AR: Cotton, Griffin, Womack all decline upgrades

[RogueBeaver]

sh**te. Without them in the mix, looks like AR Dems can breathe easy.

http://www.chron.com/news/article/Griffin-named-to-Ways-and-Means-Committee-4080724.php

[Incipimus iterum]

interesting

[Meeker]

Woot!

[RogueBeaver]

Congrats Dems, you keep both federal offices. Was Boehner even thinking about that before appointing Griffin? After all, not 2 weeks ago all 3 of them were openly discussing upgrades with local media.

[Miles]

Well, I was hoping that the Dems could reclaim a few of these in 2014 if they were open; I guess I'll trade that for Pryor being more secure. I was never really worried about the Governor's race.

Lincoln really got a bad deal here. She had everything going against her in 2010, but Pryor was unopposed in 2008 and it looks like he'll get a second-string Republican this time.

Speaking of Lincoln, I wonder if we'll end up with one of the Republicans who ran against Boozman as the nominee this cycle. The (distant) second place finisher, Jim Holt, lost by 12 to Lincoln in 2004. I could also see Gilbert Baker running.

For the Governor's race, I've heard that Lt. Gov. Mark Darr was considering, but he was first elected in 2010 by a narrow margin. The other statewide Republican, SoS Mark Martin could also run.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Phew.

[Keystone Phil]

Congrats Dems, you keep both federal offices. Was Boehner even thinking about that before appointing Griffin? After all, not 2 weeks ago all 3 of them were openly discussing upgrades with local media.

Both federal offices? You mean both Senate seats? We have the other...

[Mr.Phips]

Well, I was hoping that the Dems could reclaim a few of these in 2014 if they were open; I guess I'll trade that for Pryor being more secure. I was never really worried about the Governor's race.

Lincoln really got a bad deal here. She had everything going against her in 2010, but Pryor was unopposed in 2008 and it looks like he'll get a second-string Republican this time.

Speaking of Lincoln, I wonder if we'll end up with one of the Republicans who ran against Boozman as the nominee this cycle. The (distant) second place finisher, Jim Holt, lost by 12 to Lincoln in 2004. I could also see Gilbert Baker running.

For the Governor's race, I've heard that Lt. Gov. Mark Darr was considering, but he was first elected in 2010 by a narrow margin. The other statewide Republican, SoS Mark Martin could also run.

People comparing Lincoln's 2010 situation to Pryor's in 2014 are delusional.  Pryor has a strong family name in Arkansas, unlike Lincoln and is a far better politician. 

[Keystone Phil]

Well, I was hoping that the Dems could reclaim a few of these in 2014 if they were open; I guess I'll trade that for Pryor being more secure. I was never really worried about the Governor's race.

Lincoln really got a bad deal here. She had everything going against her in 2010, but Pryor was unopposed in 2008 and it looks like he'll get a second-string Republican this time.

Speaking of Lincoln, I wonder if we'll end up with one of the Republicans who ran against Boozman as the nominee this cycle. The (distant) second place finisher, Jim Holt, lost by 12 to Lincoln in 2004. I could also see Gilbert Baker running.

For the Governor's race, I've heard that Lt. Gov. Mark Darr was considering, but he was first elected in 2010 by a narrow margin. The other statewide Republican, SoS Mark Martin could also run.

People comparing Lincoln's 2010 situation to Pryor's in 2014 are delusional.  Pryor has a strong family name in Arkansas, unlike Lincoln and is a far better politician. 

Lincoln was extremely popular until we got closer to 2010 though. Remember how Huckabee said it would make more sense to light his hair on fire than challenge her for her seat?

[Mr.Phips]

Well, I was hoping that the Dems could reclaim a few of these in 2014 if they were open; I guess I'll trade that for Pryor being more secure. I was never really worried about the Governor's race.

Lincoln really got a bad deal here. She had everything going against her in 2010, but Pryor was unopposed in 2008 and it looks like he'll get a second-string Republican this time.

Speaking of Lincoln, I wonder if we'll end up with one of the Republicans who ran against Boozman as the nominee this cycle. The (distant) second place finisher, Jim Holt, lost by 12 to Lincoln in 2004. I could also see Gilbert Baker running.

For the Governor's race, I've heard that Lt. Gov. Mark Darr was considering, but he was first elected in 2010 by a narrow margin. The other statewide Republican, SoS Mark Martin could also run.

People comparing Lincoln's 2010 situation to Pryor's in 2014 are delusional.  Pryor has a strong family name in Arkansas, unlike Lincoln and is a far better politician. 

Lincoln was extremely popular until we got closer to 2010 though. Remember how Huckabee said it would make more sense to light his hair on fire than challenge her for her seat?

Im trying to find her actual approval ratings from before 2010.  You have to admit that she was facing a unique situation that Pryor is unlikely to face.  What really killed her was healthcare.  She ended up getting the ire of both sides when she announced she would filibuster a healthcare bill with a public option and then ended up supporting the healthcare bill without it. 

[Keystone Phil]

Absolutely it was healthcare that led to her dive in popularity but I'm just pointing out that she was thought to be untouchable before mid to late 2009.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Absolutely it was healthcare that led to her dive in popularity but I'm just pointing out that she was thought to be untouchable before mid to late 2009.

No she wasn't. A PPP poll right after the 2008 election showed her with mediocre approval ratings, beating her nobody opponents with mid single digits and well below 50%.

[Keystone Phil]

Ok, untouchable before 2008 but still reasonably popular from the end of 2008 to 2009. One PPP poll doesn't negate that.

[hopper]

Who's running on the Dem Side for Governor: McDaniel and Mike Ross? Griffin probably would have been the only to beat any of those 2.

It would make sense that Cotton isn't looking for a promotion since he just got elected to the US House.

[Miles]

Who's running on the Dem Side for Governor: McDaniel and Mike Ross? Griffin probably would have been the only to beat any of those 2.

It would make sense that Cotton isn't looking for a promotion since he just got elected to the US House.

Ross is headed to K Street.

[hopper]

Who's running on the Dem Side for Governor: McDaniel and Mike Ross? Griffin probably would have been the only to beat any of those 2.

It would make sense that Cotton isn't looking for a promotion since he just got elected to the US House.

Ross is headed to K Street.

I thought Ross wanted to run for Governor. Oh well I guess K Street you will make more money rather than being Governor of Arkansas.

I guess McDaniel is the de facto Dem Nominee.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Who's running on the Dem Side for Governor: McDaniel and Mike Ross? Griffin probably would have been the only to beat any of those 2.

It would make sense that Cotton isn't looking for a promotion since he just got elected to the US House.

Ross is headed to K Street.

He should join forces with Evan Bayh and Joe Lieberman to form the Extraordinary League of Douchebags.

[Abolish ICE]

Who's running on the Dem Side for Governor: McDaniel and Mike Ross? Griffin probably would have been the only to beat any of those 2.

It would make sense that Cotton isn't looking for a promotion since he just got elected to the US House.

Ross is headed to K Street.

He should join forces with Evan Bayh and Joe Lieberman to form the Extraordinary League of Douchebags.

[Skill and Chance]

Well I think even generic R could be a problem here, but this is good news for Pryor while it lasts.

[Zioneer]

Thanks for helping the Dems keep the Senate, Boehner. Much appreciated.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Thanks for helping the Dems keep the Senate, Boehner. Much appreciated.

Seriously, I have a feeling that there is no love lost between Boenher and McConnell.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Reminds me of Bush appointing Mike Johanns to be Secretary of Agriculture, after receiving a memo from Karl Rove listing him as the number 1 recruitment target for the 2006 Senate elections.

[bore]

I think, with the way arkansas is going, we'll have to see polling first before we declare pryor a 3rd term senator. I don't think he's safe even against generic r.

[SPC]

Why isn't Crawford being speculated about?