North Dakota Democratic senator Kent Conrad now has at least one potential challenger: Public Service Commissioner Brian Kalk. He’s filed the papers for an exploratory committee; his official biography can be found here.
Potential slogan: “If Washington is cracking up, let’s fix it with Kalk.”
I'm thinking that slogan is a mite too susceptible to profane parody.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGiven the way North Dakota votes in Presidential Elections, it makes you wonder how did they end up with two Libs for so long?
They should be electing DeMint type people.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOne word, PORK.. They got addicted especially when Quentin Burick was Senator and these 2 kept it going. Burdick was rated more than liberal than Teddy Kennedy when he was there. I think there has been sea change especially with oil and gas booming that they don't need as much federal money as they used and will see Conrad probably retire and not run for re-election.
All high elected offices are held by republicans in the state and since ND is one of only 2 states that have had huge surpluses in their budget throughout the economic downturn, people are realizing the republicans are a better are running government and is finally showing up in Federal offices.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePork and faux-centrism are what have enabled Democrats to keep their seats in red states and districts. Occasionally you see Republican incumbents lose such seats due to corruption, personal problems, or significant gaffes, and that will probably always continue. But in an age where people are less impressed by pork and more in tune with what their senators and representatives are actually voting for in Washington, I think it will be very difficult for Democrats to hold on in nominally Republican and especially solid Republican places. The challenge for Republicans is to make sure our candidates can put forth a solid, positive conservative message that doesn't unnecessarily alienate people in the middle; I'm afraid that's what happened in NV and CO.
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