by Tom Hamburger
Former RNC chair Ed Gillespie, now leading the charge for Republican efforts to win control of state legislatures, offered an upbeat assessment to reporters this morning, telling those at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast that Democrats are not likely not take control of any additional state legislative chambers in the country and that Republicans will pick up four chambers with 12 additional Democrat controlled chambers "solidly in play."
Redistricting occurs every decade, but this year may be particularly important because the country is trending Republican and winning this year could provide a lasting Republican edge as states redraw their federal congressional districts to match new census numbers.
Gillespie chairs the Republican State Leadership Committee, which backs GOP state legislative candidates. He says the group is on track to double the $22 million raised in the last redistricting effort.
He spoke to reporters along with former Rep. Tom Reynolds, the Committee's vice chair, who could not contain his enthusiasm about this year's prospects of retaking legislative chambers and governor's mansions.
"Whoever has the pen in hand has the opportunity," he said.
Democrats currently control 26 state legislatures, while the GOP controls 14. Nine statehouses are currently split, with one chamber controlled by each party. Nebraska has a non-partisan, unicameral legislature.
Comments
I have doubts that Illinois is on that list. Our legislature is so "Gerrymandered" in favor of the Democrats that the Illinois plan would make the textbook. My town of Northbrook is split among two House Representatives to weaken the Republican and Independent vote there. So for Illinois, unless there is a major political upheaval at the polls in November, the State Senate and House will probably remain Democratic but with more Republicans. The Governors race, however, is probably a tossup between Brady and Quinn and could go either way.
Posted by: depot jim | July 29, 2010 12:10 PM
I hope the Repugs keep dancing in the end zone and pouring champaign on themselves thinking that they're going to win in a landslide this fall.
Democrats Surge in Generic Congressional Ballot
Getting things done matters, including electorally. A just-released Gallup poll now gives Democrats a 6-point lead among registered voters in the generic Congressional ballot. With Wall Street reform awaiting the signature of the President, the American people are beginning to pay attention, and they are starting to realize that this election is a choice: A choice between a party that wants to move forward and make progress - however imperfectly - and a party that has made a political decision to obstruct everything.
"The Democrats' six-point advantage in Gallup Daily interviewing from July 12-18 represents the first statistically significant lead for that party's candidates since Gallup began weekly tracking of this measure in March. [MOE +/- 3 percentage points. Copyright © 2010 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved.] "
http://www.gallup.com/poll/141440/Democrats-Jump-Six-Point-Lead-Generic-Ballot.aspx?s=tp
Numerous other achievements of this Democratic Congress and President Obama have not gone unnoticed. The utter lack of any coherent Republican agenda is hurting them. But more importantly, Democrats are succeeding in making the election in November a choice between the Democratic and Republican agendas, rather than a "throw the incumbents out" type of reactionary election.
Posted by: Rob | July 29, 2010 12:21 PM
Posted by: depot jim | July 29, 2010 12:10 PM
************
depot jimmy,
Maybe the IL Repugs could try fielding candidates who aren't a nation-wide joke?
Mark Kirk Questioned AGAIN: 1976 Lake Rescue Details Embellished, Tribune Reports
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/23/mark-kirk-questioned-agai_n_656995.html
The last Repug governor of IL (George Ryan) is still sitting in a Fed lockup.
Posted by: Rob | July 29, 2010 12:56 PM
Ed Gillespie has less credibility than a used car salesman. He also has issues with the truth.
Depot Jim,
Are you going to vote for Brady or Quinn?? What about the U.S. Senate race...the treasonous liar or the bankster??
Just wondering.
Posted by: Doug R. | July 29, 2010 2:00 PM
Rob, George Ryan is not the only Governor to get in trouble in serve jail time. The last three elected Democratic Governors have all gotten in legal trouble. Otto Kerner and Dan Walker actually went to jail, and Rod
Blagojevich was charged, indicted, tried and is awaiting a jury decision on his fate. If Blago is convicted it will make it 3 in a row for the last elected Democratic Governors going to jail. And the Real Joke from Illinois is Blago who has become a national figure with all appearances on Reality and Talk Shows.
Posted by: depot jim | July 29, 2010 2:45 PM
GOP landslide ? only if the ballots are tampered with, as in " chads of Florida "
The GOP is the official mouthpiece of big oil:
http://www.bprepublicans.com/page/content/bprepublicans
The GOP turned it's back on the plight of the unemployed:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/03/as-gop-holds-up-unemploym_n_343828.html
GOP fanning the flames of hate and racism:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/29/shirley-sherrod-to-sue-an_n_663656.html
and lets not forget their little ditty about " Barack The Magic Negro "
A GOP landslide ? we'll see.
Posted by: tawanda the avenger | July 29, 2010 3:31 PM
depot jimmy,
Unlike some of the other Wingnuttters on here, I think you actually have a little bit of common sense and intelligence, which makes me wonder all the more why you waste your time making false equivalency arguments for the Repugs all the time.
IL Repugs are no less corrupt than the Dems are, that's why they can't ever field any decent candidates. The whole right wing "Chicago thug politics" meme is a joke. Chicago politics is beanbag stuff compared to right wing Texas politics, or right wing Arizona politics, or right wing Mississppi politics, or right wing Alabama politics. If you want your politics really extra dirty and your politicians extraordinarily corrupt then start your search at the northern border of the Gulf of Mexico and you won't have to travel far to find the best of the worst. Just follow the smell.
Posted by: Rob | July 29, 2010 5:12 PM
Mark Kirk has served the people f the 10th District very well. He is a moderate on social issues and more conservative on economic and military issues. Although I am very disappointed in Mark Kirk stretching the truth on his resume, he would still be a marked improvement over what we have there now.
Regarding Quinn and Brady I am currently undecided. I have always liked Quinn and I need to learn more about Brady. So I am Undecided.
Posted by: depot jim | July 29, 2010 5:34 PM
"Getting things done matters, including electorally. A just-released...etc"
Posted by: Rob | July 29, 2010 12:21 PM
.
'sniff-snif'...What stinks? EEW, it's plagiarism! Read here--
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/7/19/215118/863
.
Here's a tip about 'Rob' The Basement Troll -- Every time he posts writing that is coherent and grammatically correct, you can bet the ranch that he stole it.
.
Posted by: Just sayin' | July 29, 2010 6:41 PM
Why can't they do what that Texas crook Tom De Lay (R-TX) did in 2002 and redistrict whenever they feel that they can stack the deck in their favor?
Posted by: BC | July 30, 2010 12:25 PM
depot jim - former governor Dan Walker went to prison eleven years AFTER HE LEFT OFFICE. That hardly makes him a corrupt governor.
.
Read more about it here and learn the truth: http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2010/07/walker.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+chicagotribune%2Fchangeofsubject+%28Chicago+Tribune+-+Change+of+Subject%29
Posted by: BC | July 30, 2010 12:28 PM