The Ledes

Wednesday, June 19, 2013.

New York Daily News: "James Gandolfini, the New Jersey-bred actor who delighted audiences as mob boss Tony Soprano in 'The Sopranos' has died following a massive heart attack in Italy, a source told the Daily News." ...

     ... Update: Gandolfini's New York Times obituary is here.

Washington Post: "Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday suspended negotiations with Washington over a security agreement that would regulate the presence of U.S. troops here beyond 2014, apparently angered by the U.S.-backed initiative to start formal peace talks with the Taliban in Qatar." ...

     ... New York Times Update: "In a diplomatic scramble to keep alive the possibility of peace talks with the Taliban, American officials on Wednesday pressed the insurgents to backtrack on their effort to present themselves as essentially an alternative government at the office they opened Tuesday in Qatar, Afghan officials said."

AP: "Al-Qaida-linked militants detonated multiple bomb blasts and breached the main U.N. compound in Mogadishu, [Somalia,] on Wednesday, sparking gun battles with security forces that killed at least 12 people. U.N. personnel who reached the compound's secure bunker all survived, though officials hinted not all reached that bunker."

Reuters: " A lone, silent vigil by a man in Istanbul inspired copycat protests on Tuesday, as police detained dozens of people across Turkey in an operation linked to three weeks of often violent demonstrations against Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. Overnight in Ankara, riot police used teargas and water cannon to disperse hundreds of people who had gathered in and around the government quarter of Kizilay. But in stark contrast to the recent fierce clashes in several cities, hundreds of protesters merely stood in silence in Istanbul, inspired by a man who lit up social media by doing just that for eight hours in the city's Taksim Square on Monday."

Los Angeles Times: "The Los Angeles county coroner's office had yet to determine Tuesday night whether a body recovered from a fiery car crash was that of award-winning journalist Michael Hastings."

     ... Update: The L.A. Times has a newer story up now, with some details about the car crash.

The Ledes

Tuesday, June 18, 2013.

Rolling Stone: "Michael Hastings, the fearless journalist whose reporting brought down the career of General Stanley McChrystal, has died in a car accident in Los Angeles, Rolling Stone has learned. He was 33."

AP: " Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced at a ceremony on Tuesday that his country's armed forces are taking over the lead for security nationwide from the U.S.-led NATO coalition. The handover of responsibility is a significant milestone in the nearly 12-year war and marks a turning point for American and NATO military forces, which will now move entirely into a supporting role. It also opens the way for their full withdrawal in 18 months." ...

... Reuters: "Afghanistan will send a team to Qatar for peace talks with the Taliban, President Hamid Karzai said on Tuesday, as the U.S.-led NATO coalition launched the final phase of the 12-year war with the last round of security transfers to Afghan forces."

... Related New York Times story here.

     ... New York Times Update: "The Taliban signaled a breakthrough in efforts to start Afghan peace negotiations on Tuesday, announcing the opening of a political office in Qatar and new readiness to talk with American and Afghan officials, who said in turn that they would travel to meet insurgent negotiators there within days. If the talks begin, they would be a significant step in peace efforts that have been locked in an impasse for nearly 18 months...."

AP: "In some of the biggest protests since the end of Brazil's 1964-85 dictatorship, demonstrations have spread across this continent-sized country and united people from all walks of life behind frustrations over poor transportation, health services, education and security despite a heavy tax burden. More than 100,000 people were in the streets Monday for largely peaceful protests in at least eight big cities."

Washington Post: "Several U.S. Naval Academy football players will soon face charges in connection with the alleged rape of a female midshipman at an off-campus party more than a year ago, officials at the elite service academy in Annapolis said Monday. The rape allegations, along with accusations that Navy investigators and academy brass had dragged their feet, exploded into public view just as Congress was debating changes to the way the military handles sexual assault cases."

Desperately Seeking Jimmy. AP: "The FBI saw enough merit in a reputed Mafia captain's tip to once again break out the digging equipment to search for the remains of former Teamsters union leader Jimmy Hoffa, last seen alive before a lunch meeting with two mobsters nearly 40 years ago. Tony Zerilli told his lawyer that Hoffa was buried beneath a concrete slab in a barn in a field in suburban Detroit in 1975. The barn no longer exists, and a full day of digging Monday turned up no sign of Hoffa. Federal agents were to resume the search Tuesday."

Public Service Announcement

New York Times: "Now, about 70 percent of all throat cancers are caused by HPV, up from roughly 15 percent three decades ago. Patients are now more frequently middle-aged husbands and fathers who are economically well off, nonsmokers and not particularly heavy drinkers. Men are three times more likely to be diagnosed than women with HPV-related throat cancer."

White House Live Video
June 19

8:30 am ET: GreenGov dialog

9:00 am ET: President Obama speaks in Berlin, Germany

11:00 am ET: Vice President Biden speaks at the dedication of a statue of Frederick Douglas in the Capitol

If you don't see the livefeed here, go to WhiteHouse.gov/live.

***********************************************

Splitsville x 2. Reuters: " News Corp Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch on Thursday filed for divorce from his wife of 14 years, Wendi, seeking to end a marriage that had been irretrievably broken for more than six months, according to his spokesman. Murdoch, 82, married the former Wendi Deng, 44, in 1999 in his third and her second marriage. They have two young daughters. The divorce filing, which was sealed, comes just days before News Corp is to split into two companies, one containing its entertainment assets and the other holding its publishing business. Murdoch, who Forbes says is worth $9.4 billion, is to be chairman of both publicly traded companies."

Alessandra Stanley of the New York Times: John Oliver takes over hosting "The Daily Show" while Jon Stewart is on a three-month hiatus.

Swedish Princess Madeleine marries New York financier Christopher O'Neill:

What an Annoyance. Washington Post: "The Washington Post will phase in a paid online subscription model for Web content starting June 12, charging some readers $9.99 a month for access to more than 20 articles a month on desktop and mobile devices."

New York Times: "A nearly complete skeleton of a tiny, ancient primate — one that weighed no more than an ounce, had a tail longer than its body and would fit in the palm of your hand — is the earliest well-preserved fossil primate ever found, dating back some 55 million years and dialing back the fossil record for primates by an impressive eight million years, a research team declared on Wednesday. The finding adds weight to the evidence that primates originated in Asia — not Africa — and that they emerged relatively soon after the extinction of the dinosaurs, which happened about 66 million years ago in an event known as the Cretaceous mass extinction." CW: 55 million years ago? Must be a hoax!

New York City, 1939, in rare color video. Supersize it!

AP: "When high school student Zach Sobiech learned he didn't have much longer to live, his mother suggested he write letters to tell his loved ones goodbye. Instead, the Minnesota teenager turned to writing music — and his farewell song, 'Clouds,' became a YouTube sensation that has attracted more than 4 million views. Other musicians have covered the tune, and it inspired a celebrity video on YouTube. 'Clouds' was even listed No. 1 on the iTunes Top 10 list on Wednesday — two days after Sobiech died after battling bone cancer.... 'You don't have to find out you're dying to start living,' Sobiech said in a short video about him titled, 'My Last Days: Meet Zach Sobiech,' which also has been viewed more than 4 million times since it was posted to YouTube two weeks ago.

 

Politico's Late Nite Jokes:

New York Times: "On the program she invented, on the network where she worked for the past 37 years, on the medium where she broke barriers and rules for more than 50 years, Barbara Walters will announce on Monday morning, definitively and with no regrets, that she is calling it a career." ...

... ** UPDATE. Alex Pareene of Salon: Walters "is a national icon and a pioneer, and probably as responsible as any other living person for the ridiculous and sorry state of American television journalism. She has announced her retirement a year in advance, so that a series of aggrandizing specials can be produced celebrating her long and storied career. So let’s get things started off right, by reminding everyone how her entire public life has been an extended exercise in sycophancy and unalloyed power worship."

Margalit Fox if the New York Times on "Alice Kober, an overworked, underpaid classics professor at Brooklyn College," who "working quietly and methodically at her dining table in Flatbush, helped solve one of the most tantalizing mysteries of the modern age."

Paper Trail

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Campaign 2010

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For news on the Alaska, Arizona California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Illinois, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania & South Carolina races, go to the dropdown menu under Campaign 2010.

Newest Stuff:

Minneapolis Star-Tribune, December 8: "Republican Tom Emmer conceded the governor's race to DFLer Mark Dayton Wednesday, bringing an end to the disputed election.... Emmer also waived his right to a recount, and the state Canvassing Board quickly certified the original election night results and declared Dayton the winner.... Dayton, a former U.S. senator, will become the first Democratic governor in Minnesota in two decades."...

... EXCEPT FOR JOE MILLER'S CHALLENGE IN ALASKA, THIS IS THE END OF THE 2010 ELECTION.

States in Alpha Order


Alabama, Governor, Congress

NBC News projects that Alabama Republican Robert Bentley will win the gubernatorial race.

NBC News projects Republican Sen. Richard Shelby will win re-election to the Alabama Senate seat. 8:02 pm ET.

Politico: "Alabama state Rep. Robert Bentley has defeated Bradley Byrne in the state’s Republican gubernatorial runoff, the AP reports. Byrne, the former chancellor of the state’s two-year college system, finished first in the June 1 primary and had the support of much of the state’s GOP establishment, including Gov. Bob Riley." Per the Washington Post, "Bentley, a retired Tuscaloosa physician, spoke with some tea party groups but was generally seen as a moderate willing to work with Democrats."

... Also from the Washington Post: "In the state's 7th District, Terri Sewell, a Harvard-educated lawyer from Birmingham, likely will be the first black woman elected to Congress from Alabama. She won a Democratic runoff Tuesday in a solidly Democratic district and will face Republican Don Chamberlain of Selma in November."

Washington Post: Mo Brooks, a county commissioner, "soundly defeated" Alabama Rep. Parker Griffith, who switched from the Democratic to the Republican party last year, in the Republican primary for Alabama's 5th District.

AP: Ron Sparks, "Alabama's agriculture commissioner, overwhelmed a congressman [Artur Davis] trying to become the first black to win Alabama's Democratic nomination for governor, while four candidates ran a close race for the Republican nomination."


Alaska, U.S. Senate, Governor

For news on Alaska, go to Alaska on the dropdown menu under Campaign 2010, or click here to go to the Alaska page.


Arizona, Governor, U.S. Senate, House

For news on Arizona, go to Arizona on the dropdown menu under Campaign 2010, or click here to go to the Arizona page.


Arkansas, U.S.Senate

NBC News projects that Democratic Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe will retain his seat.

NBC News projects that Republican Rep. John Boozman has defeated incumbent Democrat Sen. Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas. Arkansas Democrat Gazette story here.

Carl Hulse of the New York Times: "On a primary election night when the heralded anti-incumbency sentiment was expected to again demonstrate its strength, Senator Blanche Lincoln proved there were clear limits to its power."

AP: "Embattled Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas narrowly won nomination to a third term Tuesday night, overcoming a labor-backed challenger and defying a nationwide anti-establishment tide that dealt defeat to Republican Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons and forced a veteran South Carolina congressman into a runoff."


California, U.S. Senate, Governor

For news on California, go to California on the dropdown menu under Campaign 2010, or click here to go to the California page.


Colorado, U.S. Senate, Governor

For news on Colorado, go to Colorado on the dropdown menu under Campaign 2010, or click here to go to the Colorado page.


Connecticut, U.S. Senate, Governor

For news on Connecticut, go to Connecticut on the dropdown menu under Campaign 2010, or click here to go to the Connecticut page.


Delaware, U.S. Senate

For news on Delaware, go to Delaware on the dropdown menu under Campaign 2010, or click here to go to the Delaware page.


Florida, U.S. Senate, Governor, House

For news on Florida, go to Florida on the dropdown menu under Campaign 2010, or click here to go to the California page.


Georgia, Governor

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Republican Nathan Deal claimed victory Tuesday night in Buckhead. He said he had spoken with Democrat Roy Barnes on the phone before making his speech at about 11:45 p.m."

NBC News projects Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson will win re-election to the Senate seat in Georgia. 8:08 pm ET.

Aaron Gould Sheinin of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution examines the campaign finance reports of Georgia gubernatorial candidates; the money quote on the money reports:

Karen Handel, the former secretary of state whom Deal beat in the Aug. 10 Republican runoff, spent more than $100,000 to bring Sarah Palin to town to campaign on her behalf.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Karen Handel has conceded the Georgia gubernatorial election to Nathan Deal. "Deal will represent the GOP and face Democrat Roy Barnes and Libertarian John Monds."

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "The Georgia Republican gubernatorial runoff will stretch into Wednesday and perhaps the rest of the week as Nathan Deal led Karen Handel by fewer than 3,000 votes when Tuesday ended in a race too close to call."

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Just hours before the polls open for the GOP runoff for [Georgia] governor, Sarah Palin and Karen Handel rallied the faithful in Buckhead while Nathan Deal crisscrossed the state in search of last-minute support."

"I'd rather be with these folks." Atlanta Journal-Constitution, August 2: the President of the United States was in town to raise money for him, but Democratic gubernatorial nominee (& former Georgia governor) Roy Barnes didn't show up.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 21: "Former Gov. Roy Barnes successfully completed the first step of his political redemption tour Tuesday, handily winning the Democratic nomination for his old job."

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 21: "Riding the strength of Sarah Palin's endorsement and a boatload of votes from metro Atlanta, Karen Handel on Tuesday bolted to the top in the race for the Republican nomination for governor. Nathan Deal finished second and will face Handel in a runoff Aug. 10."


Hawaii, U.S. Congress

NBC News: it appears Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye will retain his Senate seat, denying Republicans a Senate majority. No link.

Honolulu Advertiser: "Former Congressman Ed Case, sacrificing his ambition for his political party, withdrew from the Democratic primary for Congress yesterday to prevent a divisive clash with state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa that could have weakened the party's chances against U.S. Rep. Charles Djou, R-Hawai'i, in November."

AP: "Republicans scored a midterm election victory Saturday when Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou won a Democratic-held House seat in Hawaii in the district where President Barack Obama grew up...."


Idaho, Various

NBC News projects that Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo will retain his Senate seat.

Politico has full Idaho primary election results. AND here's the Idaho Statesman's report. ...

... NPR: "The Republican primary in Idaho's 1st Congressional District yesterday ended with state Rep. Raul Labrador, who wasn't the choice of GOP leaders but did have the support of local Tea Party enthusiasts, the winner over one-time frontrunner Vaughn Ward. Labrador outpaced Ward by about 10 percentage points." ...

... AP: Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo easily won the Republican primary; his Democratic challenger will be Tom Sullivan.


Illinois, U.S. Senate

For news on Illinois, go to Illinois on the dropdown menu under Campaign 2010, or click here to go to the Illinois page.


Indiana, U.S. Senate

NBC News projects Republican Dan Coats will win the Indiana Senate seat. Indianapolis Star report here.

AP, May 15: the Indiana Democratic Central Committee selected Rep. Brad Ellsworth as the candidate for U.S. Senate on Saturday.

NPR May 5: NPR: "Former Sen. Dan Coats, an Indiana Republican who left office in 1998, [won] the GOP Senate nomination for the seat being vacated by two-term Democratic incumbent Evan Bayh."


Iowa, U.S. Senate

Firedoglake: "The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) won a hard-fought victory in Iowa today, getting three of the judges who ruled for marriage equality in Iowa booted from that state’s Supreme Court.

NBC News projects that Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley will retain his Senate seat.


Kansas

NBC News projects that Kansas Republican Sam Brownback will win the governorship.

NBC News projects that Kansas Republican Rep. Jerry Moran will will the Senate race.

Wichita Eagle: "U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran on Tuesday narrowly defeated Rep. Todd Tiahrt in the contentious Republican primary race for the U.S. Senate.


Kentucky, U.S. Senate

For news on Kentucky, go to Kentucky on the dropdown menu under Campaign 2010, or click here to go to the California page.


Louisiana, U.S. Senate, Congress

NBC News projects that Louisiana Republican Sen. David Vitter will retain his seat.

President Obama makes his Campaign 2010 ad debut in this spot for Cedric Richmond running in Louisiana's Second Congressional District:

     ... Here's a related New York Times item.

Times-Picayune: "First-term incumbent U.S. Sen. David Vitter easily won the Republican nomination for re-election tonight, with U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon also cruising to victory for the Democratic nod."

Talking Points Memo: "Chet Traylor, a former Louisiana Supreme Court Justice well-connected in Louisiana Republican political and business circles circles..., surprised everyone ... by qualifying at the witching hour to challenge [Sen. David] Vitter" in the Republican primary.

NBC's Chuck Todd on Lousiana Sen. David Vitter's continued employment of a staffer covering women's issues (Vitter denies this) & abortion (Vitter offers this, apparently thinking it isn't a women's issue) who brutally battered a woman:

     ... Here's the backstory from ABC News.


Maine, Governor

Where Do You Live, Mr. LePage? New York Times, September 14: "Paul LePage, the Republican candidate for governor in Maine..., walked out of his own news conference Monday in Augusta after reporters asked whether his wife was a permanent state resident.... Later in the day, Mr. LePage was caught cursing on camera when a reporter asked whether his children had paid in-state tuition at a college in Florida. The questions stemmed from a report in the Kennebec Journal last week that Mr. LePage’s wife, Ann, got permanent-resident tax exemptions on homes in both Maine and Florida last year, a violation of tax law." CW: the kind of candidate the tea party brings you.

AP: "A...tea party-backed contender, Paul LePage, won the Republican nomination for governor in Maine."


Maryland, Senate, Governor

NBC News projects that Maryland Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley will retain the governorship. Baltimore Sun story here.

NBC News projects Demcratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski will win re-election to the Senate in Maryland. 8:08 pm ET.


Massachusetts, Governor, House

Boston Globe: "Barney Frank, the irascible powerbroker who has survived scandal, repeated redistricting, and the ups and downs of the Democratic Party, yesterday easily beat back his strongest challenge in years."

NBC News projects that Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick will retain the governorship. Boston Globe story here.

New York Times: "Representative Barney Frank, who barely had to raise a finger in past re-election efforts, is fending off a surprisingly strong challenge from a political newcomer who has benefited from a surge of out-of-state donations in the campaign’s final weeks. The Republican challenger, Sean Bielat, has been a frequent guest on national conservative radio and television shows, which has helped him raise more than $1 million in his quest to end Mr. Frank’s long political career."

Barney Frank campaign press release, October 29: "Congressman Barney Frank today received the endorsement of Edward McCormick, III – his Republican opponent in the 1992 election.  Mr. McCormick and Congressman Frank engaged in a series of robust, but respectful and focused debates in the 1992 election cycle."

Edward Mason of the Boston Herald, October 24: Sean Bielat, Barney Frank's Republican opponent, says that gays are just like short people -- neither has a right to serve in the military. Mason observes, "Hmm. ... On the other hand, vertically challenged people are not forced to pretend they’re tall, then drummed out once it’s discovered they’re short in spite of their service record."


Michigan, Governor

NBC News projects that Michigan Republican Rick Snyder will win the race for governor. Detroit Free Press story here.

"One Tough Nerd" wins the Republican gubernatorial primary:

Detroit Free Press: "Ann Arbor venture capitalist Rick Snyder rode his offbeat "tough nerd" TV commercials -- and $6 million of his own money -- to win the Republican primary Tuesday.... Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero -- dubbed America's "Angriest Mayor" for his national rants favoring federal bailouts to General Motors and Chrysler  -- was routing Democratic rival House Speaker Andy Dillon, 59%-41%."

Detroit Free Press: "State Sen. Hansen Clarke staged a stunning upset victory Tuesday night over seven-term Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick."

I saw Mike Cox getting a lap dance from one of the female exotic dancers while he was present at the party. -- Unidentified witness in an affidavit

       ... Cox is the Michigan attorney general & is in a tight Republican primary race for governor. Via Jonathan Martin of Politico. in an item titled, "Sentences that are never helpful for candidates."


Minnesota, Governor

Minneapolis Star-Tribune, December 8: "Republican Tom Emmer conceded the governor's race to DFLer Mark Dayton Wednesday, bringing an end to the disputed election.... Emmer also waived his right to a recount, and the state Canvassing Board quickly certified the original election night results and declared Dayton the winner.... Dayton, a former U.S. senator, will become the first Democratic governor in Minnesota in two decades."

New York Times, December 3: "Tom Emmer said Friday that he would withdraw thousands of ballot challenges deemed frivolous in order to speed the recount in the Minnesota governor’s race, but that he had not decided whether he would sue if he lost the election. Mr. Emmer, a Republican, had trailed the Democrat, Mark Dayton, by nearly 9,000 votes going into the recount, which began Monday."

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune (November 30) reports on the recount, which began yesterday, in the close Minnesota governor's race. The Uptake is livestreaming the recount here.

Ha ha. Gov. Tim Pawlenty of California wants to get out on the presidential campaign trail in the worst. But Michael Shear of the New York Times reports that he will be stuck in the governor's mansion after his term would normally expire on January 3, 2011, if the winner of the November 2 gubernatorial race is not declared by then.

CW: before the polls had closed, I predicted the November 2 election would produce a Franken/Coleman-style recount. Little did I know it would be in Minnesota.

ABC News, November 5: "Unofficial results from Tuesday's gubernatorial race between Democrat and former Sen. Mark Dayton and Republican businessman Tom Emmer give Dayton a 8,781-vote lead, or less than one half of one percent of the vote. If the slim margin holds after election officials finalize the tally and no candidate concedes..., it would trigger an automatic statewide recount of all ballots."


Mississippi

Bobby Bright is a Mississippi Democrat. Whyever is he picturing himself together with John Boehner?


Missouri

NBC News projects that Missouri Republican Roy Blunt will win the Senate race.

Think Progress Hypocrisy Watch: Vicky Hartzler, a Missouri Republican nominee for Congress, wants "the government to leave us alone here in Missouri's 4th." But, gosh, Hartzler & her husband haven't minded collecting almost three-quarters of a million dollars in farm subsidies.

Sonia K. Katyal & Eduardo M. Peñalver in Slate: why Fox "News"' copyright infringement suit against Senate Democratic nominee Robin Carnahan of Missouri is bogus.

Washington Post: "The Fox News Network has filed suit against Missouri Democratic Senate candidate Robin Carnahan's campaign for an ad that, the network claims, makes it appear as if Fox News Host Chris Wallace endorsed Carnahan." Here's the ad Roy Blunt doesn't want you to see & the is the subject of Fox's lawsuit:

Think Progress: "Senate candidate Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) posted a YouTube video to his campaign website, which simply played audio of his opponent, Robin Carnahan (D), explaining why she doesn’t oppose the Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero.... Carnahan’s words were played over a graphic image of smoldering wreckage from the Twin Towers." Blunt took the ad down, replacing it with one that did not include the 9/11 footage. With video of original ad.

New York Times: "Missouri voters on Tuesday easily approved a measure aimed at nullifying the new federal health care law, becoming the first state in the nation where ordinary people made known their dismay over the issue at the ballot box." ...

... BUT as Steve Benen explains, almost all those voting were Republican primary voters: "If this was about 'sending a signal,' then we've learned a valuable lesson -- Republican primary voters in a 'red' state are inclined to believe right-wing rhetoric about the Affordable Care Act."


Nebraska

NBC News projects that Nebraska Republican Dave Heineman will win the governorship.


Nevada, U.S. Senate, Governor

For news on Nevada, go to Nevada on the dropdown menu under Campaign 2010, or click here to go to the Nevada page.


New Hampshire, Various

NBC News projects that New Hampshire Democratic Gov. John Lynch will retain his seat.

NBC News projects Republican Kelly Ayotte will win the Senate seat in New Hampshire. 8:01 pm ET. Manchester Union Leader story here.

AP: "In the last turn of a tumultuous primary season, former New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte narrowly won her state's Republican Senate primary, to the relief of party officials in Washington."

Think Progress: "Every single Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) is a global warming denier."

Ouch! Joseph McQuaid in a front-page editorial in the conservative New Hampshire Union-Leader: "former Gov. [Sarah] Palin isn't making these endorsements because, as she claims, she has spent time in New Hampshire and thus knows that the people here are a lot like Alaskans. She spent a few hours here on one day during the 2008 Presidential election. That's still more time than she spent getting to know [U.S. Senate candidate Kelly] Ayotte...."

Susan Milligan of the Boston Globe reports on New Hampshiire's Republican primary race to replace Sen. Judd Gregg, who is retiring.

Alex Seitz-Wald of Think Progress finds the most outspoken, disgusting bigot in country who is running for political office, & he's running in what is probably the whitey-whitest state in the U.S.: New Hampshire. (CW: Seitz-Wald tries to identify Ryan Murdough with the tea party, but I don't think that's fair.)


New Mexico, Governor, House

NBC News projects that New Mexico Republican Susana Martinez will win the governorship.

Republican National Security Plan: We Could Blow up Mexicans. AP: Tom Mullins, "the Republican nominee for a northern New Mexico congressional seat, suggested during a radio interview that the United States could place land mines along the Mexican border to secure the international boundary."

Albuquerque Journal: "Susana Martinez, a prosecutor from southern New Mexico, won the Republican nomination for governor and will face Democrat Diane Denish in a general election race deciding who becomes New Mexico's first woman governor."


New York, Governor, Senate, House

For news on New York, go to New York on the dropdown menu under Campaign 2010, or click here to go to the Nevada page.


North Carolina, Various

NBC News projects that North Carolina Republican Sen. Richard Burr will win re-election.

Your Typical Tea Party Candidate. Raleigh News & Observer: "Republican Congressional candidate William "Bill" Randall is suggesting that the Obama Administration and BP conspired to intentionally spill oil in the Gulf, resulting in 11 deaths and the worst environmental disaster in the nation's history":

Raleigh News & Observer: "Secretary of State Elaine Marshall easily captured the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate Tuesday.... Marshall, 64, who will face Republican Sen. Richard Burr in November, overcame considerable obstacles to win her party's nomination, including being ignored by her national party, having a money disadvantage and mourning the death of her husband during the campaign."

AP, June 22: "Harold Johnson defeated former body armor executive Tim D'Annunzio in the 8th Congressional District runoff and will take on first-term Democratic Rep. Larry Kissell, who beat Republican incumbent Robin Hayes two years ago. Johnson had 61 percent of the vote compared to 39 percent for D'Annunzio with 88 percent the precincts reporting, according to unofficial results." Plus results of other races.


North Dakota

NBC News projects North Dakoka Republican John Hoeven will win the Senate race.


Ohio, U.S. Senate, Governor

NBC News projects that Republican John Kasich will win the Ohio gubernatorial race.

NBC News projects Republican Rob Portman will win the Senate seat in Ohio. Cleveland Plain Dealer story here.

Fox 8 Cleveland: Ohio Rep. John Boccieri leaves the stage during President Clinton's speech when he learns that his wife Stacey had gone into labor. Baby Emma was born a few hours later:

Cleveland Plain Dealer: Lee Fisher, Ohio's Democratic candidate for Senate, "has given $100,000 to the Ohio Democratic Party for its final, aggressive get-out-the-vote drive." Fisher, who lags behind Republican Rob Portman in the polls, told "The Plain Dealer that he is not abandoning the campaign or giving up."

New York Times, August 24: in Ohio, Democrats are having a hard time tying Republican Senate candidate Rob Portman to George W. Bush's failed economic policies, even tho Portman was Bush's budget director.

Dan Balz of the Washington Post looks at two Ohio Republican candidates who are testing the Democrats' strategy of "running against Bush": Rob "Portman, who is running for the Senate, was the chief trade officer and White House budget director for President George W. Bush. [John] Kasich, a former congressman who is running for governor, spent a decade working for Lehman Brothers, the Wall Street firm whose collapse helped trigger the massive economic retraction."

NBC News: "The National Rifle Assocation made its first general election endorsement of the 2010 midterm cycle Monday, backing Ohio's incumbent Democratic governor [Ted Strickland] over a Republican former congressman."

Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 5: "Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher handily defeated his primary challenger, Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, in Democratic primary race for the U.S. Senate seat now held by two-term Republican Sen. George Voinovich, who is retiring. Fisher will face Republican Rob Portman, a former Cincinnati congressman, who was unopposed in Tuesday's GOP primary."


Oklahoma, Various

Unfuckingbelievable. Salon: "A ban on U.S. courts considering Sharia law passed overwhelmingly in Oklahoma today."

NBC News projects that Oklahoma Republican Mary Fallin will win the governorship.

NBC News projects Republican Sen. Tom Coburn will win re-election to the Senate in Oklahoma. 8:01 pm ET.

The Oklahoman: U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin managed to win the Republican gubernatorial primary election without a runoff, garnering about 55 percent of the vote according to unofficial returns. State Sen. Randy Brogdon, of Owasso, got about 39 percent. Lt. Gov. Jari Askins won a nail-biter against Attorney General Drew Edmondson, as she won about 1 percent more of the votes."

Tulsa World: Incumbent U.S. Reps. John Sullivan & Dan Boren won their races against primary challengers.

AP: "Incumbent Republican Tom Coburn has defeated two challengers from his own party in a primary election for a U.S. Senate seat in Oklahoma."


Oregon, Governor, U.S. Senate

The Oregonian: "Democrat John Kitzhaber has taken the lead in the race against Republican Chris Dudley and will become Oregon's next governor."

NBC News projects that Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden will retain his Senate seat.

The Oregonian: "Former Gov. John Kitzhaber easily outdistanced former Secretary of State Bill Bradbury to win the Democratic primary. Political newcomer and former Trail Blazer center Chris Dudley won by a closer, but still hefty, margin in the Republican primary against high-tech business executive Allen Alley."


Pennsylvania, U.S. Senate & Special House Election

For news on Pennsylvania, go to Pennsylvania on the dropdown menu under Campaign 2010, or click here to go to the Pennsylvania page.


Rhode Island, Governor

NBC News projects that Rhode Island Independent Lincoln Chafee, a former Senator, will win the governorship.

NBC-10 in Providence, Rhode Island, October 28: "Democratic gubernatorial candidate Frank Caprio seems to have lost support since telling the president to take his endorsement and 'shove it,' according to an NBC 10-Quest Research poll released Wednesday night.... Caprio lost 12 points since an NBC 10-Quest Research poll released Oct. 12 showed him in the lead with 37 percent, followed by [Independent Lincoln] Chafee and [Republican John] Robitaille."

Politico: "Bill Clinton will campaign this week for Rhode Island Democratic gubernatorial nominee Frank Caprio, providing a stark contrast to President Barack Obama's snub of Caprio earlier this week.... Clinton's ... endorsement could give a boost to Caprio the same week that the gubernatorial candidate said publicly that Obama could 'shove it' when it comes to a withheld endorsement."

He can take his endorsement and really shove it as far as I'm concerned. -- Frank Caprio on President Obama. Caprio is Rhode Island's Democratic gubernatorial nominee, but he is running against Obama supporter & former Republican, now Independent, Lincoln Chafee, & the President -- who is in Rhode Island today -- has declined to endorse. You can listen to the audio here.

     ... Pool Report: The White House sort of responds to Caprio's tasteful remark.


South Carolina, Governor, U.S. Senate

For news on South Carolina, go to South Carolina on the dropdown menu under Campaign 2010, or click here to go to the South Carolina page. 


South Dakota, U.S. Senate, Governor

NBC News projects that South Dakota Republican Dennis Daugaard will win the gubernatorial race.

NBC News projects that South Dakoda Republican Sen. John Thune will retain his Senate seat.


Tennessee, Governor, Congress

NBC News projects that Tennessee Republican Bill Haslam will win the gubernatorial race.

The Hill: Tennessee state Sen. Roy Herron, "a Democratic candidate for Congress, accused the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) of pulling its support for his campaign because he said he wouldn't support Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as House Speaker.

The Tennessean: "Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam claimed victory in the Republican gubernatorial primary Thursday night, setting up a November face-off with Jackson beer distributor Mike McWherter."


Texas, Governor, Other

NBC News projects that Texas Republican Gov. Rick Perry will retain the governorship.

Melanie Mason of the Dallas Morning News: "Republican congressional candidate Stephen Broden stunned his party Thursday, saying he would not rule out violent overthrow of the government if elections did not produce a change in leadership. In a rambling exchange during a TV interview, Broden, a South Dallas pastor, said a violent uprising 'is not the first option,' but it is 'on the table.' That drew a quick denunciation from the head of the Dallas County GOP, who called the remarks 'inappropriate.' Broden, a first-time candidate, is challenging veteran incumbent Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson in Dallas' heavily Democratic 30th Congressional District."

Sometimes acting like a complete asshole will be used against you. We the People publishes some (fill in an adjective) photos of Texas' 27th Congressional District Republican nominee Blake Farenthold. He's the chubby fellow on the right in the rubber-ducky jammies. Here's Democratic incumbent Rep. Solomon Ortiz' oppo ad:

It's pretty hard to believe Republican Gov. Rick Perry of Texas won't get an abuse of copyright complaint on this ad against his opponent for governor, Democrat Bill White:

Dirty Tricks, Texas Republican-Style. Austin American Statesman: "Mike Toomey, a lobbyist and former chief of staff to Gov. Rick Perry, personally paid for an aborted effort to qualify the Green Party of Texas for the ballot, according to court testimony ... from Garrett Mize.... He said Toomey paid him $2,000 a month for about six months with a personal check." A subsequent petition gathering effort, paid for by an out-of-state corporation called Take Initiative America, was successful. "It is unclear where the money for that $500,000 effort came from.... Democrats contend that the in-kind contribution from Take Initiative America is an illegal corporate contribution that should preclude the Greens from qualifying for the ballot."


Utah, U.S. Senate

NBC News projects that Utah Republican Gary Herbert will win the governorship

Crazy Senator Alert. Salt Lake Tribune: "... attorney Mike Lee won a hard-fought victory over businessman Tim Bridgewater, clinching the Republican nomination and likely a spot as Utah’s next U.S. Senator. Lee led Bridgewater 51 percent to 49 percent with 97 percent of the precincts reporting."

Time: in Utah's U.S. Senate race, "whoever wins Tuesday's GOP nomination should cruise to victory in November in heavily Republican Utah. A Democrat hasn't won a U.S. Senate race here since 1970."

Salt Lake Tribune, June 22, on Utah's primary runoff races.


Vermont, U.S. Senate

Politico: "Republican Brian Dubie concedes the Vermont governor's race to Democrat Peter Shumlin."

NBC News projects Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy will win re-election to the Vermont Senate seat. 7:07 pm ET. AP report here.


Virginia

CBS News projects that Robert Hurt will defeat Rep. Tom Perriello in Virginia's 5th District. No link.


Washington, U.S. Senate

The Seattle Times projects that Democratic Sen. Patty Murray has won re-election to a 4th term. "Sen. Patty Murray has won a fourth term, riding a wave of strong Democratic support in King County to defeat Republican challenger Dino Rossi. As of Thursday evening, Murray was leading Rossi by more than 45,000 votes, taking 51 percent to Rossi's 49 percent. That's up from a 14,000-vote lead on Election Day. According to a Seattle Times analysis, Rossi would need to get about 54 percent of the estimated 591,000 uncounted ballots statewide to overcome Murray's lead."

Really Stupid Voters. Bill Rigby of Reuters: "Washington [state] voters knocked down plans for a state income tax on the wealthy intended to fund education and health spending, ending a fight pitting Bill Gates against other Seattle tech billionaires...."

The Washington State Senate race remains too close to call. Seattle Times: "Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray held a lead Tuesday night over challenger Dino Rossi, raising hopes among her supporters that she would survive the national GOP wave." The count Wednesday at 10:00 am ET was Murray 722,396, Rossi 708,391 -- don't know what % of votes counted that is.

Politico, October 17: "With polls showing Democratic Sen. Patty Murray pulling ahead, Sunday evening's debate presented one of the last, best chances for Washington Republican Dino Rossi to change the course of the race." C-SPAN has the video (begins a minute in).

AP: "Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and Republican challenger Dino Rossi formalized their November matchup Tuesday, emerging as expected from Washington state's 'top two' primary by comfortable margins.... Washington's unusual primary lists all candidates on a single ballot and winnows the field to two for the general election, regardless of the candidates' party. Conservative Republican Clint Didier, a former NFL tight end who attracted support from tea party activists, was in third place with about 10 percent of the vote."


West Virginia, Senate

NBC News projects that Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin will win the Senate seat in West Virginia. Charleston Gazette story here.

One problem with Palin's endorsement: Raese is running in West Virginia. It's not surprising Palin made the error -- Raese hired Pennslyvania actors to play West Virginians. And Raese's wife doesn't live in West Virginia, either. Hey, mistakes happen

Amanda Terkel of the Huffington Post, October 19: in a debate with Gov. Joe Manchin, West Virginia Republican Senatorial nominee John Raese reiterates his opposition to the minimum wage. With video.

CQ Politics: "... the wife of Republican businessman [and West Virginia gubernatorial nominee] John Raese is being purged from the state's voter rolls because she is also registered to vote in Florida.... Roll Call confirmed Friday that Elizabeth Raese is registered to vote in both states [West Virginia & Florida] but has not voted in West Virginia since 1998. But in an interview this week with Time magazine, she indicated that she would be -- and has been -- voting in West Virginia."

Gov. Joe Manchin answers the "hicky" ad:

We are going for a ‘Hicky’ Blue Collar look. These characters are from West Virginia so think coal miner/trucker looks.... Clothing Suggestions: ... jeans, work boots, flannel shirt, denim shirt, Dickie’s type jacket with t-shirt underneath, down-filled vest, John Deer [sic] hats (not brand new, preferably beat up), trucker hats (not brand new, preferably beat up). --  National Republican Senatorial Committee casting call for a West Virginia ad (abridged) ...

... Here's the resulting ad. "Hicky" enough for ya? Update: Ha, ha. The ad has been pulled. Here's Michael Shear of the New York Times with more. Update 2: Ah, fortunately, the ad is preserved for us elsewhere on YouTube:

Charleston (West Virginia) Gazette: "Gov. Joe Manchin [who is the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate] has scheduled a press conference Wednesday morning where he is expected to announce that the state is filing suit against the federal government over the Obama administration's crackdown on mountaintop removal coal mining." New York Times Update: so he did.

Watch Me Take a 180. CW: to get an idea of how 100% phony Republicans are, you just have to read the West Virginia GOP's "correction" of a "misquote" by the chairman of the West Virginia GOP.

Steve Benen: John Raese, the Republican nominee for Senate in West Virginia, "is rich, and wants to go to the Senate to help people just like him. In one of the nation's poorest states, it's a bizarre pitch." ...

... Meanwhile, the National Republican Senatorial Committee has dumped $1 million on ads like this one against Raese's opponent Joe Manchin:

AP: "Popular Gov. Joe Manchin won the Democratic nomination Saturday and will face GOP primary winner and wealthy businessman John Raese in the race to fill the Senate seat vacated by the late Robert C. Byrd."

AP: "The special election for the late Robert C. Byrd's U.S. Senate seat in West Virginia has attracted 15 candidates."

The Hill: West Virginia's Senator-designate Carte Goodwin will be sworn in Tuesday. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says Goodwin will provide the vote needed to advance the unemployment benefits extension, which GOP senators have opposed.

New York Times, July 16: "West Virginia’s governor, Joe Manchin III, announced on Friday that he had chosen Carte P. Goodwin, his former general counsel, to temporarily fill the Senate seat long held by Robert C. Byrd."


Wisconsin, Senate

NBC News projects that Wisconsin Repubican Scott Walker will win the gubernatorial race. Wisconsin State Journal story here.

** NBC News projects that Wisconsin Republican Ron Johnson will defeat Sen. Russ Feingold. AP story here. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story here.

Republican gubernatorial nominee Ron Johnson has never been to Washington (until recently):

New York Times: "Michelle Obama burst back onto the campaign trail Wednesday with a highly personal, soft-sell appeal intended to prod Democratic voters — especially women — to set aside whatever disappointment they may have in her husband and go to the polls to 'finish what we’ve started.'”

Michelle Obama campaigns in Milwaukee for Russ Feingold. Clip:

C-SPAN has video of the Feingold-Johnson debate.

Wisconsin "Republican Senate candidate Ron Johnson, who has campaigned against government subsidies to business, employs up to nine prison inmates at his plastics factories whose health care costs are paid by the state, according to records obtained by The Associated Press."

Here's a pretty effective (& kinda funny) ad from Sen. Russ Feingold:

     ... Update: Oops! "The National Football League has asked the Russ Feingold campaign to take down a newly released ad that uses footage from NFL games. The Feingold campaign reacted quickly.  'We are making an edit to the ad to accommodate the NFL’s concerns,' campaign spokesman John Kraus told the [Milwaukee] Journal Sentinel."

AP: Ron Johnson, "a Wisconsin businessman who spent millions on a largely self-financed campaign, has breezed into a November matchup with incumbent Sen. Russ Feingold."

USA Today: "Scott Walker, the Milwaukee county executive who has made his frugality a central campaign theme, won the [Wisconsin] GOP gubernatorial nomination.... Walker will face Democrat Tom Barrett, the mayor of Milwaukee. Incumbent Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat, is not seeking re-election."

AP: "Add Russ Feingold to the list of Senate Democrats who find themselves in unexpectedly tough races.... The Wisconsin Democrat faces a wealthy political newcomer [Ron Johnson] with early backing from tea party activists in a state that has many independent voters and is known for doing its own thing."


Wyoming

NBC News projects that Wyoming Republican Matt Mead will win the governorship.


General

If you vote in November, you'll be voting for somebody a lot like Clint Webb:

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