Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, and Louisiana

Indiana: Governor: Republican Incumbent Mitch Daniels is facing in the Democratic field ex-Lieutenant Governor Kathy Davis, Democrat State House Speaker John Gregg, Democratic Mayor Bart Peterson of Indianapolis, Democratic State Senator Vi Simpson, and Democratic State Senate Minority Leader Richard Young. No Senate Race until Evan Bayh in 2010. House 1: Democratic Incumbent Peter Visclosky is facing frequent Republican candidate Mark Leyva. 2: Democratic Incumbent Joe Donnelly is facing Republican State Senator Thomas WeatherWax 3: Republican Incumbent Mark Souder has no opposition, yet: 4: Republican Incumbent Steve Buyer has no opposition at this time: 5: Republican Incumbent Dan Burton has no opposition at this time: 6: Republican Incumbent Mike Pence has no opposition at this time: 7: Democratic Incumbent Julia Carson is facing Republican 2006 Nominee Eric Dickerson: 8: Democratic Incumbent Brad Ellsworth is facing Republican University Lobbyist Greg Goode and Republican Gibson County Prosecutor Rob Krieg: 9: Democratic Incumbent Baron Hill is facing Republican ex-Congressman Mike Sodrel.

Iowa: Senate: Democratic Incumbent Tom Harkin is facing Republican Congressman Steve King and Republican Businessman Steve Rathje: House: 1: Democratic Incumbent Bruce Braley has no opposition at this time: 2: Democratic Incumbent Dave Loebsack has no opposition at this time: 3: Democratic Incumbent Leonard Boswell has no opposition at this time: 4: Republican Incumbent Tom Latham has no opposition at this time: 5: Republican Incumbent Steve King has no opposition at this time.

Kansas: Senate: Republican Incumbent Pat Roberts has no opposition at this time: House: 1: Republican Incumbent Jerry Moran has no opposition at this time: 2: Democratic Incumbent Nancy Boyda is facing Republican Conservative Activist Alan Cobb, Republican State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, Republican ex-State House Speaker Doug Mays, Republican ex-Congressman Jim Ryun, Republican State Representative Lee Tafanelli: 3: Democratic Incumbent Dennis Moore has no opposition at this time: 4: Republican Incumbent Todd Tiahrt has no opposition at this time.

Kentucky: Governor 2007 Race: Republican Ernie Fletcher is facing numerous opposition (www.politics1.com/ky.htm). Senate: Republican Incumbent Mitch McConnell has no opposition at this time: House: 1: Republican Incumbent Ed Whitfield has no opposition at this time: 2: Republican Incumbent Ron Lewis has no opposition at this time: 3: Democratic Incumbent John Yarmuth is facing Republican ex-Gubernatorial Aide Erwin Roberts and Republican Businessman Chris Thieneman: 4: Republican Incumbent Geoff Davis has no opposition at this time: 5: Republican Incumbent Hal Rogers has no opposition at this time: 6: Democratic Incumbent A.B. "Ben" Chandler, III has no opposition at this time

Louisiana: Governor 2007: Democrat Incumbent Kathleen Blanco is facing numerous opposition (www.politics1.com/la.htm). Senate: Democratic Incumbent Mary Landrieu is facing Republican Congressman Charles Boustany, Jr and Republican Secretary of State Jay Dardenne. House: 1: Republican Incumbent Bobby Jindal has no opposition at this time: 2: Democratic Incumbent Bill Jefferson has no opposition at this time: 3: Democratic Incumbent Charlie Melancon has no opposition at this time: 4: Republican Incumbent Jim McCrery has no opposition at this time: 5: Republican Incumbent Rodney Alexander has no opposition at this time: 6: Republican Incumbent Richard Baker has no opposition at this time: 7: Republican Incumbent Charles Boustany, Jr. has no opposition at this time.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Good Morning: I'm back after my vacation. It was a very relaxing weekend. I probably won't post this weekend either as I'll be out of town, again. I will be posting today through Friday, at least. In the race for the White House: Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona blasted a report in Sunday's Washington Post that said the Arizona Republican, who has campaigned against the use of "soft money," is using just those kinds of funds to support his GOP presidential nomination. McCain told CNN the article is the "worst hit job that has ever been done in my entire political career." (CNN.com). In Ames, IA, on Sunday, Democratic Senator Barack Obama of Illinois "used his first news conference after announcing his run for president to accuse the media of ignoring his substantive record and falsely depicting him as a lightweight," the Politico reports. "'The problem's not that the info's not out there,' he said of his record on policy issues. 'The problem is that that's not what you guys have been reporting on. You've been reporting on how I look in a swimsuit.'" Obama also "delivered a tart smackdown" to Australian PM John Howard, "who declared that Al Qaeda is rooting for [him]," the New York Daily News reports. "'I think it's flattering that one of George Bush's allies on the other side of the world started attacking me on the day after I announced,' Obama said of the low blow from Down Under." At a house party Sunday in Nashua, NH, Democratic Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York "reassured" one voter who asked "why some prominent Republicans seem to be clamoring for [her] to win her party's nomination": CLINTON: "That's not what I hear... I know what Newt Gingrich tells people privately. I know what Tom DeLay tells people privately... I'm the one person they're most afraid of, because Bill and I do know how to beat them." (New Hampshire Union-Leader). Billed as a "major energy security speech," former Democratic Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack is slated to deliver his first policy address as a presidential candidate at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco Tuesday. "Vilsack will outline his national energy plan which will strengthen our national security, stimulate our economy by creating good jobs and make America energy independent," according to a statement released by his campaign.Vilsack announced his intentions to seek the White House in early November, the first Democrat to formally jump into the 2008 race. Sen. John McCain announced his Massachusetts leadership team Monday, an apparent dig at former Bay State Gov. Mitt Romney who will formally announce Tuesday his candidacy for the GOP presidential nomination.Former Massachusetts Republican Chairwoman Jean Inman will head up the Arizona Republican's campaign and state Rep. Paul Loscocco and Sherriff Joe McDonald will serve as co-chairs. GOP state committee treasurer Brent Andersen and GOP state committee member Ed Bertorelli have signed on as vice-chairs."Sen. McCain is a true leader who has the committed, conservative principles to win this election," Inman said. "I respect the fact that the senator is a man of his word and sticks by his beliefs."Some conservatives have criticized Romney for changing his position on certain social issues, including abortion and gay rights.Romney is scheduled to formally announce his candidacy during an event in Michigan, the presidential battleground state where his father once served as governor. Former Republican New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani picked up endorsements from Texas Rep. Pete Sessions and former New York Rep. Susan Molinari, his presidential exploratory committee announced Monday. Sessions cited Giuliani's "vision to unite the country," and Molinari praised his record as mayor of New York in statements released by the exploratory committee. Giuliani established a presidential exploratory committee in November, but has yet to formally declare his intention to seek the GOP presidential nomination. Former Massachusetts Republican Governor Mitt Romney's choice of a museum honoring auto pioneer Henry Ford as the site of his presidential announcement was strongly criticized Monday by Jewish Democrats, who noted Ford's history of anti-Semitism.The former Massachusetts governor, who is scheduled to formally launch his presidential candidacy from the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit on Tuesday, was taken to task by The National Jewish Democratic Council.The council "is deeply troubled by Governor Romney's choice of locations to announce his Presidential campaign," executive director Ira Forman said in a statement."Romney has been traveling the country talking about inclusiveness and understanding of people from all walks of life," Forman said. "Yet he chooses to kick (off) his presidential campaign on the former estate of a well-known and outspoken anti-Semite and xenophobe."Forman said Romney's "embrace of Henry Ford and association of Ford's legacy with his presidential campaign raises serious questions about either the sincerity of Romney's words or his understanding of basic American history."Ford was bestowed with the Grand Service Cross of the Supreme Order of the German Eagle by Adolf Hitler. Eric Fehrnstrom, a spokesman for Romney, said the candidate will go ahead with his announcement as planned."Governor Romney believes our country needs to put innovation at the forefront if we are to ensure a stronger, safer and more prosperous America," Fehrnstrom said. "The Ford Museum embodies that bold, innovative spirit."Fehrnstrom noted that other political leaders have praised Ford in the past, including former President Bill Clinton. He has sounded like a full-fledged presidential candidate since forming an exploratory committee early last month, and on Tuesday former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will formally become one during an announcement in Michigan.Romney is slated to officially jump in the race during a speech at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan at 9 a.m. ET, followed by a four-day, six state tour of crucial presidential primary states.After his announcement in Michigan, the political battleground state where his father once served as governor, Romney will head to Iowa for a rally in Des Moines at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.On Wednesday Romney will head to South Carolina to deliver remarks at an event in Columbia before heading up to his neighboring state of New Hampshire for a Town Hall meeting in Hopkinton.The Massachusetts Republican then heads to Boston for a fundraising event and home-town rally before wrapping up his announcement tour in The Villages, Florida at a meet-and-greet on Friday. Former Republican Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas picked up key endorsements in the early-voting state of South Carolina, the Arkansas Republican announced Monday.Iris Campbell, wife of the late South Carolina Gov. Carroll Campbell, will serve as the honorary South Carolina state chairwoman of Huckabee's exploratory committee in the Palmetto state.Her youngest son, Mike, has also signed on with Huckabee, agreeing to serve as his senior national advisor.Calling Huckabee a "tremendous leader," Iris Campbell hailed him in a statement as "a true conservative and a man of character and vision.""Gov. Huckabee is the only candidate with proven conservative credentials," Mike Campbell added.Mike Campbell lost a bid for South Carolina Lieutenant governor last year.In an e-mail to the Associated Press, Campbell's other son, Carroll Campbell III, said he supported Sen. John McCain's political action committee efforts in the 2006 election cycle but said his job as a lobbyist prevented him from endorsing any presidential candidate.''I believe [McCain] is uniquely qualified to lead our nation in the global war against terror. I stand by those views,'' Campbell III told the Associated Press. Today, I will post Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, and Louisiana. An updated list of Presidential Candidates will come next Tuesday, February 20, 2007.