Week of November 22, 2005
Missouri Senate race tighter than tight, according to new poll
McCaskill up by two, with edge among unaffiliated voters
Democratic challenger Claire McCaskill is two points ahead of GOP Sen. Jim Talent in the 2006 race for his Senate seat, according to a Nov. 9 poll by the independent polling firm Rasmussen Reports. McCaskill is favored by 47 percent of Missouri voters to Talent's 45 percent, with the independent-minded state auditor polling seven points ahead of Talent among critical unaffiliated voters. The same poll found that 55 percent of Missouri voters disapprove of Bush's performance -- a stark turnaround in a state that voted for Bush over Sen. John Kerry by 53 to 46 percent in Nov. 2004.
Bush to stump for Senate candidate Kennedy in Minnesota
Klobuchar stands up to energy lobby, fights gasoline price-gouging
Cong. Mark Kennedy will get a fundraising boost on Dec. 9 when President Bush comes to Minnesota to raise money for Kennedy's Senate bid. The $1,000-a-plate luncheon (which includes a photo op for $10,000 donors) will further Kennedy's effort to take over retiring Democrat Mark Dayton's U.S. Senate seat. The Democratic frontrunner is EMILY's List-endorsed candidate Amy Klobuchar, who represents nearly one-fourth of the state as Hennepin County attorney.
While Kennedy fills his coffers, Klobuchar is proposing real solutions to help Minnesotans, unveiling a comprehensive energy plan at a major speech at the University of Minnesota on Nov. 14. Noting that big oil companies are raking in record profits while consumers pay record-high prices, Klobuchar called on Congress to protect consumers by imposing penalties on big oil companies that engage in price gouging. She said oil companies should be required to use their enormous profits to provide relief for consumers and to make greater investments in renewable energy. Klobuchar launched radio and Internet ads promoting her plan. "This issue isn't just about energy," she said. "It's about innovation, new priorities and determined, visionary leadership to get our country moving in the right direction. It's about solutions for people – for a change."
Eager Stabenow opponent declares bid
Strongly anti-choice church founder and millionaire Rev. Keith Butler, hoping to get the jump on GOP rivals, became the first candidate to submit the required paperwork to run against Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow in Michigan's upcoming 2006 U.S. Senate race. Butler filed 30,000 signatures of support with Michigan election officials on Nov. 14. "I am not aware of any other candidate for statewide office filing their petitions in the year before the election," Butler said, distinguishing himself from primary rivals Jerry Zandstra and Michael Bouchard, a GOP favorite who re-entered the race on Oct. 31.
Cantwell secures commitment from big oil companies for customer fairness
Sen. Maria Cantwell turned up the heat on oil companies that took in a record $100 billion in profits this year while consumers paid record prices to buy fuel for their homes and cars. Cantwell used her clout as a member of both the Senate Energy and the Senate Commerce Committees to pressure executives from Exxon/Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, BP, and Shell to publicly release their accounting records. Bowing to Cantwell's demands, executives finally agreed to her request at a committee hearing on Nov. 9.
Cantwell has a proven record of fighting big business attempts to defraud American consumers in Washington state and across the country. Most recently, she quashed Enron's efforts to squeeze $122 million in "termination payments" associated with Enron's contract with Washington's Snohomish County Public Utility District as part of the failed energy giant's bankruptcy action. "Consumers who have already been victimized by Enron's massive mugging won't become the deep pockets for its bankruptcy," Cantwell said.
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius decries anti-evolution standards
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius spoke out on Nov. 8 against the Kansas Board of Education's decision to adopt anti-evolution teaching standards for public schools. Calling the vote "the latest in a series of troubling decisions" by the state board, Sebelius said, "If we're going to continue to bring high-tech jobs to Kansas and move our state forward, we need to strengthen science standards, not weaken them." Sebelius has emphasized the importance of electing school board representatives who will promote Kansas values and advocate science instruction: "Stronger public schools ought to be the mission of the Board of Education, and it's time they got down to the real business of strengthening Kansas schools."
Sebelius is encouraging voters to pay close attention to the views of their local school board members. Her comments follow the recent (and promising) ousting of eight school board members in Dover, Penn., who voted to include "intelligent design" as part of the school district's science curriculum.
Attorney on path to claim New York House seat for Democrats
Trial attorney Judy Aydelott has raised more than $200,000 since Labor Day in her campaign to unseat six-term GOP Rep. Sue Kelly (N.Y. 19). Aydelott declared her candidacy in early October after attending an EMILY's List training seminar in late August. A former Republican, Aydelott became a Democrat in 2004. Balancing the budget -- and balancing the unfair distribution of power in Washington -- are among Aydelott's top issue priorities. "One party rule, without the normal checks and balances, encourages an environment of hubris, arrogance and misuse of power," she says. Her strong fundraising indicates she presents a formidable challenge to one-party rule in Washington.