Stuart Rothenberg Speaks on SC, OK, and AK Senate Races

[mndemocrat_29]

Here's the article:

http://www.rollcall.com/pub/49_51/rothenberg/3530-1.html

Inez Tenenbaum, Tony Knowles and Brad Carson are terrific candidates. I can't say enough nice things about them. But they all have tough roads ahead. Any Democrat in their situations, no matter how appealing, would.

The question yet to be answered is whether they can solve the one overriding problem that undid the Senate candidacies of former two-term Wyoming Democratic Gov. Mike Sullivan, former two-term Idaho Democratic Gov. John Evans and Kansas Democratic businesswoman Jill Docking (whose father served as governor and husband was lieutenant governor). They too were terrific candidates - and all lost because they were running for federal office in heavily Republican states. Tenenbaum, who is serving her second term as state superintendent of public education, is the likely Democratic nominee in South Carolina. Knowles, a former two-term governor of Alaska, is certain to be the Democratic Senate nominee next year. And Carson, a two-term Congressman from Oklahoma's 2nd district, is currently unopposed for the Democratic Senate nod there.

Tenenbaum, Carson and Knowles all have a chance to win. Knowles may have the best shot, since voters seem focused on Gov. Frank Murkowski's appointment of his daughter, Lisa Murkowski (R), to the state's vacant Senate seat. But if the Senate contest turns to partisanship and ideology, as they often do, Knowles is in trouble.



He basically says that the biggest problem facing Democrats in these three races is geography. However, his examples did occur in fairly Republican years (at least with Senate elections). Hopefully Democrats will be able to overcome this by having a strong year in 2004 and take these seats.

[SCDem]

1. Another problem with Tenenbaum in SC

is that she is pro-war. I know of many people who are trying to push an independent candidate to enter the race.... and iven though I really want a Dem in the senate in SC it would be hard for me to vote for Tenenbaum over this independent candidate because of the I's stand against the war.

[jiacinto]

2. Look at the state

She is in line with what the voters there want.