The Fix - Chris Cillizza&#8217s politics blog on washingtonpost.com - October 2, 2005

Political Roundup: Fla. Gov.; Edwards in N.C.; 'What Women Want'

A few political nuggets heading into the weekend: * Former Florida Democratic Party chairman Scott Maddox dropped his bid for governor Friday and quickly threw his support to Rep. Jim Davis. Maddox's campaign has been beset by controversy since June...

By Chris Cillizza | October 7, 2005; 4:42 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Governors
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Reynolds: 2006 Is Not 1994

I trekked through a driving rainstorm this morning to hear Rep. Tom Reynolds (N.Y.), the head of House Republicans' campaign arm, give a briefing on the political state of play. Playing to a packed conference room of reporters at the...

By Chris Cillizza | October 7, 2005; 1:46 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: House
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Report Warns of Party's Leftward Turn

In a report issued yesterday, two strategists closely aligned with the Democratic Leadership Council and the Clinton administration argue that Democrats cannot win future national elections by simply turning out their base vote. Instead, the authors write, the Democrats need...

By Chris Cillizza | October 7, 2005; 10:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Democratic Party
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Beating a Path to New Hampshire

If you happen to be a New Hampshire voter, lock your doors ... the politicians are coming. Candidates with an eye on the White House in 2008 are pouring into the state this fall to watch the foliage change and...

By Chris Cillizza | October 7, 2005; 8:45 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2008
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RNC Reassures the Roots

GOP leaders and close allies in the evangelical movement hosted a conference call today aimed at easing conservatives' concerns about the nomination of White House counsel Harriet Miers to the U.S. Supreme Court. Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman hosted...

By Chris Cillizza | October 6, 2005; 5:18 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Politics and the Court
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Ohio and Pa. Senate; Hillary Raising $ for N.H. Gov.

Here's a look at several political stories that have people in Washington talking today: * Rep. Sherrod Brown (D) officially entered the Ohio Senate race this afternoon. "Earlier today, I began to inform my friends and colleagues that I will...

By Chris Cillizza | October 6, 2005; 5:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Senate
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Rudy in 2008?

In a series of little-noticed remarks over the past week, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) seemed to be hinting that he will definitely run for president in 2008. "I think I'll return to politics," said Giuliani at...

By Chris Cillizza | October 6, 2005; 1:37 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2008
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Dean: An Update

Thanks for all the comments on my Dean post from earlier today. I wanted to provide a quick response. I talked to a handful of Democratic strategists this morning about the DNC chairman's remarks on "Hardball" last night and got...

By Chris Cillizza | October 6, 2005; 11:46 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Democratic Party
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Dean Pops Off

Heeeee's back. After nine months of relative anonymity, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean gave an interview on "Hardball" last night in which he launched a few of the rhetorical rockets that he became infamous for during his unsuccessful 2004...

By Chris Cillizza | October 6, 2005; 10:48 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Democratic Party
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Richardson Hunting for New Consultant

Here's a 2008 tidbit that has everyone in the Democratic consulting world all a-twitter of late. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D), who is very much in the mix as a potential candidate for president, is interviewing a handful of...

By Chris Cillizza | October 6, 2005; 8:35 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2008
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Audio: Cillizza on Miers Nomination

The Fix's Chris Cillizza was on WTOP radio this morning to discuss how the Harriet Miers Supreme Court nomination is playing in the Senate. Listen to his audio here. Also, Chris authored the Politics column in today's Post. Read it...

By Chris Cillizza | October 6, 2005; 8:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Politics and the Court
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California Democrat Forms Defense PAC

Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) is forming a new political action committee that seeks to bolster Democratic candidates' credibility on defense issues. SecureUS PAC, as the organization will be known, is designed not only as a fundraising mechanism but also as...

By Chris Cillizza | October 5, 2005; 6:34 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: PAC Watch
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Miers Nomination: The Gang Meets

The bipartisan group of 14 senators that averted a showdown over President Bush's judicial nominees earlier this year is set to meet today to discuss the nomination of White House counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court. The "Gang of...

By Chris Cillizza | October 5, 2005; 12:29 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Politics and the Court
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A Carter in the Senate?

Former president Jimmy Carter's oldest son -- Jack -- is planning to challenge Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) next November, according to a report in today's Las Vegas Review Journal. Jack Carter, 58, has lived in Las Vegas since 2003. He...

By Chris Cillizza | October 5, 2005; 11:37 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Senate
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Mitt's Mass. Numbers Sag

A new poll released Tuesday by the University of Massachusetts shows Gov. Mitt Romney (R) trailing state Attorney General Tom Reilly (D) by 15 points in a head-to-head matchup. And, only 39 percent of those tested think Romney "deserves re-election"...

By Chris Cillizza | October 5, 2005; 10:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2008
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California's 48th -- On to Dec. 6

Republican state Sen. John Campbell led the crowded field in yesterday's special House election in California's 48th district but was unable to capture 50 percent of the vote to win the seat outright. Campbell took 46 percent of the overall...

By Chris Cillizza | October 5, 2005; 8:50 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: House
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Iowa in October

Would-be presidential candidates are flooding into the Hawkeye State over the next month to raise money, meet and greet voters and raise their profile in a state likely to once again be crucial to selecting the Democratic and Republican presidential...

By Chris Cillizza | October 4, 2005; 1:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2008
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Ohio: Hackett's In; Brown Mulls

It was no coincidence that as news that Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) was reconsidering his previous pass to take on Sen. Mike DeWine (R) was breaking on this blog and elsewhere yesterday, Paul Hackett (D) kicked off his own race...

By Chris Cillizza | October 4, 2005; 12:35 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Senate
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Harriet Miers: '06 Senators React

With the nomination of White House counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court just 24 hours old, I thought it would be worthwhile to see how senators being targeted for defeat in 2006 are handling the news of her nomination....

By Chris Cillizza | October 4, 2005; 10:29 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Senate
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CA-48 Special Election

Voters in California's 48th district head to the polls today to select a replacement for ex-Rep. Chris Cox (R), who is now serving as the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The race has drawn a cavalcade of candidates,...

By Chris Cillizza | October 4, 2005; 8:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: House
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Video: Cillizza on the Miers Nomination

Chris Cillizza was on Washington's News Channel 8 on Monday to discuss the Miers nomination. Watch the video here.

By Chris Cillizza | October 3, 2005; 5:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Politics and the Court
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In Alabama, Judge Moore Takes Aim at Incumbent

Deposed Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore today formally entered the Republican primary against Gov. Bob Riley, setting up a high-profile, intraparty battle likely to reverberate in national conservative circles. Roy Moore (AP File Photo) Moore made his announcement...

By Chris Cillizza | October 3, 2005; 3:54 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Governors
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Brown Reconsiders Senate Run in Ohio

Knowledgeable sources on and off the Hill tell The Fix that Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) is reconsidering his earlier decision not to challenge Sen. Mike DeWine (R) in 2006. I called Brown's Capitol Hill office this morning to check it...

By Chris Cillizza | October 3, 2005; 12:37 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Senate
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Another Blow to Republicans in West Virginia

West Virginia Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R) told the Charleston Daily Mail this morning that she will not challenge Sen. Robert Byrd (D) in 2006, choosing instead to run for reelection in her 2nd district. "My best future right now...

By Chris Cillizza | October 3, 2005; 12:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Senate
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Miers Donated to Democrats

Picking through the background of newly minted Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers, there are some political activities that may irritate the president's conservative base -- she donated campaign cash to a handful of Democrats, including Al Gore. In her defense,...

By Chris Cillizza | October 3, 2005; 10:20 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Politics and the Court
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The Fix: October 2, 2005 - October 8, 2005