Issue #100

by Art Kelly

1. The National Rifle Association (NRA) may endorse Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (lifetime ACU rating 18.56%) for re-election over stalwart conservative Sharron Angle in Nevada.

RedState blogger Eric Erickson noted a “puff piece” on the NRA in the New York Times stated, “A point of contention on both the left and right is the NRA’s close working relationship with Mr. Reid…That relationship has led some gun rights supporters to lobby against the idea the NRA might endorse Mr. Reid in his tough re-election campaign this November. The NRA is not tamping down speculation.”

The article quoted the NRA’s chief lobbyist, Chris Cox, on why the organization might endorse Reid over Angle, “I’ll give you four words: Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.”

That excuse assumes Democrats maintain control of the Senate, which would be less likely if Angle defeats Reid. Even if Democrats narrowly keep their Senate majority, the newly elected conservative members, including Angle, are likely to fight fiercely against all liberal legislation. Furthermore, it now appears very likely the GOP will gain control of the House, thereby dooming the leftist agendas of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Obama.

In an article, “NRA takes flak for ties with left,” Politico reports the possible Reid endorsement is part of a series of recent moves which even some on the group’s own board of directors “say are selfish, short-sighted and ultimately harmful to the conservative movement.”

Erickson told Politico, “A lot of conservatives think the NRA has become much more interested in wooing the bipartisan label than in being really effective Second Amendment fighters.” Cox partially confirmed that assessment, admitting the NRA’s mission does not include advancing “the goals of the conservative movement.”

Writing in Politics Daily, Matt Lewis predicted, “If the NRA does endorse Reid, look for a major backlash to occur.”

2. Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele defended the Tea Party movement from a charge that it is racist that the NAACP made in a resolution passed unanimously at its annual convention in Kansas City.

The Hill reported that Steele rejected that charge and said such claims “are not true. Tea Party activists are your mom or dad, your local grocer, banker, hairdresser, or doctor. They are a diverse group of passionate Americans who want to ensure that our nation returns to founding principles that honor the Constitution, limit government in our lives, and support policies that empower free markets and free enterprise.”

The Kansas City Star noted that the NAACP refused to release the full text of the resolution until it can be reviewed by the group’s board of directors at a meeting in October. Instead, the NAACP issued only a news release describing the resolution.

The Star also reported that the St. Louis Tea Party Coalition called on the NAACP to withdraw its “bigoted, false, and inflammatory resolution against the Tea Party. The NAACP does its entire membership a grave disservice by hypocritically engaging in the very conduct it purports to oppose.”

3. New state polls from Rasmussen Reports:

Nevada Senate
Sharron Angle (R) 46%
Sen. Harry Reid (D) 43%
Other candidates 6%
Undecided 5%

Missouri Senate
Roy Blunt (R) 47%
Robin Carnahan (D) 45%
Other candidates 2%
Undecided 6%

California Senate
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) 49%
Carly Fiorina (R) 42%
Other candidates 4%
Undecided 5%

Maryland Senate
Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D) 58%
Eric Wargotz (R) 33%
Other candidates 2%
Undecided 7%

Maryland Governor
Bob Ehrlich (R) 47%
Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) 46%
Other candidates 2%
Undecided 5%

Colorado Senate
Ken Buck (R) 48%
Sen. Michael Bennett (D) 39%
Other candidates 5%
Undecided 9%

Indiana Senate
Dan Coats (R) 51%
Brad Ellsworth (D) 30%
Other candidates 6%
Undecided 12%

Illinois Senate
Alexi Giannoulias (D) 40%
Mark Kirk (R) 39%
Other candidates 9%
Undecided 12%

Illinois Governor
Bill Brady (R) 43%
Gov. Pat Quinn (D) 40%
Other candidates 9%
Undecided 8%

West Virginia Senate
Joe Manchin (D) 53%
Shelley Moore Capito (R) 39%
Other candidates 3%
Undecided 5%

Florida Senate
Marco Rubio (R) 36%
Charlie Crist (I) 34%
Kendrick Meek (D) 15%
Undecided 14%

In these 11 races, Republicans lead in 7, Democrats in 4.