Democrats look for gains in governors' races

[deadparrot]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats are positioned for gains in governors' races in November and could capture governorships in many big battleground states, giving the party an early edge in the 2008 fight for the White House.

Republicans must defend 22 of the 36 governors' offices on the ballot in November, including eight states where the incumbent retired or is barred from running again. Democrats defend 14 governorships but only one in which the incumbent is not running.

The lopsided political map, along with a tough national election climate for Republicans, put Democrats in a strong position to pick up at least the four governorships needed for a national majority. Republicans hold 28 governorships to 22 for Democrats.

"The math is not in our favor this year," said Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, chairman of the Republican Governors' Association, who is stepping down this year ahead of a potential 2008 presidential bid.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/usa_politics_governors_dc

[LiberalEsto]

1. Maryland Dems plan to give Gov. Ehrlich the boot

Worst Maryland governor since Spiro Agnew

[Patsy Stone]

2. I can't WAIT for Jeb to leave.

:woohoo:

I hope we do get a Dem governor -- that would be so sweet.

[mitchtv]

3. Boobengrabber is in for a very tough fight

was supposed to be a shoe-in.

[AlCzervik]

5. Did you read article about him today in the Bee?

enjoy.
Governor faces threat in GOP
Dump Democratic aide or lose support, conservatives say.
By Peter Hecht -- Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, February 11, 2006
Story appeared on Page A1 of The Bee

California Republican leaders are struggling behind the scenes to quell an insurrection by angry conservatives who want to strip Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of the state party endorsement if he doesn't drop his Democratic chief of staff, Susan Kennedy.
The conservative California Republican Assembly's demand for a vote on its "Susan Kennedy Resolution" has tossed a firebomb into efforts to shape the party's agenda at its Feb. 24-26 winter convention in San Jose.

Two leading conservative activists, former state Republican Party Chairman Michael Schroeder and California Republican Assembly President Mike Spence, indicated in interviews that they would back away from the Kennedy resolution if party leaders allow convention votes on four other measures critical of Schwarzenegger's legislative agenda.

The other resolutions oppose Schwarzenegger's proposal to raise the minimum wage, take issue with the governor for appointing too many Democratic judges, call for a balanced budget, and protest taking on additional bond debt to fund Schwarzenegger's $222 billion infrastructure building program.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ca/story/14176026p-15003315c.html

[f-bush]

7. I love it when the repukes eat their own!

[AlCzervik]

8. i know, pass the popcorn.

[TheDonkey]

4. Rendell (D) will sadly be booted for Swann (R)

It'll be an interesting race to see how Rendell can stop Swann.

[bigdarryl]

9. Randell will win

Randell isn't loosing against a lightweight like Swann.Randell is a masterful campaigner

[Lochloosa]

6. I think and pray (for you jeb) that Florida swings back to the Dems.

We have a couple of strong candidates in the primary.

[CatholicEdHead]

10. Betty McCullom has a long race but she can do it

she is better than current AG Mike Hatch who also wants to go against current Repub Gov Tim Palwenty. While Hatch has a long and good AG record, his verbal sniping at Pawlenty will probably turn many people off.

[NJ Democrats]

11. Yeah!

We are going to pick up Mass, NY, California, Maryland! maybe FL, Col, Bama, Ohio!
Go Eliot spitzer (He will win 80-20!)

[dysfunctional press]

12. i'd give Blagojevich here in illinois a 50-50 chance- at best.

for a Democrat that succeeded an extremely corrupt repuke governator, Blago has really dropped the ball- you'd almost think that he was in congress.