For Immediate Release
Feb 15, 2004

Week of February 15, 2004

SC-Sen: Beasley joins the race

Following months of speculation, former Gov. David Beasley (R) has entered the race for South Carolina's open U.S. Senate seat. Beasley was denied a second term as governor by Gov. Jim Hodges (D) in 1998. In his announcement speech, Beasley said he is running to support President Bush's agenda. Beasley enters a crowded Republican primary field after much encouragement by establishment Republicans who believe he is the best candidate to run against state Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum, who has locked up the Democratic nomination.

PA-13: One of the costliest primaries of the year

Pennsylvania's 13th District, an open House seat, is shaping up to be one of the most expensive House races of the cycle. Democrat Allyson Schwartz faces a tough primary in just nine weeks against Joe Torsella, a proven fundraiser with a large war chest. Schwartz must win the April 27 primary to defend this swing seat from a Republican takeover.

Schwartz gained a huge advantage over Torsella last week when she announced her endorsement by 14 unions. This union support provides a key advantage for Schwartz in the primary, where victory will hinge on voter turnout.

SD-AL: Republicans choose a candidate

In a poll released this week by KELOLAND-TV and the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, Democrat Stephanie Herseth has a 29-point lead over her opponent, state Sen. Larry Diedrich (R), in the June 1 special election for South Dakota's at-large House seat. The poll shows Herseth with 58 percent of the vote to 29 percent for the anti-choice Diedrich, with only 13 percent undecided (conducted 2/5-7; 800 likely voters; margin of error 3.5). While the news is good, political analyst Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report suggested cautious optimism. "With the election four months away, Diedrich can still make it a close race," Walter said. "There's enough time to go in, define himself, define her and define this race" (KELO-TV, 2/11). South Dakota is a huge state, so Herseth needs considerable resources to deliver her message to voters in every corner of the state, defeat Diedrich in the June 1 special election, and become the next pro-choice Democratic woman in the U.S. House.

OR-05: Hooley gains a Democratic challenger

Radio and television executive Andrew Kaza has announced he is running against Rep. Darlene Hooley in Oregon's May 18 Democratic primary. Kaza has changed party registration several times -- from Republican to Pacific Green and finally back to Democrat last summer. Kaza declined to say how much money he plans to raise at his announcement, but said he plans to mount a competitive campaign against Hooley. Two anti-choice Republicans, state Sen. Jackie Winters and businessman Jim Zupancic, are campaigning to challenge Hooley for this swing seat in November.