Michael Bennet -- the surprise choice by Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) to replace Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO) in the U.S. Senate -- has already set up a campaign web site, indicating he fully intends to stand for election in 2010.
According to the AP, Bennet "will file official candidacy papers within a few days."
"Republican excitement over the prospect of Jeb Bush running for U.S.
Senate has given way to increasing speculation that the former governor
will stay out of the race," the St. Petersburg Times reports.
Bush declined to comment "but was expected to make an announcement perhaps as early as this week."
Though Al Franken (D) was declared the winner of Minnesota's U.S. Senate race yesterday, the election lawsuit brought by Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) "stops Franken
from receiving the certificate of election that normally serves as a
candidate's credential to join the Senate," according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
"Since Franken lacks that, it is unclear when he will
go to Washington to join the new class of senators. The rest of the
class is being sworn in today."
Roland Burris told the Chicago Tribune that "he intends to try to walk onto the Senate floor to be sworn in with incoming senators when the Senate convenes Tuesday despite declarations from party leaders that they will prevent the 71-year-old, longtime politician from entering the legislative body's ornate chamber."
"The imagery of authorities stopping a graying African-American man at the threshold of political power promises to be a moment of high drama in a controversy that has joined the complicated politics of race with the sensational corruption scandal swirling around Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The governor, undeterred by criminal charges that he sought to sell the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, picked Burris last week."
Burris to CBS News: "They're causing the drama, my appointment is legal. Are you saying there is something wrong with me? I'm qualified."
USA Today: "Barack Obama, one of the youngest presidents
ever to take the oath of office when he's inaugurated Jan. 20, will be
working with the nation's oldest Congress. The average age will be 57 in the House and 63
in the Senate, according to the chambers' historical offices. In each
case, it's the highest on record."
Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) canceled a Tuesday lunch appearance and two sources confirmed to The Hill she is in Washington, D.C. The governor's actions "have triggered a wave of speculation" that Gregoire could soon replace Gov. Bill Richardson (D) as President-elect Obama's Commerce Secretary-designate.
"Her office refused to confirm Gregoire's whereabouts all day Monday."
Political Wire has learned that early in the Obama transition former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta was actually angling to be secretary of commerce -- not CIA Director.
However, now that the leaked news of Panetta's nomination has apparently ticked off Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA), the incoming chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee -- and with the commerce seat now open again -- might Panetta be tapped for that job instead?
"There's no hint of him running for office. That's 1,000 percent true."
-- Jim Matthews, in an interview with PolitickerPA.com, on his brother Chris Matthews running for U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania.
He added: "I know there's been discussion about (a Senate run)... but I would be
stunned beyond words if he does anything besides but look forward
tomorrow to going to work."
"Here is the only state-by-state guide to how Obama won. The essential toolbox for understanding the political implications of the 2008 presidential election here you'll find unique insight and never-before-published data on where the country stands vis-à-vis Red and Blue States, where it is headed politically, and whether a political realignment has taken place."
This is a must-read book from the top political analyst on television.
Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman "has edged closer to a potential run for office in California, with a
spokesman confirming on Monday that she has resigned from three
corporate boards," the AP reports.
She stepped down from the boards of eBay, Proctor & Gamble and DreamWorks SKG as of Dec. 31.
"Whitman has been considered as a Republican contender for California
governor once Arnold Schwarzenegger's term ends after 2010. The seat of
Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer also will be up for election in two years."
President-elect Obama has picked former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta to run the Central Intelligence Agency, the New York Times reports.
"Panetta has a reputation in Washington as a competent manager with
strong background in budget issues, but has little hands-on
intelligence experience...
Given his background, Mr. Panetta is a somewhat unusual choice to
lead the C.I.A., an agency that has been unwelcoming to previous
directors perceived as outsiders, such as Stansfield M. Turner and John
M. Deutch."
The Minnesota Supreme Court rejected a bid by Sen. Norm
Coleman (R-MN) "to have hundreds of rejected absentee ballots considered in the
U.S. Senate recount, apparently clearing the way for a state board to
certify election results" showing Al Franken (D) on top, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
The action also
opens the door "to a post-recount lawsuit that the Coleman campaign
said 'is now inevitable.'"
Update: The Star Tribune reports the doors to Coleman's Senate offices "were locked this morning at
the direction of Senate rules committee officials who declared his term
expired."
The book is billed as "the essential lifestyle guide for liberals" -- part Whole Earth Catalog, part 1000 Places to See Before You Die, and part Zagat.
Federal prosecutors have been granted an extra three months to seek an indictment of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Prosecutors had
sought the extension last week, citing the complexity of their
investigation of pay-to-play politics in the Blagojevich administration.
A new Public Policy Polling survey in New York finds that 44% of
respondents have a less favorable opinion of Caroline Kennedy than they did
before she began a public campaign for the appointment to replace
Sen. Hillary Clinton.
The main beneficiary of the decline in Kennedy's popularity appears to be Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Voters now prefer him for the appointment over Kennedy by a 58% to 27% margin.
The lingering question surrounding New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's acceptance -- and then rejection -- of an appointment by President-elect Obama as secretary of commerce, is why did he want the job in the first place?
Marc Ambinder reports that Obama's team did not expect Richardson "to take the Commerce job in
the first place; they saw it as a demotion. But Richardson surprised
them by saying yes."
Update: Richardson is expected to hold a press conference on his decision at 1 p.m. ET in New Mexico.
First lady Laura Bush "has sealed a deal worth millions with Scribner to publish a memoir that will encompass her recollections of personal and historical moments, including her eight years in the White House," the AP reports.
"Books by recent first ladies, including Laura Bush's mother-in-law, Barbara Bush, have had more dependable commercial appeal than those by former presidents."
As the New Year finally gets started, it's nice to know we're headed for one of the most amazing political months in our lifetimes.
On tap: The new Congress is sworn in, Barack Obama is inaugurated as our 44th president, George W. Bush leaves office, Cabinet nomination hearings begin, new Senate appointments coming in four states, and Congress prepares a massive economic stimulus package.
Political Wire will be here to help make sense of it all. Thanks for making this site part of your day.
According to Mike Allen, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine "first indicated that he was not interested" in becoming DNC Chairman, "but then decided to take the post when Obama personally intervened."
More Allen on why Obama wanted Kaine: "He's a new-style Democrat -- Obama-like in transcending ideological
boxes - who comes from a state that emphasizes budget balancing and
fiscal restraint. Kaine worked tirelessly for Obama, giving him a good
chance in the Old Dominion even before the tidal wave formed. So the
president-elect knows Kaine's campaign skills first-hand."
News of Kaine's pending appointment leaked yesterday.
"Sure, this sucks, but if it wasn't for what we did it would suck worse."
-- Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), quoted by the New Yorker, on the possibility of a global economic collapse if Congress didn't pass a bank bailout bill last year.
Minnesota's Canvassing Board "was posed to certify the results of the recount in Minnesota's grueling Senate election in Al Franken's favor -- but that doesn't mean the race is definitely over," the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
The latest numbers showed Franken (D) with a 225-vote lead over Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN).
"But after the announcement, there will be a seven-day waiting period before an election certificate is completed. If any lawsuits are filed during that waiting period, certification is conditional until the issue is settled in court."
From the pool report: As he boarded plane, he waved to press and said he would see us in DC. He came to back of plane and said the following:
"Well guys, I am looking forward to seeing you guys in Washington... I gotta say I choked up a little bit leaving my house today."
"Malia's friend had dropped off an album of the two of them together. They had been friends since pre-school and I just looked through the pages and the house was empty and it was a little tough, it got me."
Sources tell ABC News that Obama transition officials "feel that before he was formally offered the job of commerce secretary, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was not forthcoming with them about the federal investigation that is looking into whether the governor steered a state contract towards a major financial contributor."
"Once the investigation became more widely known through national media reports last month... the Obama Transition Team realized the FBI would not be able to give Richardson a clean political bill of health before the new administration is ready to send his nomination up to the Senate for confirmation."
Richardson formally asked President-elect Obama to withdraw his nomination yesterday.
Out this week: How Barack Obama Won by Chuck Todd and Sheldon Gawiser.
Out this week: The Nation's Guide to the Nation by Richard Lingemana and the editors of The Nation.
President-elect Obama picked Pete Souza as the official White House photographer, according to News Photographer.
The largest collection of political memorabilia in one place.
