DO YOU HAVE ANY RUMOURS, UPDATES OR GOSSIP THAT MAY HELP FILL THE UNOPPOSED RACES?

Will Hunter LUNDY run against Charles BOUSTANY in LA-07.  If LUNDY decides to run, this seat will automatically become competitive.

Where is Hunter LUNDY?

With apologies to Juan Melli, who I'm stealing from whole hog here.

We're hearing that there is a candidate from the 4th district hailing from Ocean County that is willing to commit "significant" personal resources to challenge Congressman Chris Smith.

This would be a major change whereas in recent years Democrats put up only a nominal fight in the 4th. The candidate may be unveiled as early as Saturday at the Mercer County Convention.

We'll know more this weekend.

Harrison now has a website up
harrison06.com

You can follow the race at NY13

We're hearing that there is a candidate from the 4th district hailing from Ocean County that is willing to commit "significant" personal resources to challenge Congressman Chris Smith.

Rumor has it that NJ-2 will be filled soon.

During the 2004 elections, Robert David Sullivan mapped America into ten regions in an article he called "Beyond Red & Blue".  Here's where the still-unopposed districts are, by region, from bluest regions to reddest:

Upper coasts (most Democratic): No unopposed Republicans

Atlantic Corridor: Three (NJ 2&4, PA 15).  The two iffy NY metro districts are here too.  For a solid blue region, it's faring more disappointingly than anywhere outside the South, which could indicate lack of organization, or simply gerrymandering into districts with concentrated Republicans.  The thing is, all of these districts are at least potentially competitive.

Great Lakes: No unopposed Republicans.

El Norte: Two (CA-42 and FL-25).  A Cuban district and a gerrymandered Orange County district on opposite sides of the country.  Hard to detect a trend there.

Mississippi River: One (MN-3).  We're gaining ground in the Midwest.

Farm Belt: No unopposed Republicans.  Again, good job in the midwest.

Sagebrush: Two (AZ-6 and TX-11).

Southern Lowlands: Six (VA-4, FL-7, AL-3, MS-3, LA-5&6).  The cotton belt and South Atlantic Coast.

Appalachia: Eight (PA-9, VA-6, TN-2, GA-9,10&11, AL-4&6)

"Southern Comfort" (the reddest): Seven (FL-12&14, AL-2, LA-4&7, OK-1&4).

OK 4 is one of those seats where even a modest challenge will pay off in a huge diversion of funds.  The key is that Tom Cole, the incumbent, is a former campaign consultant, probably the best the Repubs had in Oklahoma and his work went beyond Oklahoma.  He still raises large amounts of contributions and uses them to spread his influence very widely, in state and nationally.

If there is a "fighting Dem" type in the 4th, please start encouraging him.  The district has Fort Sill and Tinker AFB, Ardmore and Ada are traditionally leaning Democratic, the Chickasaw tribe is very angry at the Repubs and Midwest City just had a GM plant closure. A Democrat in this district should have a floor of around 40% and with some gasoline and shoe leather make it at least competitive enough to draw off $10 for every one the Democrats commit.

My district, and I'm pretty annoyed the Dems haven't fielded a proper candidate. Late last year I was contacted by somebody pretty obscure (forget his name) who said he was running for the Democratic nomination for PA-15. His candidacy seemed hopeless, but I haven't heard that he dropped out. Any info on that?

I'd like to work for a challenger to Dent, who has cast some pretty deplorable votes in his two years in office. Hell, I'd run against him if the Dems would nominate me. There's a lot of ammunition to use, particularly his lackadaisical responses to complaints and queries from voters.

http://wendywilde.com/

Former Air America Minnesota talk show host Wendy Wilde is exploring the possibility of challenging Jim Ramstad in Minnesota's 3rd district.

Wendy covered both national and Minnesota topics on her radio show. She should be well known to CD3 Dem activists.

I have no clue if people are warming up to the idea or oppose it.