Voinovich: The GOP's 'being taken over by Southerners'

By GottaLaff

From the Dep't. of Painting Themselves into a Corner:

Republican Sen. George Voinovich, who is not running for re-election next year, told a newspaper in his home state of Ohio yesterday that Southerners bore a good share of the blame for his party's lagging popularity.

"We got too many Jim DeMints and Tom Coburns," Voinovich told the Columbus Dispatch Monday. "It's the Southerners….

"They get on TV and go 'errrr, errrrr,'" he said, according to the paper.

Errrrrrrr, errrrrrrr.... How was that? I was doing my Coburn impression. Too many Rs? Too over the top? Okay, I'll work on it.

"People hear them and say, 'These people, they're Southerners. The party's being taken over by Southerners. What they hell they got to do with Ohio?'"

What they hell got to do with anything? They are headed directly for extinction. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200. And they can take their errrrrr-drenched paint brushes with them.

Voinovich Has Hold on EPA Nominee

By GottaLaff

The Party of No strikes again:

Sen. George V. Voinovich is blocking Senate confirmation of the EPA’s deputy administrator because of concern with the agency’s economic analysis of the House energy bill.

In a June 13 letter to EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson , the Ohio Republican said he has a procedural hold on Robert Perciasepe, President Obama’s nominee for the No. 2 position at the agency.

Voinovich said his hold was unrelated to the nominee himself. Instead, he is dissatisfied with an EPA report on the economic effects of a climate change bill (HR 2454) that passed the House in June.

H/t: Rkref

Republicans Losing Hold of Ohio Senate Seat

And here I thought Portman was supposed to be one of their shining stars!!

A new Public Policy Polling survey in Ohio finds both potential Democratic candidates with solid leads in the race to replace retiring Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH).

Lee Fisher (D) leads Rob Portman (R), 41% to 32%, and Jennifer Brunner (D) has a similar 40% to 32% advantage over Portman.

Analysis: "Anyone trying to figure out whether Brunner or Fisher would make a stronger general election candidate or which has a leg up in the primary will not find it from this poll, as their numbers are nearly identical across the board."

Democrats on Track to Flip Ohio Senate Seat

Looking good neighbor!! Strickland looks safe as well.

According to the latest Quinnipiac poll, the race for the seat held by retiring Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) leans Democratic, regardless of which of the two leading candidates wins the party nomination.

The Democratic nomination is still up for grabs with Lee Fisher (D) getting 20% in a hypothetical primary and Jennifer Brunner (D) winning 16% support and 59% undecided. In the Republican race, former Rep. Rob Portman (R-OH) is at 29%, way ahead of Mary Taylor (R) at 8% and Tom Ganley at 8%. However, 54% of Ohio Republicans are still unsure.

In general election match ups, Fisher would defeat Portman, 42% to 31%, and Taylor, 41% to 29%, while Brunner would defeat Taylor, 38% to 29% and Portman, 40% to 32%.

Yet another Republican bites the dust?

By GottaLaff

The GOP is in flux once again:

Marc Ambinder reports "more unnamed Republicans are suggesting" that two-term Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) "was on the verge of making the decision to step down. Perhaps they're trying to pressure him to step down; former Rep. Rob Portman would be ready to run to take his place."

Senator George Voinovich (R-OH) Vulnerable

Time to get to work there Cliffy!!!

A new Quinnipiac poll finds Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) faces a tough 2010 fight for a third term, with 36% wanting to give him another term and 35% backing an unnamed Democratic candidate.