Virginia Reps. Gerry Connolly (D) and Bobby Scott (D) both said Wednesday they are "disappointed" by Sen. Jim Webb's (D-Va.) decision not to seek another term in 2012.

Webb announced his decision earlier Wednesday and, while the announcement doesn't come as a surprise to most observers, it does leave Democrats scrambling for a candidate and hands an early advantage to the GOP.

"I am disappointed," Connolly told The Ballot Box, praising Webb's one term in the Senate and admitting that his exit, "creates a real vacuum."

Connolly wouldn't concede that Webb's decision puts the GOP in the driver's seat for 2012, emphasizing that Webb's early exit leaves Democrats with ample time to find a viable candidate. Connolly also wouldn't rule out a Senate run of his own next year.

"Right now, I'm absorbing this announcement and its implications for the commonwealth, and I certainly want the opportunity to talk to Jim personally and tell him how much I appreciate his service," he said. "The future will take care of itself."

"We were hoping that he was running," Scott said of Webb. "But it's not a shock; it's a disappointment."

Scott, too, wouldn't rule out a run next year, but he indicated it was unlikely.

"Everybody is going to consider it, but I'm happy where I am," said Scott, adding that Webb made his announcement "in time for people to plan to get in the race. He hasn't left anybody hanging."

Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine, a former governor of Virginia, is the top choice among state Democrats, but all indications are that he will have to be convinced, perhaps at the highest of levels. Connolly suggested it might take a "presidential" push to get Kaine in the race.

Connolly also mentioned former Reps. Tom Perriello (D-Va.) and Rick Boucher (D-Va.) as potential candidates.

On the Republican side, former Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) is already in the race, but he faces a potentially tough and crowded GOP primary.

Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tim Kaine praised retiring Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) on Wednesday, but made no mention of his own intentions in Virginia's now-open Senate race.

Kaine, a former governor of Virginia, praised Webb for his term of service in the Senate, and expressed optimism that Democrats would hang onto the seat in 2012.

"[O]ver the past decade, we’ve made major progress in turning Virginia from a solidly Republican state to a highly competitive one, including Senator Webb’s victory in 2006, Senator Warner’s victory in 2008 and President Obama’s historic victory in 2008," Kaine said in a statement. "With the investments that President Obama and the Democratic Party will make in Virginia in 2012, I am confident that our party will hold on to this Senate seat in 2012.”

Kaine made no mention of his own intentions, however, and may take time before deciding to weigh in on his ultimate intentions.

The DNC chairman has previously said that he wouldn't run for Senate in his home state, even if Webb were to retire.

"No, I've got a job I really like right now, tough as it may be," Kaine said last month. "And I'm doing what the president wants me to do."

But with a relatively thin bench of Democrats in the state, Obama may lean on Kaine to make a run for the Senate in Virginia, where he served as a popular governor last decade.

Already, Republicans are looking to define Kaine, should he decide to throw his hat in the ring.

"We can only hope that Democrats succeed in recruiting President Obama’s No. 1 cheerleader in Washington: Tim Kaine," said National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Brian Walsh on Wednesday afternoon.

Despite facing long odds of capturing the seat in a special election, several Republicans are mulling runs to succeed Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.).

Redondo Beach City Attorney Mike Webb is "strongly considering" jumping into the race, according to the Sacramento Bee; former state Assembly candidate Nathan Mintz said he is "collecting information" about making a bid; and Republican Craig Huey is also considering a run, the Bee reports. 

Republicans operatives believe Mattie Fein, who challenged Harman in 2010, will run again.

Harman was named as the new head of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars on Tuesday. She's expected to leave her seat in March.

There's no shortage of candidates on the Democratic side either. Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn officially entered the race on Monday. Other potential Democratic candidates include state Assemblywomen Betsy Butler and Bonnie Lowenthal, state Sen. Ted Lieu and Secretary of State Debra Bowen.

The upcoming special election will see the first use of the state's new top-two primary system in a congressional race. Under the new law, which was approved by California voters last June, the primary would be non-partisan with the top two vote getters advancing to a general election. But if a candidate gets over 50 percent of the vote in the primary, he or she wins the seat. The law is being challenged in court.

Some Republican strategists believe the party will have a better chance of capturing the seat in 2012, after redistricting is completed.

Sen. Ben Nelson has rehired his former campaign manager, sending a strong signal that he will run for reelection in 2012.

KETV NewsWatch 7 in Nebraska reports that Nelson has brought back Paul Johnson, the manager of his 2006 Senate campaign. Although Nelson has not announced his plans, a spokesman for the senator told KETV that he is "leaning toward running" for a third term in the Senate.

Nelson likely faces a tough battle in 2012. A Magellan Strategies poll last December found 52 percent of likely voters in the state had an unfavorable view of Nelson, while 43 percent had a favorable view. 

The GOP views Nelson's seat as a prime pick-up opportunity. Republicans need a net gain of four seats to take control of the Senate.

Nelson already has drawn a high-profile Republican challenger. In January, Nebraska's Republican attorney general, Jon Bruning, announced his candidacy.

Ensign said he's bracing for a tough 2012 primary and says of Harry Reid: "We still have a great relationship."

Read more...

Among the 26 House Republicans who broke with party leaders Tuesday and voted against extending key provisions of the Patriot Act were two rumored Senate hopefuls and one lawmaker who has already jumped into a marquee race. 

Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont), who announced a challenge to Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) over the weekend, and Reps. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) and Connie Mack (R-Fla.) all voted against the reauthorization. 

Heller is weighing a run for Sen. John Ensign's (R-Nev.) seat and Mack is mulling a bid against Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.). If they run, a vote for reauthorization could become a major attack issue for a primary challenger.

In Nevada, Ensign has tried to stake out territory to the right of Heller in recent months in anticipation of a potential primary battle. Late last year, Ensign opposed the deal struck by President Obama and Senate Republicans to temporarily extend the Bush-era tax cuts. Heller voted for it in the House.

Given his baggage and low poll numbers, national Republicans would rather see Ensign step aside ahead of 2012, but so far he's vowed to fight on. 

In Florida, Mack could be in for a crowded Republican primary if he decides to run. Florida state Senate President Mike Haridopolos (R) is already in the race, with former Sen. George LeMieux (R-Fla.) and former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner (R) also weighing bids. 

By a vote of 277-148, the House fell just seven votes short of the two-thirds majority it needed Tuesday to pass the measure, which was brought up under suspension of normal rules. 

The bill would have extended three provisions of the Patriot Act that are set to expire Feb. 28: the use of roving wiretaps, the ability to use business and other "tangible" records for surveillance purposes and the ability to conduct surveillance on those not tied to a specific terrorist group.

The group of 26 Republicans who voted "no" were joined by eight GOP freshmen — Reps. Chris Gibson (N.Y.), Bobby Schilling (Ill.), Rob Woodall (Ga.), Raul Labrador (Idaho), Randy Hultgren (Ill.), Justin Amash (Mich.), Tom Graves (Ga.) and Mike Fitzpatrick (Pa.).

Chrysler and Eminem did it in a well-received Super Bowl Sunday ad; now the president needs to do it, too.

Read more...

If this year's contest is anything like last year’s, the winner will tell us nothing about the eventual GOP nominee.

Read more...

Sen. Orrin Hatch heaped praise on Tea Partiers, who might end up backing a primary challenge to him next year.

Read more...