Hits and Misses: 5/20/09

From 'round the sphere today...

2012 Watch

Big-time GOP fundraising heavyweight Fred Malek seems to be on the Romney train, (yes, it actually does start this early).  Malek posted some comments on his blog last week indicating that he thought Romney was the Republican Party's leading contender for 2012 so far.  He stated that he felt that Romney was someone who "might both lead our party back and who might be our nominee in 2012."  He pointed out that Romney has "the established organization, fundraising network, time, and talent to get the nomination this time" suggesting he could "be in the best position when the serious campaigning begins in early 2011".  Malek was McCain's 2008 national finance co-chair.

Former Clinton fundraiser gets convicted of fraud

In what should be a surprise to absolutely nobody, former Clinton mega-fundraiser Norman Hsu was convicted Tuesday of making tens of thousands of dollars in illegal contributions to leading Democrats.  This is after he had already pled guilty to running an elaborate Ponzi scheme that took over twenty million dollars from investors.  This was they guy who, as recently as a few years ago, Hillary proclaimed would "single-handedly" bring her the Democrat nomination for President.  All told, Hsu directed more than a million dollars in contributions to top Democrats.

Also, as one would expect, none of this has stuck to the Clintons at all.  Which leads one to believe Norm has been assured he won't have any financial worries once he gets out of the big house.

Harry Reid is in trouble

At least that's what the polls in Nevada say. Nearly have of the Nevadans surveyed (45%) said they would definitely vote to replace Reid in the next election...and another 17% said they would seriously consider another candidate.  Only a third said they would vote to re-elect him.  As these sorts of polling numbers go, serious politicos will tell you that anything below 50% on a re-elect question is deadly territory.

Maybe, just maybe, the GOP can take out another Democrat Senate Leader...just like it did with Reid's predecessor, Tom Daschle in South Dakota.  In fact, there seems to be something about becoming a leader in their party that causes them to lose favor with the folks back home...which I would suggest has something to do with having to become a high-profile advocate for the things that the national Democrat Party actually stands for.  Which should tell them something.