The Fix - Chris Cillizza&#8217s politics blog on washingtonpost.com - July 18, 2010

"Worst Week in Washington" winner: Tom Vilsack

Department of Agriculture head Tom Vilsack was the runaway winner of our "Worst Week in Washington" award thanks to his dismissal and attempted re-hiring of a midlevel employee over what allegedly racially insensitive remarks that wound up being something entirely different.

By Chris Cillizza | July 24, 2010; 8:04 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (260)
Categories: Worst Week in Washington
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Patriot Majority hits Sharron Angle for saying job creation is 'not my job'

An anti-Tea Party political action committee is up with a new ad hitting Nevada GOP Senate candidate Sharron Angle for saying that creating jobs is not a U.S. senator's responsibility.

By The Fix | July 23, 2010; 5:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (83)
Categories: Senate
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Democrats' Charlie Rangel problem

The news that New York Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel violated House ethics rules and could be subject to a Congressional trial -- likely in September -- has party strategists panicked at what such a spectacle might do to an already difficult election climate for their side.

By Chris Cillizza | July 23, 2010; 2:43 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (124)
Categories: House
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Republicans hold edge in fight for governorships

Of the 15 gubernatorial races most likely to switch parties this fall, Democrats currently hold 10 of them -- a sign that a national landscape tilted toward Republicans is affecting state races as well.

By Chris Cillizza | July 23, 2010; 1:42 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (34)
Categories: The Line
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Sharron Angle takes on Harry Reid's effectiveness in new ad

Former Nevada state Assemblywoman Sharron Angle (R) will launch a new round of ads today in her race against Harry Reid (D) that aim to turn his long-standing influence argument on its head.

By Chris Cillizza | July 23, 2010; 7:44 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (131)
Categories: Senate
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Calling all Kennedys

Most observers are aware by now that the swearing-in Tuesday of West Virginia's newest senator, Sen. Carte Goodwin (D), marked the replacement of the Senate's oldest member, the late Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), with its youngest.

By The Fix | July 22, 2010; 4:08 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (71)
Categories: Senate
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Sarah Palin's New Hampshire problem?

Is former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin a poor fit for the New Hampshire primary electorate?

By Chris Cillizza | July 22, 2010; 1:10 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (171)
Categories: Eye on 2012
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Worst Week in Washington: The Nominees!

The firing and attempted rehiring of a mid-level U.S. Department of Agriculture employee named Shirley Sherrod has dominated the world of political news this week -- drowning out President Barack Obama's signing of financial regulatory reform and the Senate's passage of unemployment benefit extensions.

By Chris Cillizza | July 22, 2010; 11:08 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (110)
Categories: Worst Week in Washington
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Bill Clinton surpasses Barack Obama in popularity

For the first time in Gallup polling former President Bill Clinton has eclipsed President Barack Obama in popularity, a reminder of the political difficulties posed by governing and of Clinton's strength as a surrogate for Democratic candidates this fall.

By Chris Cillizza | July 22, 2010; 7:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (92)
Categories: Morning Fix
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Colleen Hanabusa: National Dems had "bum information" on Hawaii special

Hawaii state Sen. Colleen Hanabusa (D) says that when she meets with national Democrats today in Washington, she's willing to bury the hatchet - but not before reminding them of their poor judgment in deciding to oppose her in the May 22 special election for Hawaii's first district seat.

By The Fix | July 21, 2010; 5:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (26)
Categories: House
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How the White House veered off message on Shirley Sherrod

The firing -- and (likely) re-hiring of a mid-level Department of Agriculture employee named Shirley Sherrod -- won't even be a blip on the minds of people when they enter the voting booth this fall but the controversy has overshadowed what should have been a very good week for Democrats.

By Chris Cillizza | July 21, 2010; 3:43 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (164)
Categories: White House
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W.Va. lawmakers already jockeying to replace Manchin

Gov. Joe Manchin's Senate candidacy has opened up the floodgates for a number of candidates already eager to succeed him as governor -- and perhaps push for another special election.

By The Fix | July 21, 2010; 11:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (50)
Categories: Governors
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Money versus momentum in the fight for House control

The fundraising figures released by the two parties' House campaign committees on Tuesday -- the National Republican Congressional Committee and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee each collected about $9 million in June -- offer up two competing narratives as we turn our attention toward the fight for control this fall.

By Chris Cillizza | July 21, 2010; 7:53 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (60)
Categories: Morning Fix
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W.Va's Capito will not seek Senate seat, sources say

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) has decided she will not run in the special election to replace Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), three sources familiar with her plans said Tuesday night.

By Aaron Blake | July 20, 2010; 11:50 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Senate
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Georgia Election Results: Former Gov. Roy Barnes wins Democratic primary; Handel, Deal in runoff

Georgia election results: Former Gov. Roy Barnes (D) won his party's nomination for governor Tuesday, as Republicans are headed for a runoff.

By Aaron Blake | July 20, 2010; 9:45 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: Governors
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Change has come to the Fix comments section!

The Fix comments section gets overhauled -- in a good way.

By Chris Cillizza | July 20, 2010; 6:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (68)
Categories: Fix Notes
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Meek tries to beat back Crist-Reid chatter

Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.) had scheduled his talk today with the Senate Democratic caucus a month ago, at Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's invitation.

By The Fix | July 20, 2010; 5:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Senate
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Mitt Romney's inner circle

The Fix looks at the men and women advising Mitt Romney as he prepares to run for president in 2012.

By Chris Cillizza | July 20, 2010; 3:39 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (22)
Categories: Inner Circle
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Lindsey Graham's vote on Elena Kagan ensures primary challenge

/article/2010/07/20/AR2010072000559.html?hpid=topnews">Lindsey Graham's (R) announcement that he will vote in favor of Elena Kagan's nomination to the Supreme Court is likely to further foment conservatives already unhappy with him and, according to close observers of the state's politics, ensure he will face a serious primary challenge in 2014.

By Chris Cillizza | July 20, 2010; 1:13 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (158)
Categories: Senate
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The Fix: July 18, 2010 - July 24, 2010