Wisconsin Voters Split on Recalling Walker
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on April 22nd, 2011 4:33 am by HL
Wisconsin Voters Split on Recalling Walker
A St. Norbert College poll shows Wisconsin voters are roughly split on whether to recall Gov. Scott Walker (R), 47% to 48%.
Voters are also generally opposed to recalling their state senators with 57% saying they want to keep Democratic senators in office and 53% saying they want to keep Republican senators in office.
Ensign Resignation Sets Off Scramble in Nevada
With Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) set to resign effective May 3, The Hotline notes that Nevada is set to become “a battleground state n steroids” as the decision ripples through the political system.
Rep. Dean Heller (R-NV), already a candidate for the seat, “is likely to be appointed to serve the rest of Ensign’s term, which would give him the advantage of incumbency in a race. While the Senate race looked like a battle between two members of Congress who held equal standing, now Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley will have to make the case that Heller should be unseated after serving time as a senator… If Heller gets appointed to the Senate, his House seat suddenly becomes the scene of the first major election of 2011–one that could give us a lot of clues about the trajectory of 2012.”
Interestingly, a high-ranking Nevada GOP source tells Roll Call there is “no way” failed U.S. Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R) would be tapped for Heller’s house seat.
Maybe Trump is Serious
Much of the media coverage of Donald Trump’s dance around a presidential bid has focused on whether he is serious or trying to get publicity for himself and his television series The Apprentice. The Hill has one clue that says Trump may be more serious than many think: “If Donald Trump’s flirtation with running for president is a bid to boost ratings for his reality TV show, it doesn’t appear to be working.”
“Trump, the real estate mogul who hosts The Apprentice, has been surging in polls measuring support for the GOP presidential hopefuls. But the ratings for the 11th season of NBC’s The Apprentice, which is featuring celebrity contestants, hit their lowest point for the season last Sunday… Indeed, Trump’s talk of running preceded the current season of his show. He said on Oct. 5 he was thinking of running. The following weekend’s episode, which aired on Oct. 7, showed little change in the ratings.”
Meanwhile, Fox News reports that regular contributor Charles Krauthammer is now convinced that Trump is “absolutely” running after a recent phone conversation in which Trump calmly “made his case.”
Pawlenty Will Release Budget Plan
The Hill reports that likely Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty plans to release a budget proposal of his own amidst the national debate over debt, spending and entitlement reform.
Third rail politics: Pawlenty’s budget will differ from the one offered by House Republicans and “offer a specific plan on Social Security and reform Medicare differently.”