Tuesday's Primaries

It's a pretty big day for primaries tomorrow, with the big one being in Connecticut. That's where all of the media attention will be tomorrow, but there is a lot of other action going on. Here's the rundown.

Colorado CD 5
With Congressman Joel Hefley (R) stepping down, 6 Republicans are vying for the chance to win the seat. Doug Lamborn has raised the most money, with $411,323 in the bank. He received 40% of the vote at the GOP convention, which was not the most; Jeff Crank received 46% and has raised nearly $250,000 and so has to be considered a serious challenger. Duncan Bremer, Bentley Rayburn, Lionel Rivera, and John Anderson are also running.

The Demoocrats have already put up Jay Fawcett, who will be waiting patiently to find out his opponent.

Colorado CD 7
Congressman Bob Beauprez (R) is running for Governor, and so his seat is open. Rick O'Donnell is the sole Republican in the race. He will face one of three Democrats: Ed Perlmutter, Peggy Lamm, or Herb Rubenstein. Perlmutter has raised over $1 million, while Lamm has raised $700,000 and Rubenstein is at $200,000, so Perlmutter has to be considered the favorite.

Connecticut Senate
Otherwise known as The Big One. The Republicans have nominated Alan Schlesinger already, although there is an issue about whether he'll remain in the race, as the GOP has asked him to step down in favor of Jack Orchulli. However, it is the Democrats who will be in action tomorrow, with embattled Senator Joe Lieberman facing Ned Lamont. Lieberman has over $3.5 million more in the bank than Lamont, but this race is going to be extremely close. Lieberman had been trailing in recent polls, but reports indicate he has pulled back into a statistical tie with Lamont, so tomorrow is going to be very, very interesting.

Connecticut Governor
Governor M. Jodi Rell (R) does not have a challenger in the primary, and so can sit back and watch Dan Malloy and John DeStefano, Jr. face off for the Democratic nomination. Malloy has the party endorsement, and should win the race.

Connecticut CD 1
Congressman John Larson (D) is unopposed, while the Republicans will have to choose between Scott MacLean (the party endorsee) and Miriam Masullo. Neither has a chance against Larson in November.

Georgia CD 4 (Runoff)
In another of the major races taking place tomorrow, we will find out whether Congressman Cynthia McKinney (D) can hold onto her seat against challenger Hank Johnson, Jr. For the record, I think McKinney is toast, and the polling suggests the same. The winner will face Catherine Davis (R) in November.

Michigan Senate
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D) is unopposed, but the battle to determine her challenger will be interesting, with Keith Butler (who has raised nearly $3 million this year) facing off against Mike Bouchard (with around $2 million in the bank). Butler should win, and might make it close against Stabenow in November. This is a seat that is critical for the Democrats; they can't afford to lose seemingly safe seats if they have any hope of taking over the Senate this year.

Michigan CD 3
Congressman Vernon Ehlers (R) is unopposed, and 2 Democrats are fighting to challenge him in November. Pete Hickey and Jim Rinck are running for that chance, but neither has raised much money; Rinck has only $6,000 in the bank, and Hickey seems to have even less. A pretty meaningless primary all-in-all.

Michigan CD 7
Congressman Joe Schwarz (R) will have to fend off the fairly well-funded Tim Walberg to get back on the ballot this year. Walberg has over $600,000 in his campaign fund, but Schwarz has over $1.3 million. Schwarz should win pretty easily.

On the Democratic side, four challengers face off, none of whom is a real favorite. Sharon Renier, Fred Strack, Jr., Daryl Campbell, and Chuck Ream will fight it out.

Michigan CD 8
Congressman Mike Rogers (R) has to swat aside Patrick Flynn before he gets a chance to take on Jim Marcinkowski (D) in November. That shouldn't be a real challenge for him, as Flynn has raised just $3,000 to Rogers $1 million.

Michigan CD 9
Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R) faces Patricia Godchaux in this year's primary, with the winner facing Nancy Skinner (D) in November. Knollenberg has nearly $2 million to play with, while Godchaux has about $450,000. That's not bad for a primary challenger, but Knollenberg shouldn't have anything to worry about in the primary or in the general.

Michigan CD 10
Congressman Candice Miller (R) is unopposed, while the Democrats have 4 people running for a spot on the ballot, none of whom is very inspiring. Anthony America, Bob Casey, Robert Denison, and Paul Kuligowski will battle it out; my money is on Casey, but I have no real justification for that pick.

Missouri Senate
Senator Jim Talent (R) has raised nearly $10 million, but has to beat out 4 wannabe Senators to get back on the ballot in November. The cannon-fodder will be Scott Babbitt, Roxie Fausnaught, Isaiah Hair, Jr. , and Joyce Lea.

For the Democrats, State Auditor Claire McCaskill is the nominee in all reality, with $4.5 million raised. Before it's official, however, she has to beat out Bill Clinton Young in the primary. Is there any question about whether this schlub added the "Clinton" to his name as a ballot gimmick? My apologies if that isn't the case, but seriously, what are the odds? Can't wait for this race in November.

Missouri CD 1
Congressman William Clay, Jr. (D) is unopposed this year, and will be watching 3 Republicans fight for the right to take him on: Leslie La Vantres Farr, II, Mark Joseph Byrne, and Lou Mansfield. Farr is the favorite, with about $100,000 in the bank.

Missouri CD 2
Congressman William Todd Akin (R) should knock around challenger Sherman Parker in the primary, and will go on to face one of four Democrats in November: John Hogan, Charles Karam, Rich Lesh, and George Weber. The favorite is probably Hogan.

Missouri CD 3
Congressman Russ Carnahan (D) will easily beat challenger Jim Frisella tomorrow, on the way to demolishing David Bertelsen (R) in November.

Missouri CD 4
Congressman Ike Skelton (D) is unopposed, while 4 Republicans face off to challenger him. Glenn Conner is the clear frontrunner with $344,000 in the bank compared to little or nothing to the other three candidates. For the record, their names are Jim Noland, Jr. , Jeff Parnell, and Lloyd Sanders, Sr.

Missouri CD 7
Congressman Roy Blunt (R), the Majority Whip in the House, has 3 minor challengers to face off against in Bernard Kennetz, Jr., Clendon Kinder, and Midge Potts. When he's done wiping the floor with them, he'll face off against one of three uninspiring Democrats in Charles Christrup, Ron Lapham, and Jack Truman.

Missouri CD 8
Congressman Jo Ann Emerson (R) is unopposed, and will face one of three Democrats in November: Veronica Hambacker (the favorite, with around $20,000 in the bank), Gene Curtis, or Earl Durnell.