Warner to Retire; Craig Expected to Resign
There was some rather big news for this last day of the news cycle before the three-day Labor Day weekend.
Senator John Warner (R-Virginia), perhaps the most respected voice on military affairs in Washington, decided to retire rather than run for a fifth term.
Major news outlets are reporting that Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho) is expected to resign from office following the disclosure of his June 11 arrest at a Minnesota airport bathroom for lewd conduct. The move would then allow Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter to appoint a replacement, likely the state’s Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch. The conventional wisdom behind the potential resignation would be to save the seat in next year’s general election. Larry LaRocco is Craig’s potential opponent in November 2008.
Also in the news, ailing White House Press Secretary Tony Snow submitted his resignation, effective mid-September.
ME-Sen: Vote Vets Releases Collins Ad
Vote Vets, the political arm of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), launched a new ad today noting that she has voted for President Bush’s Iraq policy twelve times and asks Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), “When will you put your country before politics?”
Check it out.
MN-Sen: Franken on Coleman’s Fundraiser with Bush
Al Franken, a senatorial candidate for the Democratic nomination in 2008, commented on Senator Norm Coleman’s (R-Minnesota) fundraiser with President George W. Bush this week. Franken is vying for the nomination and a chance to take back the seat of his political mentor and good friend, the late former Senator Paul Wellstone (D-Minnesota).
Check out the ad and then donate.
(Hat tip: Logan Murphy, Crooks & Liars)
TX-Sen: Rick Noriega, Called to Serve
Lt. Col. Rick Noriega, a member of the Texas House of Representatives and a netroots/grassroots drafted candidate, talks about his campaign and the call to serve in a new video.
TX-Sen: Lt. Col. Rick Noriega for U.S. Senate
Rick Noriega joined the U.S. military in 1979. This year, he is once again called to duty — this time to serve in the United States Senate. Donate.
Keep track of the race at 2008 Race Tracker and DailyKos.
Hagel Hintin’
New York Times blog, The Caucus, reports:
For months, Senator Chuck Hagel has been flirting with the idea of seeking the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. While other Republican candidates have crisscrossed the country – from Iowa to New Hampshire and back again – Mr. Hagel has largely stayed in Washington.
But his name has never fallen from the mix of prospective candidates.
We’ve just learned that on Monday, Mr. Hagel finally will make his political intentions known. Later this afternoon, he is scheduled to announce that he is holding a press conference in Omaha to “discuss his future plans.”
It’s another cryptic announcement from Mr. Hagel, whose options include:
A.) Throwing his hat into the ring for the Republican presidential nomination.
B.) Announcing his plans to seek reelection to the Senate in 2008.
C.) Stepping down from politics when his second term expires next year.
Several Nebraska Republicans close to Mr. Hagel are betting on A, but more than a few of his admirers in the Senate are betting on B.
We’ll find out Monday.
An Interview with Leonard Clark
Cliff Schecter interviewed Leonard Clark, the Iraq veteran that is launching a recall campaign against Senator John McCain (R-Arizona).
October 6, 2008