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April 6, 2009 — Tennessee: Auto crisis puts Corker in spotlight

President Obama’s firing of General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner has brought US Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) into a leading role in the GOP’s response to White House economic policy. The administration’s latest GM move is “a marked departure from the past, truly breathtaking, and should send a chill through all Americans who believe in free enterprise,” Corker said in a press release. He noted that under Obama’s plans, the president would determine which GM plants would close and which would stay open, leaving the process open to political manipulation. Corker, only two years into his Senate term, is now the GOP’s “expert on business and an emerging star,” says Washington’s The Hill newspaper.

Mississippi: Mabus tapped for Navy post

President Obama has appointed former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus (D) Secretary of the Navy. Mabus, who served as the Magnolia State’s chief executive from 1988 to 1992, was an ardent supporter of Obama during the recent campaign, making some 300 campaign stops for him across the country. This is Mabus’ second high-level appointment by a Democratic president; he served as ambassador to Saudi Arabia in the Clinton Administration. On the negative side, Mabus’ messy 1998 divorce has received some attention -- i.e., in the New York Times -- because Mabus, on his lawyer’s advice, arranged to tape a meeting between his wife, the family priest and himself, which he used in the child custody proceedings. But the appointment has been well-received in Mississippi. Mabus has the support of both of the state’s US senators, Republicans Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker. And writing in the Hattiesburg American, veteran journalist Sid Salter noted, “Mississippi is a shipbuilding state. Northrop Grumman remains one of the state’s major employers and building ships for the U.S. Navy has been part of that company’s core mission.” Mabus is one of only a few Southern Democrats who have received high-level appointments in the Obama Administration.

Kentucky: Republican Senate Race Roiling

Embattled US Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) got some good news and gave out some bad news last week. On the upside for the two-term lawmaker, Bunning won an endorsement from US Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY), who now represents the same district -- the 4th (Ashland, etc.) -- that Bunning once held. On the downside, Bunning has told the Kentucky media that his fundraising is suffering, probably a prelude to disappointing numbers that will be revealed in his 1^st Qtr financial reports, due out April 15.  The poor fundraising is a blow to Bunning’s re-election prospects, which are already on shaky ground. State Senate President David Williams has said he may run for Bunning’s seat, even if it means a primary challenge. Signaling additional votes of “no confidence” in Bunning’s electability, a number of other GOPers are letting it be known that they might run if Bunning steps down,. They include Secretary of State Trey Grayson, US Rep. Edward Whitfield (R-KY), and Rand Paul, son of Texas Congressman Ron Paul (R), a sometime presidential candidate. Rand Paul, named for 1960s libertarian author (“Atlas Shrugged”) Ayn Rand, is president of the Kentucky Taxpayers Association and is already speaking around the state.

Kentucky: Democratic Senate Race Stirring

Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear has announced his support for the Senate candidacy of his lieutenant governor, Dan Mongiardo, who lost to Bunning by 1.4% in 2004. Beshear’s endorsement may offer some discouragement to several potential Democratic contenders waiting in the wings, including US Rep. Ben Chandler, state Attorney General Jack Conway and state Auditor Crit Luallen.

US Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) announced that he will not run for governor of Oklahoma next year, but will seek re-election to Congress instead.  That leaves US Rep. Mary Fallin (R-OK) as the major GOPer in the race, although at least two others are being talked about, former US Rep. J. C. Watts (R-OK) and state Sen. Randy Brogdon (R). Cole’s withdrawal has increased speculation that Watts will run, as the two are good friends and unlikely to oppose each other. On the Democratic side, Lt. Gov. Jari Askins has announced her candidacy for governor and state Attorney General Drew Edmondson is likely to run also.