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November 10, 2008 — Republican Leadership Shakeup

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who won a close (53%-47%) re-election battle, and House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) are expected to keep their leadership posts in the new Congress. But others have already resigned, or are facing competition for their jobs. US Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) says he won’t seek re-election to his number two post. US Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), a rising GOP mover-and-shaker, is expected to succeed Blunt. US Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL), deemed an up-and-coming young (34) leader of the GOP, quickly stepped down as chairman of the House Republican Conference; he is likely to be replaced by US Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX). And the battle to head up the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has already begun, with Boehner publicly endorsing US Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) for the job, after current chair US Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) announced he would seek re-election to the post. In Cole’s favor, GOP losses in US House races were less than many observers expected.

GOPers’ Calamity Cures

US Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) blamed GOP losses in the House and Senate on “a failure of Republicans to keep their conservative promises.” He also said that “Republicans must admit the Wall Street bailouts were a trillion-dollar bust, and immediately fight for free-market solutions.” US Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), in a statement on the day after the election, praised both John McCain and Barack Obama and said his party “would be wise” to accept the President-elect’s offer to work together. He added, however, “Had the Republican Party not governed as the party of socialism-lite for the past 12 years, our candidates’ concerns about the excessive spending on the other side would have had more relevance.” Another Southerner, US Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) urged his party to “put partisanship aside as we try to solve the many challenges facing our country.”

Democrats Lead in Three “Too-Close-to-Call” US House Races

On election night, three congressional races in the South were so close that a winner had not been called. In two of those, Democrats have been declared the victors. In Alabama 2 (Dothan, etc.), Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright (D) defeated state Rep. Jay Love (R) by 50.3% to 49.7%, with a margin of 1,766 votes. Love conceded the race to Bright and will not request a recount…..In Virginia 2 (Virginia Beach, etc.), former diplomat Glenn Nye (D) has a 52% to 48% lead, with a margin of 7,916 votes, over two-termer Thelma Drake (R). Although news organizations have given Nye the nod, Drake has not yet conceded because some 26,000 early and absentee votes have yet to be counted. (SPR also gives Nye the nod, believing an 18,000/R-8,000/D split in the uncounted votes is unlikely.)…..Finally, in Virginia 5 (Charlottesville, etc.), civil rights lawyer Tom Perriello (D) had 158,523 votes (50.1%), according to the State Board of Elections at 4:15pm on Thursday, to US Rep. Virgil Goode’s (R) 157,894 (49.9%), a lead of 629 votes. The Board will certify the results on November 24, at which point the losing candidate can request a recount. Goode has so far not conceded.

2010 Already

US Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) still hasn’t committed to a campaign for governor in 2010, though she is widely expected to run, even if she has to run in a primary against Gov. Rick Perry (R), who says he will seek re-election…..Two Florida Democrats are getting mentioned as potential opponents for US Sen. Mel Martinez (R): State Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink (D) and state House Minority Leader Dan Gelber (D). Obama’s 51-48 victory in the Sunshine State makes the Democratic nomination more valuable…..No one’s come forward yet, but observers expect major opposition for US Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) in two years, possibly in the primary as well as the General Election. Vitter got a lot of bad publicity in 2007 for frequenting prostitutes…..Another Republican US Senator likely to be on the Democrats’ short list in 2010 is Jim Bunning, who was re-elected with a slim 51% in 2006. Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo (D), Bunning’s foe four years ago, is a likely contender for the Democratic nomination. There is also speculation that Bunning, who will be 79 in two years, will retire…..US Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK), however, has poured water on speculation that he might run for governor of the Sooner State in 2010, when Gov. Brad Henry (D) will be term-limited.  Boren, a moderate Democrat, indicated he will stay in the US House…..But three-term US Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL), a pro-business (Chamber of Commerce rating 73%) African American and early supporter of Obama, may run for governor of Alabama.

Social Conservatives, Where Are You When We Need You?

The Miami Herald reports that residents of Caliente Resorts, a nudist colony north of Tampa, want to set up a clothing-optional polling site.