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Grits
By Hastings Wyman
Southern Political Report
November 21, 2008 — NRCC: Sessions (TX) Replaces Cole (OK) US Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) was elected the new chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee on Wednesday, following the surprise decision of incumbent Tom Cole (R-OK) to withdraw from what had been a spirited contest between the two. Sessions had the backing of House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and his victory signaled that Boehner now has solid control over the GOP leadership in the House. Sessions, who represents a Dallas district, is a good fundraiser; he is the son of William Sessions, who headed the FBI during the Reagan Administration. Cole, a former political consultant, withdrew after realizing Sessions had the votes. Cole issued a statement that concluded, “As a new team takes the reigns of this Committee next year, I look forward to helping make their transition seamless.” Louisiana: Carmouche, Fleming in Close Race Recent surveys show a highly competitive race for Louisiana’s 4th District (Shreveport, etc.) congressional race between District Attorney Paul Carmouche (D) and physician/businessman (Subway sandwich shops) John Fleming (R). Carmouche released a poll showing him leading by a substantial 48% to 37%; the survey was taken for Carmouche November 18-19 by the Kitchens Group (D). But two other polls, one taken for Fleming and the other a SurveyUSA poll taken for Roll Call newspaper, showed a much closer race, with Fleming leading by one point in each poll. This is an open seat, occasioned by the retirement of US Rep. Jim McCrery (R), who backed third-place finisher Jeff Thompson (R) in the primary. McCrery has so far not campaigned for Fleming. Both national parties have been heavily involved in the campaign. The NRCC has spent some $435,000 on behalf of Fleming; the DCCC has spent $426,000 for Carmouche. The election is on December 6. Alabama: Cooper for Congress? If 6th District (Birmingham) US Rep. Artur Davis (D) runs for governor of Alabama in 2010, as expected, look for prominent Birmingham attorney Patrick Cooper (D) to make a major bid for Davis’s congressional seat. Cooper ran for mayor of Birmingham in 2007 and finished second in a 10-candidate race, coming within 170 votes -- out of 52,111 cast -- of forcing a runoff. Davis and Cooper are cut out of the same cloth. Both are African Americans and are highly successful, with strong ties to the city’s business community. Davis graduated from Harvard, Cooper from Yale. Cooper’s father, a two-star general, was ambassador to Jamaica. North Carolina: Women Hold Six of Ten Posts on Council of State Not only did Tar Heel voters elect Beverly Perdue (D) the state’s first woman governor, but they chose five other women to serve in executive positions in state government, giving women a 6-to-4 majority on the Council of State. In addition to Perdue, Janet Cowell (D) is state treasurer, Beth Wood (D) is state auditor, Elaine Marshall (D) is secretary of state, June Atkinson is superintendent of public instruction, and Cherie Berry (R) is labor commissioner. The council has eight Democrats, including the governor, and two Republicans. Florida: Cardenas Helping Hispanic GOPers Analyze 2008 Al Cardenas, a Cuban-American and an influential former chairman of the Florida Republican Party, is among a group of some 20 conservative Latino leaders from across the nation who are examining the their party’s 2008 loss among Hispanic voters. Much of the discussion, which according to The Hill newspaper will be on-going over the next few weeks, is focusing on the recent debate on immigration issues, which united part of the Republican base, but offended many Latino voters. In Florida, for example, in 2004, President Bush won 56% of the Hispanic vote -- comprised of both Cuban-Americans and other immigrants from Latin America -- to John Kerry’s 44%. But in 2008, the numbers reversed, with Barack Obama winning 57% of Florida’s Hispanic vote to John McCain’s 42%. As a result, Obama carried Florida, a major blow to McCain. |
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