Preparing To Rage Against The Dying Of The Night

By Kleinheider Posted on October 21, 2008 at 9:44 am

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is fully aware of the possibility of his defeat on election day:

“Unlike six years ago, it’s not going to be a coronation,” said McConnell at the beginning of his remarks. “It was fun getting 65 percent of the vote and carrying 113 out of 120 counties, but that was then and this is now.”

SEE ALSO: “I’ll bring home the pork!”

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Tags: Kentucky, Lunsford, Mitch McConnell  

Roll Call Speculates Alexander Does Not Go For The Top Job If McConnell Loses

By Kleinheider Posted on October 9, 2008 at 12:20 pm

Roll Call breaks down the power shuffle in the Senate Republican leadership ranks if Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell loses his re-election:

Kyl might be the heir apparent, but other possible candidates could also emerge, such as Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), one of the Conference’s respected policy wonks who upped his credibility earlier this month in negotiating a bipartisan economic rescue package.

But Gregg has shied away from elected leadership posts in the past, and many say he is likely to continue as a back-bencher who serves as one of the leadership’s top counselors.

One Republican also noted that Gregg has made few forays outside of budget and spending-related issues. Gregg hasn’t had “to deal with the pressures of managing a Conference. … I don’t know how well that translates into a leadership position,” the Republican said.

Other ambitious Senators could consider running, such as Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), but most Republican insiders believe Alexander is more likely to run to succeed Kyl as Minority Whip or stay in his current job as the top messenger for the Conference.

I don’t know about that.

I have no inside information on this but it would seem if the Democrats get a veto proof majority, and if McConnell loses that is probably what happens, the GOP will need a leader in the Senate who has enough respect and juice in Democratic circles to advance some kind of agenda.

Is Jon Kyl that guy? Or is Lamar?

If McConnell falls, I don’t see how Lamar could pass up the opportunity.

SEE ALSO: Background on McConnell’s opponent.

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Tags: Jon Kyl, Lamar Alexander, Mitch McConnell  

Senate Republican Leader In Trouble

By Kleinheider Posted on September 28, 2008 at 1:13 pm

Can you say Senate Minority Leader Lamar Alexander?

The Mason-Dixon poll shows the race knotted up at 41%-41%. Until recently, Lunsford had trailed McConnell by double digits in most polls. The Bluegrass Democrat has closed the gap with a hard-hitting campaign focusing on economic issues, McConnell’s ties to Big Oil and McConnell’s accumulation of great personal wealth while in the Congress. A SurveyUSA poll released just four days ago also found the raced statistically tied.

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Tags: Lamar Alexander, Mitch McConnell