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Menendez’s early trek
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03/16/09 02:06 PM ET
When Sen. Robert Menendez (N.J.) was selected to head the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), he knew he had big shoes to fill. DSCC Chairman Charles Schumer (N.Y.) helped Democrats win control of the Senate in 2006, and strengthened their majority last year.
But at first, Menendez’s terrain looked smooth, with 19 Republicans and only 15 Democrats scheduled to be up for reelection. And the news got better for Menendez when several GOP senators, including Sens. Mel Martinez (Fla.), Kit Bond (Mo.) and George Voinovich (Ohio), announced they would not seek reelection.
Democrats started talking about blowing past the filibuster-proof number of 60 after the 2010 elections.
But that talk has been tempered recently.
For starters, President Obama has dipped into Menendez’s recruiting pool by picking Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) and former Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) to join his Cabinet. As a result, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) doesn’t have to worry about his reelection race and retiring Sen. Sam Brownback’s (R-Kan.) seat is likely to stay in GOP hands.
Menendez also has to worry about seats in blue states. Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) is unlikely to hold onto his seat, but a crowded Democratic primary could boost the chances of a candidate like Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) in the general election.
Obama’s tapping of Hillary Rodham Clinton to be his secretary of State has put New York in play, with Rep. Pete King (R) eyeing a challenge to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D), or whomever emerges from that Democratic primary.
Former Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.) is looking to take on Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), with polls showing that the Senate Banking Committee chairman is vulnerable. Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) could mount a serious challenge to fill Joe Biden’s old Senate seat.
As he was dealing with these developments, Menendez was taking flak from some Democrats for initially withholding his support for the omnibus spending package because of provisions on Cuba. After securing some promises from the Obama administration, Menendez backed the $410 billion measure.
Not all the news for the DSCC has been bad.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is grappling with the problem of Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.). Many Republicans want him to retire, but he has repeatedly said he is running for reelection. If he wins the GOP primary, Democrats will be favored to win the seat.
And there are other Republicans this cycle who are sweating, such as Sens. Arlen Specter (Pa.) and David Vitter (La.).
Meanwhile, Democrats are an early favorite to win retiring Sen. Judd Gregg’s (R-N.H.) seat. And despite all the GOP chatter of ousting Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), no major Republican has entered the race to take on the majority leader.
All election cycles present unusual challenges for campaign committee chairmen, but Menendez has already encountered his share.
But at first, Menendez’s terrain looked smooth, with 19 Republicans and only 15 Democrats scheduled to be up for reelection. And the news got better for Menendez when several GOP senators, including Sens. Mel Martinez (Fla.), Kit Bond (Mo.) and George Voinovich (Ohio), announced they would not seek reelection.
But that talk has been tempered recently.
For starters, President Obama has dipped into Menendez’s recruiting pool by picking Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) and former Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) to join his Cabinet. As a result, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) doesn’t have to worry about his reelection race and retiring Sen. Sam Brownback’s (R-Kan.) seat is likely to stay in GOP hands.
Menendez also has to worry about seats in blue states. Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) is unlikely to hold onto his seat, but a crowded Democratic primary could boost the chances of a candidate like Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) in the general election.
Obama’s tapping of Hillary Rodham Clinton to be his secretary of State has put New York in play, with Rep. Pete King (R) eyeing a challenge to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D), or whomever emerges from that Democratic primary.
Former Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.) is looking to take on Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), with polls showing that the Senate Banking Committee chairman is vulnerable. Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) could mount a serious challenge to fill Joe Biden’s old Senate seat.
As he was dealing with these developments, Menendez was taking flak from some Democrats for initially withholding his support for the omnibus spending package because of provisions on Cuba. After securing some promises from the Obama administration, Menendez backed the $410 billion measure.
Not all the news for the DSCC has been bad.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is grappling with the problem of Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.). Many Republicans want him to retire, but he has repeatedly said he is running for reelection. If he wins the GOP primary, Democrats will be favored to win the seat.
And there are other Republicans this cycle who are sweating, such as Sens. Arlen Specter (Pa.) and David Vitter (La.).
Meanwhile, Democrats are an early favorite to win retiring Sen. Judd Gregg’s (R-N.H.) seat. And despite all the GOP chatter of ousting Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), no major Republican has entered the race to take on the majority leader.
All election cycles present unusual challenges for campaign committee chairmen, but Menendez has already encountered his share.
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