The Playground Senate preview is going to be short because, well, there's just not a lot of interesting action over there. Here we go!
18th (GOP Hold) - This GOP-heavy seat, formerly held by Carol Roessler (R - Waunakee), will stay in GOP hands with Randy Hopper. This was certain long before Jessica King started picking off pedestrians with her vehicle.
Darling (GOP Hold) - Darling casts herself a moderate Republican in a district where a moderate Republican is about the only kind that can win. Sheldon Wasserman has gone through a lot of shoes this year knocking on doors, but nothing he's thrown at Darling has seemed to stick well enough to turn the tide.
Kapanke (GOP Hold) - GOP control of this seat will be saved by a likeable, moderate Republican with a high degree of name recognition. Never underestimate the power of hard work, pragmatism, and being nice.
Harsdorf (GOP Hold) - Word is that Senate leadership is a little afraid that Harsdorf might get swept under in an Obama tide. Guess those exurban residents of the Twin Cities aren't quite as Republican as some hoped. Gee, you think? But Harsdorf, like Kapanke, is a good fit for her district.
12th (Beats me) - The Democrats continue their "Back to the Future" plan with Jim Holperin, who was first elected to the Legislature over a generation ago, when I was in kindergarten. The Republicans counter with Tom Tiffany, a previous loser for the same seat. One need only look at the Assembly makeup of this district (Friske, Meyer, Mursau) to know which way this one should tip. Obama will likely manage a respectable performance, you've got John Gard on the ballot in part of the district, a competitive race between Jeff Mursau and "Back to the Future" co-captain Stan Gruszynski. I'm just going to sit back and watch. The Dems have no business holding this seat but, then again, they've held it for a long time.
Playground Predicts: GOP +1, Even, and Dem +1 (outcomes in order of likelihood)
And what do we learn from this? Rational, moderate Republicans like Kapanke, Harsdorf, and Darling will be what saves the Senate GOP from going down 2-3 seats. Has the AssGOP learned the same lesson in the lower house? Or will they ride a wave of wackos, crackpots, and e-book peddlers into the minority? Tune in tomorrow to find out when the Playground rolls out its eagerly-awaited Assembly picks!
18th (GOP Hold) - This GOP-heavy seat, formerly held by Carol Roessler (R - Waunakee), will stay in GOP hands with Randy Hopper. This was certain long before Jessica King started picking off pedestrians with her vehicle.
Darling (GOP Hold) - Darling casts herself a moderate Republican in a district where a moderate Republican is about the only kind that can win. Sheldon Wasserman has gone through a lot of shoes this year knocking on doors, but nothing he's thrown at Darling has seemed to stick well enough to turn the tide.
Kapanke (GOP Hold) - GOP control of this seat will be saved by a likeable, moderate Republican with a high degree of name recognition. Never underestimate the power of hard work, pragmatism, and being nice.
Harsdorf (GOP Hold) - Word is that Senate leadership is a little afraid that Harsdorf might get swept under in an Obama tide. Guess those exurban residents of the Twin Cities aren't quite as Republican as some hoped. Gee, you think? But Harsdorf, like Kapanke, is a good fit for her district.
12th (Beats me) - The Democrats continue their "Back to the Future" plan with Jim Holperin, who was first elected to the Legislature over a generation ago, when I was in kindergarten. The Republicans counter with Tom Tiffany, a previous loser for the same seat. One need only look at the Assembly makeup of this district (Friske, Meyer, Mursau) to know which way this one should tip. Obama will likely manage a respectable performance, you've got John Gard on the ballot in part of the district, a competitive race between Jeff Mursau and "Back to the Future" co-captain Stan Gruszynski. I'm just going to sit back and watch. The Dems have no business holding this seat but, then again, they've held it for a long time.
Playground Predicts: GOP +1, Even, and Dem +1 (outcomes in order of likelihood)
And what do we learn from this? Rational, moderate Republicans like Kapanke, Harsdorf, and Darling will be what saves the Senate GOP from going down 2-3 seats. Has the AssGOP learned the same lesson in the lower house? Or will they ride a wave of wackos, crackpots, and e-book peddlers into the minority? Tune in tomorrow to find out when the Playground rolls out its eagerly-awaited Assembly picks!
2 comments:
Two years ago the guy at the top of the ticket totally cratered and the Dems took all the close seats. Will that happen again? I dunno, but the guy at the top of the ticket is holding up his end. How many ticket splitters are out there? And this year's ground game is not the ground game we've seen in the past.
I would not have expected Harsdorf to be in the trouble she apparently is in. She's running ads that you might expect from someone that was behind. Much darker and more negative than I think you would see from someone that was leading. But she's got two universities in her district, and both have got staff working overtime at GOTV.
I can't wait to hear your take on Murtha's race. If that guy wasn't such an exceptionally poor candidate he'd have put his district away by now. If he wins again it is a total gift.
I'm gonna disagree on the 18th. I think King will take it.
Above average numbers from the city of Fond du lac and a large turnout in Oshkosh will squeak her over.
Jim Doyle got over 47% in the district in 2006. We have more Dem winds now and more focus.
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