2008 Candidates to be Excited About

[DownWithTheLeft]

Here is my list of 2008 for Republicans and Democrats to get excited about:

Republicans:

1.) Chris Christie

The well-respected, incredibly intelligent US Atty who has prosecuted more Republicans than Democrats.  He has more experience than Tom Kean Jr. and more intelligence in his left pinky.  Certainly if he can build name recog should be able to defeat Sen. Lautenberg

2.) Denny Rehburg/Marc Racicot

Either one of these guys is incredibly popular in a state that enjoys mixed government.  Sure, Schweitzer will on the top of the ticket but a Republican for president will be on top of that.

3.) Bobby Jindal

Sadly, Jindal will probably run and succeed for governor in 2007, if he doesn't the well-respected congressman should give Landrieu a run for her money.

4.) Mike Rounds

The popular governor of SD should be able to unseat Tim Johnson in a presidential year the same way Thune was able to unseat the more popular, more powerful Tom Daschle.

Potential Candidates I personally love:
Bill Owens (CO), Tom Tancredo (CO), Mike Ferguson (NJ), John Boozman (AR)

Democrats

1.) Mark Udall

If Wayne Allard does not retire, assuming he can overcome the Mormon issue Udall should be a shoo-in to defeat Allard.  He would face an uphill battle against popular Fmr. Gov. Bill Owens

2.) Kathleen Sebelius

The popular governor of Kansas should have a good shot if Pat Roberts decides to call it quits.

3.) Mark Warner

Considering the fact he opted against running for president, one is to assume Mark Warner should be in line for the 2008 senate seat of retiring Senator John Warner.

Who are you excited about? (Let's remember a lot of us were excited about Mark Kennedy)

[Adlai Stevenson]

Here is my list of 2008 for Republicans and Democrats to get excited about:

Republicans:

1.) Chris Christie

The well-respected, incredibly intelligent US Atty who has prosecuted more Republicans than Democrats.  He has more experience than Tom Kean Jr. and more intelligence in his left pinky.  Certainly if he can build name recog should be able to defeat Sen. Lautenberg

2.) Denny Rehburg/Marc Racicot

Either one of these guys is incredibly popular in a state that enjoys mixed government.  Sure, Schweitzer will on the top of the ticket but a Republican for president will be on top of that.

3.) Bobby Jindal

Sadly, Jindal will probably run and succeed for governor in 2007, if he doesn't the well-respected congressman should give Landrieu a run for her money.

4.) Mike Rounds

The popular governor of SD should be able to unseat Tim Johnson in a presidential year the same way Thune was able to unseat the more popular, more powerful Tom Daschle.

Potential Candidates I personally love:
Bill Owens (CO), Tom Tancredo (CO), Mike Ferguson (NJ), John Boozman (AR)

Democrats

1.) Mark Udall

If Wayne Allard does not retire, assuming he can overcome the Mormon issue Udall should be a shoo-in to defeat Allard.  He would face an uphill battle against popular Fmr. Gov. Bill Owens

2.) Kathleen Sebelius

The popular governor of Kansas should have a good shot if Pat Roberts decides to call it quits.

3.) Mark Warner

Considering the fact he opted against running for president, one is to assume Mark Warner should be in line for the 2008 senate seat of retiring Senator John Warner.

Who are you excited about? (Let's remember a lot of us were excited about Mark Kennedy)

Arkansas Republicans might have a better shot in 2008. That state is overwhelmingly Democratic, and since 2006 was a Democratic year, Republicans got hit hard there!

Mike Huckabee would be the favorite to unseat Pyror.

I think Pryor's going to stay around for a while in Arkansas.  He defeated a Republican incumbent in 2002 by eight points, 54%-46% and is more popular than Blanche Lincoln because he is more conservative.  In 2008 I do not think he will have a problem getting re-elected, Arkansas as a state has a very strong local Democratic organisation. 

[poughies]

Arkansas has a great state organization as said already.... now only if the Dems would nominate someone who would campaign and possibly win there...... for president that is.... Pryor has got a good shot at staying put.

[7,052,770]

Mike Moore

[Deano963]

Mike Moore

I am constantly hearing about his guy, but is he ever actually going to run for office unless an incumbent Senator or Governor retires?

[DownWithTheLeft]

Mike Moore

I am constantly hearing about his guy, but is he ever actually going to run for office unless an incumbent Senator or Governor retires?

Idk, simply for the fact that Thad Cochran and Trent Lott are incredibly popular.  He has a shot to unseat Barbour, but I highly doubt he could unseat either of the two popular incumbents in a heavily red state

[7,052,770]

Mike Moore

I am constantly hearing about his guy, but is he ever actually going to run for office unless an incumbent Senator or Governor retires?

nah, he apparently has no balls.

Problem is if Cochran doesn't retire in '08, then he'll be old news by 2012.  That's why I hope he runs for governor next year.

[Gustaf]

Pryor looks very safe and Johnson is safe unless Rounds runs (and I would view Johnson as the slight favourite even then). He beat Thune, after all, as a freshman and got elected through defeating an incumbent, a pretty good result for an SD Democrat.

[TheresNoMoney]

Mark Udall and Tom Udall

[Deano963]

Mark Udall and Tom Udall

Did you know that they are cousins? I didn't know that until yesterday when I was on Wikipedia. Apparently Gordon Smith is a cousin of theirs as well.

[Kevin]

In concerns to Mark Warner I storngly belive he isn't going to run for Senate in 08 because he said in a couple of interviews that the Senate wasn't for him. However I belive that Warner would be a good for the job of heading the DNC. 

[TheresNoMoney]

Did you know that they are cousins?

Yes, I knew. The Udalls are one of the most prominent political families in the United States, as Mark's father Mo ran for president in 1976 and Tom's father Stewart was Secretary of the Interior in the 1960's.

[Keystone Phil]

I'm hoping for Rounds and Rehberg but I am worried that their respective opponents are popular enough to survive.

I also want to know why we are talking about people unseating Pryor. Isn't he insanely popular?

[Soaring Eagle]

I'm hoping for Rounds and Rehberg but I am worried that their respective opponents are popular enough to survive.

I also want to know why we are talking about people unseating Pryor. Isn't he insanely popular?

I doubt Rehberg could beat Baucus. He already tried and failed in 1996.

[Keystone Phil]

I doubt Rehberg could beat Baucus. He already tried and failed in 1996.

It was a close one (49% - 45%). I think Denny can make up those four points over the twelve years. 

[Deano963]

I'm hoping for Rounds and Rehberg but I am worried that their respective opponents are popular enough to survive.

I also want to know why we are talking about people unseating Pryor. Isn't he insanely popular?

I doubt Rehberg could beat Baucus. He already tried and failed in 1996.

Yeh, and also isn't Baucus on his fourth term on fairly popular?? It is early yes, but I see no reason at all at this point for Republicans to be getting their hopes up about unseating Baucus.

[socaldem]

I doubt Rehberg could beat Baucus. He already tried and failed in 1996.

It was a close one (49% - 45%). I think Denny can make up those four points over the twelve years. 

Yeah, but why would he take on Baucus when he could wait 4 more years and have a better shot at Tester?

Consider the following analogies:

Montana:North Dakota:South Dakota
Baucus:Conrad:Johnson
Tester:Dorgan:Daschle.

I love my Northern Plains state Democrats but as the above relationships show, if a GOPer is to take out a Democrat in these states they go after the liberal-populist not the more conservative senator.

Baucus, Conrad, and Johnson are locks.  Dorgan & Tester could face close challenges though they'd still be even money for reelection.

[Adlai Stevenson]

Rehberg has a seat on the Appropriations Committee, a sign that he may be settling in for a long House career. 

[Virginian87]

Pryor looks very safe and Johnson is safe unless Rounds runs (and I would view Johnson as the slight favourite even then). He beat Thune, after all, as a freshman and got elected through defeating an incumbent, a pretty good result for an SD Democrat.

And he won against Thune in 2002 of all elections, a very good year for the Repubicans.  Pryor did as well.  If they can win in states like South Dakota and Arkansas in years like that, then I certainly see both of them winning in 2008.

Personally, I don't think Rounds or Huckabee would risk it to run against either of them.  Both might be trying for the presidency anyway.