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Grits
By Hastings Wyman
Southern Political Report
July 25, 2008 —
Obama, McCain Organize in Dixie Barack Obama is making a major push to carry Virginia in the November election. He has opened 20 field offices across the state, one in virtually every one of the state’s larger cities and towns. And the Washington Post reports that in vote-heavy Fairfax County, a Washington, DC, suburb, Obama has a paid staffer in each of the county’s nine magisterial districts. By comparison, McCain has six field offices across the state. Virginia has voted Republican for president in every election since 1964…..In Florida, however, McCain has the upper hand, with 27 field offices. Comparable numbers for Obama in Florida were not available…..In Texas, where the Obama campaign has conducted voter registration drives in the four largest cities, Republican former Secretary of State Roger Williams, who also heads the Lone Star GOP’s Victory 2008 program, has been appearing all over the state, pushing get-out-the-vote efforts as well as fundraising, with the theme, “Vote GOP or Face Higher Taxes.” Kentucky: Two Congressional Polls Show Competitive Races In Kentucky’s 3rd District (Louisville), a SurveyUSA poll taken for a local television station on July 18-20 shows freshman John Yarmuth (D) still ahead of his challenger, former US Rep. Anne Northup (R), by 53% to 43%. The results, however, reveal a seven point gain for Northup from the same firm’s poll taken six weeks ago, when Yarmuth led 57% to 40%..... And in the 4th District (Ashland, etc.), second-termer Geoff Davis (R), heretofore considered a shoo-in, has a similarly tepid lead -- for an incumbent -- of 54% to 41% over political neophyte Michael Kelley (D), a self-described “country doctor.” Louisiana: Now You See’em, Now You Don’t Candidates have disappeared from the ballot in two Pelican State federal races. In the US Senate contest, Republican challenger John Kennedy lost his sole primary foe, businessman (landscaping) Jacques Boudreaux, who withdrew, allowing Kennedy to save all of his bucks for the General Election…. And in the 2nd District (New Orleans), the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office removed school board member James Fahrenholtz (D) from the congressional ballot for misstating information on his filing papers. Fahrenholtz’s departure leaves former television newsperson Helena Moreno (D) as the only white candidate in a field of seven opponents of scandal-plagued US Rep. William Jefferson (D). If Jefferson and Moreno end up in a runoff in this 64% black district, Jefferson would be favored to win re-nomination and re-election. Alabama: Rogers’ Foe Raising Funds In Alabama’s 3rd District (Anniston, etc.), third-term US Rep. Mike Rogers (R) was re-elected 59% to 38% in 2006 and will probably go back in this year as well. Nevertheless, he’s getting more than nominal opposition from young (29) attorney Josh Segall (D), son of the Alabama Bar Association President Bobby Segall. In the 2nd Quarter financial reports, Segall had an impressive $411,000 on hand, and he’ll soon get more from a Washington, DC, fundraiser hosted by US Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI). Rogers, however, ain’t sitting around waiting to lose: He reported $1,120,000 on hand. North Carolina: McHenry Makes a Loan Second-term US Rep. Patrick McHenry (R) easily disposed of primary opposition (67% to 33%) in May and in this very Republican 10th District (Hickory, etc.), where Bush got 67% in 2004, McHenry is probably okay this fall. However, Washington’s Roll Call newspaper reports that the GOPer made a last-minute loan of $175,000 to his campaign to avoid an unimpressive cash-on-hand comparison with his Democratic opponent, attorney and naval veteran Daniel Johnson. With McHenry’s loan, he has $411,000 on hand; Johnson has $219,000.
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