GOP bad.

[NewJeffCT]

4. Connecticut should be a prime target in '06 as well

Jodi Rell (former LT Governor) replaced the disgraced John Rowland earlier this year when Bush family friend Rowland resigned. Amazingly, she claims to have known nothing about the pervasive corruption going on around her all the time she was Lt Governor. So, she is either lying or blind.

Our Democrats control the State House by 99-53 and the State Senate by 24-12. We picked up seats in both houses this week, including beating the Republican Senate Minority Leader

Right now, the Lt Governor is a Democrat (moved up from the legislature) and a few high profile Dems have put their names out there, including Sec of State Susan Bysiewicz & New Haven mayor John DiStefano. The big fish in this pond is State Atty General Richard Blumenthal, long a well known figure in the state, and sort of a mini version of Spitzer.

Question now is whether or not Rell runs again in '06, or if somebody like Rob Simmons or Nancy Johnson steps up for the Dark Side.

[DaveinMD]

5. I've heard that

Chris Dodd may run for governor.

[NewJeffCT]

6. Dodd could sleepwalk to the win

And then John Larson (D-1st district) can run to take his seat...

[Justice]

7. I would like to see Dodd or Blumenthal

I don't see Sec of State Susan Bysiewicz winning. She does not have the stature in my view.

I have always liked New Haven mayor John DiStefano, but I don't know if he can win.

I would love to see a bigger name - like Dodd or Blumenthal run. Blumenthal has had other chances but always passes.

[aldian159]

8. Good post

Three winnable races indeed.

I would love for Mark Warner to run against George Allen in 2006 for the Senate. It would be a great victory for the Dems.

[Touchdown]

9. Bill Owens (Colorado) is term limited in 2006

Tuesday, the Dems took over the legislature, both house and Senate. Owens was the first GOP governor in a long time. We can take back the governorship here, if we get party support and a decent gubenatorial candidate. Rolly Heath in 2002 had no money, and no support from the national Dem party. Owens is a Bush cronie, and had a massive warchest. He has been wispered as a future Prez groomee...although he is separated from his wife now. He is even more disgusting to look at then Bush.



The national party and especially Kerry paid attention to our square stae this year, and made great strides towards turning our state blue, despite Colorado Springs. Next time could be the one. Don't give up on us. we're not as red as you think.

[DaveinMD]

14. Rutt Bridges

who runs the Big Horn Center is the candidate to watch in this race.

[cally]

10. Don't forget Arnie (Calif.)

He's up for re-election in 2006.

[MsTryska]

11. What's the deal with Jeb? Is he Florida Governor for Life?

he needs to get got and get got good.

[WI_DEM]

12. Also Florida, we must win back Florida.

[DCal]

13. GOP Open seats: NY, OH, AR, NV

NY: Pataki is retiring. Elliot Spitzer is probably going to run.

OH: Taft is term-limited. Scandals in Ohio GOP and job losses give Democrats a shot. Not sure who would run (no Dem in statewide office).

AR: Huckabee is term-limited. Wes Clark has been mentioned on these boards as a possibility.

NV: Guinn is term-limited. Not sure who would run, perhaps Att Gen Franke Sue Del Papa.

Lots of good opportunities out there.

[MallRat]

15. Top two targets: Bob Taft (OH) and Jeb Bush (FL).

They're both up in 2006.

We need to regain control of the governorships in every battleground state we possibly can. Same thing with secretaries of state.

If Glenda Hood and Ken Blackwell weren't running this election in their respective states, we wouldn't be talking about BBV... WE'D BE FIXING IT.

Democratic state executives = NO GOP VOTING FRAUD.

-MR