Campaigns & Elections articles from May 2006

Campaigns & Elections archives from May 2006

Editor's note.(computer usage)
May 1, 2006... Twenty years ago Campaigns & Elections was talking about "Campaigns & Computers." In fact we had a section called just that. Back then we were on the cutting edge of new campaign technologies, and today we work towards that same end. ...

Publisher's note.
May 1, 2006... Got plans for June 1, 2 and 3? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We do. Those are the dates of our annual June seminar in Washington. Nearly 40 sessions are scheduled with some of the most respected leaders of the political and public affairs...

What were they thinking?
May 1, 2006... Hindsight is always 20-20. But certain actions demonstrate an astounding lack of forethought. Take Randy "Duke" Cunningham's bribery menu. The former Congressman wrote down how much he charged a defense contractor for steering government...

The top spots.(youth in politics)
May 1, 2006... It's never too early to become politically active. For many American youth, an excellent time to leap into the fray is during college, when the majority of teens get their first taste of life away from home and the political beliefs of their...

Best statehouse eats.(Kat Man Du)(Restaurant Muramoto)(Ryan's Grill)(Restaurant review)
May 1, 2006... In C & E's ongoing efforts to keep readers well-fed and watered, we've gotten some tips on where to go in the capitals of New Jersey, Wisconsin and Hawaii. Trenton, New Jersey: Kat Man Du, 50 Riverview Executive Park, 609-393-7300,...

Democratic Leadership Council.(Robert Atkinson)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Robert Atkinson is leaving his position as the vice president of the Democratic Leadership Council's Progressive Policy Institute to become president of the new Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. Based in Washington, the...

Democratic National Committee.(Kandy Stroud )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Kandy Stroud has left her job at the Democratic National Committee to open her own firm. Stroud had overseen the committee's radio communications. A former print and TV reporter, Stroud worked on both of Bill Clinton's presidential...

Julian Mulvey Group.(Michelle Balsley and Jenny Jiang promoted)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Two staffers at the Julian Mulvey Group have been promoted. Michelle Balsley is the Democratic advertising agency's new managing director, and Jenny Jiang is the new political brand manager. Balsley used to raise funds for the PAC of U.S....

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.(Karl Fritsch appointed)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has hired Karl Fritsch to be its press secretary. Previously, he worked for Paul Hackett's failed campaign for the U.S. Senate and as a Democratic spokesman for the House Rules Committee.

American Association of Political Consultants.(2006 Pollie Awards )
May 1, 2006... The American Association of Political Consultants announced the winners of the 2006 Pollie Awards this spring. Some of the winners and their categories are listed here, check back next month for more winners: DIRECT MAIL National...

Campaign consultant sign-ups.(Directory)
May 1, 2006... A.B. Data Ltd./R -- data, lists Bob Casey, PA, U.S. Sen. '06 Phil Angelides, CA, Gov. '06 Robert C. Byrd, WV, U.S. Sen. '06 Amy Klobuchar, MN, U.S. Sen. '06 Joe Lieberman, CT, U.S. Sen. '06 Alien Media/R -- media ...

Ten questions for Lissa Muscatine: the secrets of speechwriting.(MOVERS & SHAKERS)(Interview)
May 1, 2006... Deputy Assistant to President Bill Clinton and the Director of Communications for Hillary Rodham Clinton when she was first lady. She also helped Sen. Clinton on both of her books. Prior to working in the White House, Muscatine worked as a...

Ten questions for Clark Judge: the secrets of speechwriting.(Interview)
May 1, 2006... Managing director of the White House Writers Group, a D.C.-based communications firm. Judge served as speechwriter and special assistant to both President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George Bush. After two and a half years serving the vice...

The art of political campaigning: the 23rd annual training seminar.
May 1, 2006... WASHINGTON MARRIOTT * WASHINGTON, DC JUNE 1ST-JUNE 3RD, 2006 For political professionals, candidates, campaign specialists and political junkies To register for the seminar, fill out the form below and mail to: Campaigns &...

The mail-zilla: attack of the monster direct mail mistakes.(FEATURE)
May 1, 2006... With less than two weeks to go until Election Day 2002, Minnesotans were stunned to hear a plane crash had claimed their legendary U.S. Senator, Paul Wellstone (D). Over the next few days, at least 10,000 of them received a political hit piece...

The great divide: do unions and Democrats still go hand in hand?(FEATURE)
May 1, 2006... Exit polls from the 2004 election showed union members choosing U.S. Sen. John Kerry over President George W. Bush 62 to 38 percent, a broad enough advantage in a closely divided electorate to reassure Democrats the labor component of their...

Getting women in the Club: what it is going to take to get a woman in the White House.(FEATURE)
May 1, 2006... There's a trend popping up in recent presidential elections around the world. Several countries, riddled by long-lasting, complex divisions, have elected women to take over and lead. Germany, Chile, Liberia and Jamaica have chosen women as...

Alabama.(absentee ballots)
May 1, 2006... The Alabama legislature pushed back the state's primary runoff from June 27 to July 18 so that overseas military personnel will have time to cast absentee ballots. This move ends a lawsuit lodged against the state by the U.S. Department of...

Alaska.(gas pipelines)(Frank Murkowski)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Negotiations on a gas pipeline that would run from Alaska to Canada and the Midwest are preventing Gov. Frank Murkowski from committing to run for re-election. The governor said he wants "overall acceptability" on the project that could cost...

Arizona.(election bill)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... A last-minute amendment to an election bill in the state legislature changes the dates of mayoral and city council elections in Chandler, Mesa and Scottsdale from spring to fall. The bill, written to clarify election mailings, balloting...

Arkansas.(Arkansas Ethics Commission )
May 1, 2006... Attorneys general who are also running for governor cannot use the publicly funded resources of their day jobs for their campaign, the Arkansas Ethics Commission ruled recently. The decision came in response to a complaint about after a...

California.(state political activity)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Term limits are prompting numerous state legislators and elected officials to run for other offices to continue their political careers. For the office of lieutenant governor, Democratic state senators Jackie Speier and Liz Figueroa are facing...

Colorado.(Joel Hefley)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... When U.S. Rep. Joel Hefley (R) announced his long-anticipated retirement after 20 years, he opened the floodgates for what will be a busy primary. The 5th District is located in the Colorado Springs area, the epicenter of Republican influence...

Connecticut.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont, whose candidacy has focused on the Iraq War and U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman's perceived closeness with the Bush Administration, formally kicked off his campaign for the Democratic nomination this Spring. Lamont...

Delaware.(Joseph Biden )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Now that U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden (D) is campaigning for president, there are rumors that he might not seek re-election to his current post. Democrats seem particularly hopeful that a Senate vacancy will stave off a potentially bruising...

District of Columbia.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Five of the major mayoral candidates are reaching out to Hispanic residents with promises of better schools, centers for day laborer centers and high-level jobs in the city government. Democrats Linda Cropp, Adrian Fenty, Vincent Orange,...

Florida.(Dick Cheney's political campaign)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Vice President Dick Cheney recently traveled to Florida to raise money for two Congressional candidates, Clay Shaw and Ric Keller. Cheney's appearance for Rep. Shaw raised $300,000 for his re-election campaign against state Senator Ron Klein,...

Georgia.(Sonny Perdue )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue enjoys a fund-raising and name-recognition advantage as he prepares for his re-election campaign but an Insider Advantage/Majority Opinion poll completed recently suggests he still must get through a highly...

Hawaii.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(senators try for removal of gas cap)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... In September, Hawaii became the first state to cap wholesale gas prices. However, the results have not been good for consumers. A recent state-financed study shows the gas cap cost $50 million more in taxes and $65 per driver per year. In...

Idaho.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Lee Halper runs two different offices as a member of two different parties)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... In a refreshing break from maintaining strict party lines, Lee Halper has decided to run for two different offices as a member of two different parties. The cabinetmaker has filed to run as an Independent for the District 1 commissioner's seat...

Illinois.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Mike Jacobs, Andrea Zinga, Mike Boland and Mark Schweibert's nominations )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The retirement of U.S. Rep. Lane Evans (R) leaves the 17th District seat vacant. State Sen. Mike Jacobs (D), a likely successor to the seat, said he wouldn't run in the race against Republican challenger Andrea Zinga, leaving the race open to...

Indiana.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(smoking bans may face hurdles )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Those hoping to ban smoking in Gibson County face a major hurdle before the measure can even come to a vote. Current Indiana election code provisions for voter referendums do not include public questions on smoking. C & E Staff

Iowa.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Charles Grassley's funding for Iowa Environmental Project)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Iowa's proposed $180 million indoor rain forest, ridiculed by some watchdogs as a prime example of unnecessary federal pork when Sen. Charles Grassley netted it $50 million in federal funding in 2004, now looks like it's on the way to a 2009...

Kansas.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(legislators' oppose Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act (Draft))(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Conservative legislators are trying to push through a Taxpayer's Bill of Rights to restrict the state's ability to raise taxes or increase spending. In order for TABOR to pass as a constitutional amendment, it has to be approved by two-thirds...

Kentucky.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Kentucky. Supreme Court's judiciary election )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... This year's judiciary election is a historic one for Kentucky voters, who have the chance to vote on all court seats except for two the state Supreme Court. Candidates are running under rules passed in September that give them more freedom in...

Louisiana.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(gubernatorial elections)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... A new Verne Kennedy poll shows that U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal is far ahead of any other potential candidates in the 2007 race for governor. The Republican leads former U.S. Senator John Breaux and Governor Kathleen Blanco by more than 2-to-1....

Maine.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(political fund raising scandals)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Fund-raising scandals touched both Republicans and Democrats this spring. The Federal Election Commission got a complaint about $10,000 in campaign contributions that the Maine Democratic Party gave to Rhode Island's secretary of state, Matt...

Maryland.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(House of Delegates's regulation on political fund raising)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The House of Delegates passed a bill that would pay for general assembly campaigns with public money. The bill would grant up to $100,000 in public funds to qualified Senate candidates and up to $80,000 to qualified House candidates. In order...

Massachusetts.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(senators' political campaign spending)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Despite a lack of formidable challengers in Massachusetts, congressmen still find plenty of ways to spend campaign cash, with 4 out of 10 House members having more than $1 million in cash at the end of 2005. U.S. Ted Kennedy (D) has a war chest...

Michigan.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Single Business Tax opposed)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm's veto in April of the Republican-supported initiative to eliminate the Single Business Tax has the GOP loading its campaign arsenal with a ballot initiative to repeal the tax. The SBT would have meant almost...

Minnesota.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(public works bonding bill)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The House overwhelmingly approved a $949 million public works bonding bill, 114 to 16. The bill includes $50 million for the hotly debated Northstar commuter-rail project, education, environmental, public safety and transportation projects...

Mississippi.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(legislative sessions)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Mississippi's legislative session wrapped up in early April. The legislature grappled with tough budget issues the past two years. Not so this year. Despite Katrina, or maybe because of the one-time federal money it brought, Mississippi's tax...

Missouri.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(election reform bill)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... An election reform bill in the Missouri legislature is being watched closely by state and federal candidates. The most controversial provision of the bill would require a photo ID to vote. Under the proposal, the state would provide a photo ID...

Montana.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Ray Tracy's naminates for seat in Senate District 23)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... A last-minute switch created a contested race for the seat in Senate District 23. Just before the filing deadline, Ray Tracy switched from the race in House District 45 opposing Rep. Alan Olson, R-Roundup to the District 23 race, opposing Sen....

Nebraska.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(gubernatorial elections)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Nebraska's GOP primary on May 9 looks to be a hot ticket, with three Republicans, including the sitting governor, vying for the governor's nomination; three Republicans vying for the U.S. Senate nomination and--count 'em, five--Republicans...

Nevada.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Ross Miller proposes changes in state's elections)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Ross Miller, a criminal prosecutor running for Nevada secretary of state, offered a package of election-related proposals he claims would restore integrity to the state's elections. Miller's proposed changes include making destroying voter...

New Hampshire.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Wayne Semprini elected as new state party chairman )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... New Hampshire Republicans elected a new state party chairman after the current one stepped down for family health concerns. Wayne Semprini, a New Castle businessman, was elected over two others at the state committee meeting in late March. The...

New Jersey.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Jon Corzine's appointment to Congress. Senate)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The port security issue gave Democrat Robert Menendez, a former congressman and Jon Corzine's chosen successor in the U.S. Senate, a golden opportunity to introduce himself to the statewide electorate as a hard-liner on an issue that normally...

New Mexico.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(amendments to 1965 Voting Rights Act)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Some provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act are set to expire in August. Even though Congress may not renew some of the provisions, nothing will change for minority voters in New Mexico. The state's election laws will protect all registered...

New York.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(York State Legislature's budget and gubernatorial elections)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The New York State Legislature passed the budget on time budget for the second year in a row, a major accomplishment after having failed to do so for the previous 20 years. Yet, given that Gov. George Pataki is a lame duck and the heads of the...

North Carolina.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(regulations on political fund raising)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... State legislators are expected to consider an array of campaign finance and lobbying reforms when they return to the capital in May for the 2006 legislative session. An off-session study committee is looking at a proposal that would ban...

North Dakota.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Republicans' congressional delegation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... In a state with an all-Democratic congressional delegation, Republicans hope to break the trend and send a Republican voice to Washington. State Rep. Duane DeKrey plans to challenge Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., who has served in the house since...

Ohio.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(legislative elections)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Policy debate in the General Assembly last month provided a foreshadowing of politics to come in this year's legislative elections. Partisan mode was in full display especially in the House, where floor speeches on a minimum wage bill were...

Oklahoma.(Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 1996 (Draft))(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... A planned ballot measure that would limit government spending faces heavy opposition from most members of the state legislature. More than half of surveyed lawmakers are against the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which will appear on the ballot as...

Oregon.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(trade agreements of George W. Bush opposed by Ted Kulongoski )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Gov. Ted Kulongoski has asked the Bush administration to exempt Oregon from a proposed expansion of an inemational trade agreement on the service sector of the economy. The governor, up for re-election this year, also wants to see Oregon...

Pennsylvania.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(primaries)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... While the Pennsylvania Primary is approaching on May 16, the major primaries have already been settled. A potential challenger to Senator Rick Santorum dropped out for lack of signatures, former Congressman Joe Hoeffel dropped his challenge to...

Rhode Island.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(state spending and ever-increasing property tax bills opposed by business groups)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Rhode Island's rapidly expanding appetite for state spending and ever-increasing property tax bills has given rise to the 'Affordable Rhode Island Coalition'. The group, introduced at a Providence press event evoking the Boston Tea...

South Carolina.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(political campaigns for presidential candidates)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... South Carolina Republicans have seen more than their fair share of possible Presidential candidates in recent weeks. Senator Bill Frist delivered a speech to the State GOP Executive Committee, while Senator George Allen held a fundraiser for...

South Dakota.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(abortion bill)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Passing a hotly debated abortion bill is one way to draw people into running for state office. After the controversial bill banning abortions passed in South Dakota, both parties enjoyed record numbers of candidates for the 105 seats open--70...

Tennessee.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(property tax relief)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... If passed, a ballot measure will allow cities and counties to freeze the assessed value of homes owned by elderly residents, giving them property tax relief. The measure wouldn't necessarily apply to all homeowners because of the possibility of...

Texas.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Texas Republican Legislative Campaign Committee's funding for campaigns)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Against a backdrop of three years of GOP efforts to remake public education, Republican primary battles for safe GOP Texas House seats were the most heated in years. Mega-rich voucher supporter, Dr. James Leininger almost exclusively funded the...

Utah.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(state's electoral college reform)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... An Orem resident introduced a petition for a ballot initiative that would reform the state's electoral college. The current system, as in most states, awards all of the state's electoral votes to the candidate with the greatest share of popular...

Vermont.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Congress. House's elecitons)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Gov. Jim Douglas hopes that a win in the U.S. House by the Republican Party's favored candidate, Martha Rainville, will give him a voice in Congress and bring money to the state. The two have been appearing together to advance a proposal for a...

Virginia.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(senators' political campaigns)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... As Virginia's Senate race heats up, all three candidates--incumbent Republican George Allen, and Democrats Harris Miller and Jim Webb--are busy dealing with a variety of gaffes and ghosts of campaigns past. First, the bad news for Allen: a...

Washington.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(poltical fund raising of senators )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The marquee match-up this fall pits U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, a freshman Democrat, against Republican Mike McGavick, the ex-Safeco Insurance executive. It's bringing out the political heavyweights. Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack...

West Virginia.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(political campaigns)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Campaigns in West Virginia have been quiet this year, with even candidates in high-profile races laying low. Some possible reasons that have been cited include amateur politicians, out of state consultants, lack of message and a reliance on...

Wisconsin.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Scott Walker and Jim Doyle )(gubernatorial elections)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The race for governor changed dramatically in March, when Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, one of the two main contenders in the Republican primary, dropped out. Afterwards, Walker admitted he trailed opponent U.S. Rep. Mark Green in...

Wyoming.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Ray Hunkins opposes litigation of state and Fish and Wildlife Service)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Wolf management is shaping up to be a divisive issue in the gubernatorial race. The candidate's stance on the issue could be a determining factor with voters in November. Ray Hunkins, the Republican candidate, opposes litigation over the...

In your face.(usage of websites for political campaigns)
May 1, 2006... While some young people use sites like Facebook.com or Myspace.com to score a date or scam notes from a skipped class, politicians have harnessed the sites' ability to attract to the elusive 18- to 24- year old demographic to get support for...

The Demzilla downfall?(TECH BYTES)(database management software use in presidential elections)
May 1, 2006... One of the narratives that emerged from the 2004 presidential race was that the Bush campaign and the Republican National Committee had better voter data than the Kerry campaign and the Democratic National Committee. The DNC's newly created,...

The Voter Vault victory?(database use in elections)
May 1, 2006... The Voter Vault. It sounds mysterious, and certainly, the secrets of the RNC's Voter Vault are so closely guarded that we may need Geraldo to crack open it. We know this: the Voter Vault is not the secure location where Karl Rove hid the last...

The staff shuffle.(political campaigns)
May 1, 2006... MANCHESTER, N.H. -- As New York Times columnist David Brooks put it recently politicians and their best staffers can often develop a "Jeeves Principle." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Brooks holds this principal to be "that in most large...

Vets on the trail.(veterans in elections)
May 1, 2006... Sixty years ago, as the United States approached its first national elections after the conclusion of World War II, a political consultant told a candidate in California's 12th District to "Just stand there in your uniform, keep your mouth...

The primary test.(VOTING MATTERS)
May 1, 2006... Gentlemen, boot up your voting machines. Voters, throw out your first direct-mail piece. Election season has officially begun. Before the first day of summer, 22 states will hold primaries, and in some, voters will cast more ballots in...

The Psychology of persuasive messaging.(Column)
May 1, 2006... There are some political messages that resonate with voters, while others fall on deaf ears. To understand why certain messages appeal to voters--and to develop effective political communication--one must first understand the "Four Pillars of...

Dress for success: wear the right clothes to get elected.(Column)
May 1, 2006... In order to be elected, a candidate for public office must first look like a winner. And one of the ways to do that is to dress like a winner. Here are seven tips for how a candidate for public office can dress for political success: 1....

The best of the best.
May 1, 2006... Each year the American Association of Political Consultants joined by judges from across the industry select the best in the business. Here is a sampling of the campaigns that took gold in the direct mail category. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Deliver the vote.(Deliver the Vote: A History of Election Fraud, an American Political Tradition-1742-2004)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... My old Kentucky home has a colorful and sordid history of election related fraud. By highlighting just one Kentucky episode detailed in this great book you will understand the this tradition. Following an election in 1900 a dispute arose....

Upcoming elections around the world.(INTERNATIONAL POLITICS)
May 1, 2006... Elections happen all around the world every day. In an ongoing effort to keep readers informed about the rest of the world, their elections and how to become involved, each month we will take a look at elections around the world. This month we...

Direct mail.(BUYER'S GUIDE)(Directory)(Buyers guide)
May 1, 2006... All information was provided by the companies listed. They are responsible for its accuracy and completeness. For updates, see the Campaigns & Elections Web site at www.campaignline.com. Organized by major office location. CAMPAIGN...

Phony headlines, phony photos, phony practices.(THE HIGH ROAD)
May 1, 2006... Editor's Note: Next month a different member of the clergy will take readers ethical questions. To participate, e-mail questions to info@campaignline.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Recently Illinois gubernatorial candidate Jim Oberweis (R)...

Donations from beyond the grave.(posthumous donations)
May 1, 2006... Isn't it illegal to accept political donations from dead people who have left instructions in their wills to contribute to certain candidates? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sounds ludicrous, doesn't it, to set aside money for a posthumous...

Off the record.
May 1, 2006... The good news: Congress is cracking down on illegal immigration. The bad news: a head of lettuce will now cost $300. --Jay Leno There was a total eclipse of the sun today. President Bush said the eclipse proves the unreliability of...