More on Third Parties

The GOP hasn't given up in NY-23 special election. Well, at least part of the party hasn't given-up. The National Republican Congressional Committee is maintaining support and Politico Reports:

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is warning conservative activists that their support for a third-party candidate in a key upcoming New York special election is a “mistake.”

Contrast Gingrich's GOP boosterism to Sarah Palin's endorsement of the Conservative Party candidate. And she's not alone.

Three's Company

This week we've been reading about third parties in elections and what do you know there is a third-party candidate in the New Jersey gubernatorial election that's getting blamed for making it a squeaker.

Pollster has race at 40.5/40.1/14.6.

The popularity of the independent candidate seems to be based on the unpopularity of the incumbent Democrat and the Republican challenger. It will be exciting to see how many voters show up at the polls on election day and spurn the major parties.

Olympia's 'Betrayal'

Former Republican congressman from Oklahoma on Olympia Snowe's Senate Finance Committee vote. He's suggesting that representatives don't owe their constituents or parties any votes, but only whatever they believe to be in the "nation's interests."

An All New GOP.com

Take a moment in your own blogs to consider the new Republican Party website. How does it relate to the Teachout reading from a couple weeks ago?

Bipartisan Unicorns

Perhaps a (small) bit of bipartisanship is possible in the US Senate in 2009 after all?

First an Op-Ed from John Kerry and Lindsey Graham and today Olympia Snowe votes with the Democrats on healthcare.

More on the US Senate from Rutgers political scientist Ross K. Baker.

Nobody Likes Congress

“When Congress is in the news a lot, it tends to be less popular.”

– John R. Hibbing

Who is in Charge?

Republican congressional leaders (Boehner, McConnell, Kyl, Alexander, and Thune) seem to have grown tired with Michael Steele handling of their party's agenda and image.

Meanwhile, Politico reports that John McCain "has expressed serious concern about the direction of the party and is actively seeking out and supporting candidates who can broaden the party’s reach." McCain seems intent on playing a role in manufacturing future Republicans in Congress.

Speaking about the Steele rebuke, but perhaps also about party politics in general, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX):

Coordination is always tough. We’ve got a bunch of independent actors — everybody is elected from their states or their congressional districts — so it’s always a challenge and always something we can do better.

UPDATE: More on that Republican faction called tea parties.

CQ Race Ratings for Congressional Races in 2010

A nice interactive map identifying the House races by predicted level of competitiveness.

UPDATE: A Senate watch list from Politico.