Archive for the ‘Secretaries of State’ Category
AL: Light Turnout Expected in Primary
Last Updated on Monday, 2 June 2008 01:41 Written by rslcpol Monday, 2 June 2008 01:41
From the Times Daily:
Election and political party officials expect a light turnout for Tuesday’s primary election due to few hot statewide races and the presidential primary being moved up four months.
Alabama had 20 percent turnout eight years ago and 17 percent turnout four years ago when the state and presidential primaries were combined. This year, the Legislature moved the presidential primary to February, with a record 40 percent of Alabama’s voters participating.
Secretary of State Beth Chapman, Alabama’s top election official, said she expects 12 percent to 15 percent of Alabama’s 2.6 million voters to turn out Tuesday.
“If you can’t have a presidential candidate on the ballot, it’s going to be slower,” she said.
A Great 55 Minutes
Last Updated on Friday, 30 May 2008 01:07 Written by rslcpol Friday, 30 May 2008 01:07
Want to hear a Republican strategist and Democrat strategist talk about campaigns, policy, and the national environment w/out screaming at each other? Listen here as RSLC Director of Communications Carrie Cantrell goes head to head with the DLCC’s Political Director John Winston. It’s totally process heavy, but nothing beats knowing what actually goes into state and local races.
May 30, 2008: Who’s Reading the SNS
Last Updated on Friday, 30 May 2008 01:01 Written by rslcpol Friday, 30 May 2008 01:01
Nice week here at the State News Shot – things quieted down a bit – if you discount the whole thing about Ohio’s Democrat governor finally finding a temp for disgraced Democrat A.G. Marc Dann of course. Nice coverage all over the U.S., and abroad – welcome Trinidad and Tobago readers, Kuwait readers, and new readers from the U.A.E.
With that in mind, we thought we’d do something a little different and unpack the top stories of each day from this week. So, without further delay – we’ll start way back on Monday – do you remember Monday?
The top read on Monday was…who was reading on Monday – it was Memorial Day.
The tops on Tuesday was the story came from Washington State was all about the Democrat A.G. candidate John Ladenburg who’s challenging incumbent Republican A.G. Rob McKenna. Apparently Ladenburg has some trouble with opening the doors, windows, and closets of state and local government so taxpayers can see everything that state and local leaders are doing, or trying to do either for the taxpayers, or in some cases to the taxpayers. Oh, and there was the part about the Democrat majority leader in the Washington house saying she wouldn’t be endorsing Mr. Ladenburg based on his public statements on this issue.
Hump day was all about about how Minnesota’s Democrat A.G. Lori Swanson fired a whistle blower in her office. Nothing chills accountability and attempts at transparency like firing the whistle blowers.
Thursday brought back another familiar theme for state and local Democrats – that’s of yet another Democrat state and local official behaving badly. This one involved the FBI descending on the home of a prominent Maryland Democrat state senator. What were they looking for – the G-men don’t say – ever. We predict a solid series of follow up stories on this one – rest assured.
Finally for Friday the favorite story is…well the history on that one is being written still – we’ll have to let you know next week.
Oh, and about Marc Dann – we kept stories about him out of the mix, but must be honest – the announcement of his official replacement was the top overall story – probably had something to do with our venting about accountability and responsibility as it relates to this embarrassing story for state and local Democrats.
Thanks for you attention – thanks for you tips – thanks for your support.
Memorial Day Weekend – 2008 – Who’s Reading the SNS
Last Updated on Friday, 23 May 2008 02:04 Written by rslcpol Friday, 23 May 2008 02:02
Ah, what a blissfully quiet week we’ve had here at the SNS. Had some nice steady traffic – visitors from 45 of 50 states this week. Shockingly – Wyoming fails to check in – we’re going to have to send one of our correspondents into the range to see if Wyoming has been swallowed into the Earth. The rest of the 50 represented very well, with particularly strong showings from New York, Texas, California, Ohio, and Florida.
What was their favorite part of the SNS? Well we can’t tell you every post, but we do know that a good number of our readers found the Dream Team to be an entertaining viewing experience. Though that number was eclipsed by the number of readers who received our breaking news alert on Ohio Democrat A.G. Marc Dann’s resignation, or were amused by the fact that an official State of Ohio pda (crackberry) turned up in somebody’s house who has no connection to anybody in state government it appears.
Finally, we had a sleeper this week with an immensely popular post about the secret grand jury being convened in New York to look into some political dirty tricks – since others have written about this, does that mean it’s no longer secret? Or did this secret somehow leak out of the AGs office in Albany?
Lastly, we’d like to welcome our most intriguing visitor of the week: the Democratic Leadership Council – you know, Harold Ford, Jr’s group. Nice to know the SNS continues to be a source of news for Republican activists and national Democrat organizations alike. Happy to be of service, though it is a strange combination.
So – keep the tips and insights coming. If we’re missing something – be it on another blog, a video, something funny you just have to share – let us know at tips@statenewsshot.com – and we’ll post it up for the rest of the class to see
Regardless of your political color – have a safe Memorial Day.
OR: Election Night Scrapbook
Last Updated on Thursday, 22 May 2008 12:10 Written by rslcpol Thursday, 22 May 2008 12:10
From the Oregonian:
Money wants the lead. Money thinks it’s the story. After all, money — much of it from unions that bank on the predictable to smother reform — greased Kate Brown’s slide into the secretary of state’s office and rescued Jeff Merkley in the Senate primary. In just about every race except attorney general, victory went to the man or woman who spent the most money.
“I never think money is the whole story,” said Jefferson Smith of the Bus Project, “but it’s a pretty big tie-breaker.”
Perhaps. But you can have the money angle. I witnessed two things much more intriguing on election night at the Benson Hotel, and much more encouraging for the future of Oregon politics: the coalition in the penthouse suites and the concession speech on the ballroom stage.
The coalition was the work of John Kroger, who rolled over Greg Macpherson and into the AG’s office. Kroger didn’t have that vaunted endorsement from all the lawyers milling around at the Department of Justice, but the partiers celebrating with him on the 14th floor included Brent Foster of Columbia Riverkeeper, the Teamsters’ Lynn Lehrbach, Steve Doell of Crime Victims United, liberal activist Greg Kafoury, and a platoon of twentysomething staffers.
Posted under Attorney General News, Secretaries of State, State Legislature News | No Comments
Oregon Primary Results: Kroger Bags Victory in AG Battle; Secretary Of State Race Shapes UP
Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 May 2008 11:17 Written by rslcpol Wednesday, 21 May 2008 11:15
From the Oregonian:
Democrat John Kroger is likely to become Oregon’s next attorney general after defeating rival Greg Macpherson and heading into the November election with no declared Republican opposition.
Democrats also chose Sen. Kate Brown, D-Portland, over two other senators in the secretary of state’s race. In November, she’ll face Rick Dancer, 48, the former Eugene anchorman who ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
Sen. Ben Westlund, D-Bend, and Republican Allen Alley, a former aide to Gov. Ted Kulongoski, were unopposed in their primaries for treasurer.
Kroger, 42, a law professor and former federal prosecutor, won 55 percent of the vote, cruising past Macpherson, 57, a three-term Lake Oswego legislator and government benefits lawyer, with 45 percent. Incumbent Democrat Hardy Myers decided not to seek a fourth term.
Posted under Attorney General News, Secretaries of State | No Comments
May 16, 2008: Who’s Reading The SNS?
Last Updated on Friday, 16 May 2008 12:56 Written by rslcpol Friday, 16 May 2008 12:56
It had to happen sometime, the SNS has hit an all time low for state readership. This past week only 45 of 50 states checked in – for that we apologize. We imagine that some of our loyal readers in Alaska, Hawaii, Wyoming (shocking, right?), Mississippi, and Delaware may have been turned off by some of the things they read right here on the SNS. For that we do apologize, but in our defense – we’re not the ones who are making some of the ludicrous news that so offends – we only report it – state and local Democrats are the ones making it. All of that aside – here’s the roundup you’re waiting for:
Most popular post of the week: Ohio Attorney General (now former) Marc Dann’s resignation after over a month of scandal. Now all Ohio Democrats have to do is convince the press and public that they were just as blindsided by this mess as the rest of Ohio was…right.
Most popular post of the week runner up: The background we dug up on Marc Dann’s hired gun from the Lone Star state who was brought in to shoot all the accusations down – looks like he ran out of bullets real quick.
Top referring blog of the week: Ohio’s own Naugblog. Sweet blog – thanks for the love.
Top keyword search: “special prosecutor” and “flds”. Guess they came upon the two bits on Harry Reid – must love the video!
Top keyword search runner up: “marc dann” and “utovich” – with searchers coming from Ohio, North Dakota, New York, and West Virginia. Think they were looking for this?
Most surprising visitors: Novi Beograd and Mahape. Don’t know where those two places are – we’ll give you a hint – they’re a bit farther than Des Moines.
So it’s Friday, remember if you drink don’t drive, and if you drive, don’t drink – otherwise you’ll wind up like this guy.
SD: Press Sues Over Exit Polling
Last Updated on Tuesday, 13 May 2008 10:24 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 13 May 2008 10:24
From Rapid City Journal:
The three major networks, CNN, Fox News and The Associated Press have sued two South Dakota officials in federal court over exit poll access to voters.
The lawsuit, filed Monday, alleges that a state law barring exit polls or public opinion polling within 100 feet of a voting location violates the First Amendment.
Posted under Attorney General News, Secretaries of State | No Comments
Oregon Dem Enters SOS Race
Last Updated on Thursday, 1 May 2008 10:42 Written by rslcpol Thursday, 1 May 2008 10:42
From the Curry County Reporter:
People on the South Coast might not be too familiar with State Senator Rick Metsger, but they might recall that he’s the guy who in January decided to ask the state’s Attorney General Hardy Myers to sue the federal government for failing to “meet its historic responsibility” to rural communities. So far Myers hasn’t done anything.
Now Metsger’s hatched another plan: a run for Secretary of State.
Metsger said that the state’s second highest office is the right position to help him fight for rural Oregonians, a task he said he’s been doing since he first got elected several years ago. His senate district encompasses the Mt. Hood area all the way to the Wasco County line.
Posted under Secretaries of State, State Legislature News | No Comments
OR: Voters Guide To Phone Sex?
Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 April 2008 03:01 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 29 April 2008 01:44
Well, voting is a hot issue in Oregon….
It’s all because of a wrong number that appears in Bradbury’s letter to voters on the second page of the state publication. The correct number that Oregon voters should call begins with 866 (not 800) and it appears in at least 11 other places in the Voters’ Pamphlet.”One of my biggest priorities is to provide voters with all the resources they need, and clearly we erred with the listing for the voter hot line phone number on one page of the Voters’ Pamphlet,” Bradbury said in a statement. “So I sincerely apologize for any confusion that may have caused and I’d like to reiterate — don’t call that wrong number.”
Posted under Secretaries of State | No Comments