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November 20, 2009 —

Southerners among GOP’s favored challengers

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) recently named its top candidates across the nation who are either challenging incumbent Democrats or running for an open seat. The NRCC’s “Young Guns” recruitment program, founded by US Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) and others, assists these non-incumbent candidates who have “built a significant campaign structure,” says the group’s news release.

The NRCC included two Southerners among its “Contenders,” i.e., candidates who have established a more advanced campaign operation. The two are Martha Roby, challenging freshman Bobby Bright (D) in Alabama 2 (Montgomery, etc.), and Dennis Ross, running for an open seat -- previously held by the GOP’s Adam Putnam -- in Florida 12 (Lakeland, etc.) In the “On the Radar” category, for candidates who have met the committee’s initial organizational goals, the list includes seven Southerners: Allen West in Florida 22, Alan Nunnelee in Mississippi 1, Lou Huddleston in North Carolina 8, Scott Desjarlais in Tennessee 4, Stephen Fincher in Tennessee 8, Scott Rigell in Virginia 2 and Keith Fimian in Virginia 11. Of interest: Two of the On-the-Radar GOPers, West and Huddleston, are African-Americans.

South Carolina: Wilson gets a no-vote

A survey of adults in eleven Southern states found that 65 percent were either opposed to or “outraged” by US Rep. Joe Wilson’s (R-SC) shouting “You lie!” to President Obama during an address to a joint session of Congress. The poll was taken Oct. 24 - Nov. 7 by Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The survey found that some 50 percent of Republicans disapproved of Wilson’s outburst, to 43 percent of GOPers who approved it. Large majorities of Democrats and independents opposed Wilson’s action. Wilson has opposition from Marine Corps veteran Rob Miller in next year’s General Election. Both Miller and Wilson raised substantial sums of money in response to the incident. Wilson remains favored for re-election.

Texas: Sessions gets a challenge from the right

NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX) has drawn opposition in the March primary. David Smith, a corporate accountant and TEA (Taxed Enough Already?) Party activist, is challenging the seventh-term congressman, contending that the NRCC chairman’s support for moderate Republican Deirdre Scozzafava in the recent special congressional election in New York’s 23^rd District brings into question his conservative credentials. Sessions, who has the backing of most of the Dallas-area GOP organization, is a heavy favorite, but it is nevertheless a contest he would rather not face. Smith’s candidacy is one of a number of challenges originating in the grassroots TEA Party movement. The winner of the GOP nomination will face Democrat Grier Raggio, a family law attorney, in the General Election.

North Carolina: Etheridge turns down Senate bid

Seven-term US Rep. Bob Etheridge (D) announced last week that he will not challenge US Sen. Richard Burr (R) next year, a disappointment to both Tar Heel and DC Democratic leaders, who view Burr as vulnerable. Etheridge gave as his reason that his seat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee represents an important resource for North Carolina. Etheridge is the third prominent Democrat to consider then reject a bid against Burr, whose approval ratings are poor. Two other Democrats, however, have already announced, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and Chapel Hill attorney Ken Lewis. Two other Democrats are still pondering a senate bid, former Lt. Gov. Dennis Wicker and Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy.  

North Carolina: Perdue rebounds, but…

Gov. Beverly Perdue (D-NC), lagging in the polls almost since she took office, made a comeback in late October, with her approval rating gaining 14 points over a survey taken earlier in the month. The poll, taken by the Civitas Institute on October 20-21, showed that 43 percent of residents approve of Perdue’s performance in office, compared with 29 percent in the earlier survey. The bad news, however, is that even in the later and more favorable poll, more respondents -- 49 percent -- still disapprove of her performance.