Sid
09-28-2007, 12:12 PM
Gay activists are taking an early interest in five 2008 U.S. Senate races, hoping to oust opponents of gay rights and assist allies.
Also a priority for the Human Rights Campaign (http://www.hrc.org/) and other gay organizations is replacing retiring Sens. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) (http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=53356) and John Warner (R-Va.) (http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=53356) with politicians who support gay measures.
Warner and Allard both received zeros on the most recent HRC congressional scorecard.
“As we think about where we are legislatively right now — trying to get hate crimes through in the Senate, the possibility of an employment non-discrimination bill coming up in the Senate — I think we have more work to do in terms of adding more fair-minded allies,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese.
Activists are eyeing for defeat two senators who have mixed records on gay issues and are widely seen as politically vulnerable: Sens. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) (http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=20239) and John Sununu (R-N.H.) (http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=617).
HRC gave Coleman 22 of 100 on its scorecard for the 109th Congress, while Sununu got 33 of 100.
Resources also will be marshaled to help Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) (http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=661), considered a gay ally, retain what could become a hotly contested seat. She scored 88 or higher during the last three sessions of Congress.
Clyde Wilcox, a government professor at Georgetown University, said the five seats could be among the most competitive Senate races in the nation.
But wins in each race, he said, would be significant victories for gays who look to Democrats to advance their legislative goals.
“It would be a net gain of four seats for Democrats and put them at 55,” he said. “With the help of some liberal Republicans in the Senate, that would be enough votes to exercise a little muscle.”
Gay Activists targeting senators in ’08 races (http://www.washblade.com/2007/9-28/news/national/11302.cfm):not:
Also a priority for the Human Rights Campaign (http://www.hrc.org/) and other gay organizations is replacing retiring Sens. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) (http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=53356) and John Warner (R-Va.) (http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=53356) with politicians who support gay measures.
Warner and Allard both received zeros on the most recent HRC congressional scorecard.
“As we think about where we are legislatively right now — trying to get hate crimes through in the Senate, the possibility of an employment non-discrimination bill coming up in the Senate — I think we have more work to do in terms of adding more fair-minded allies,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese.
Activists are eyeing for defeat two senators who have mixed records on gay issues and are widely seen as politically vulnerable: Sens. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) (http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=20239) and John Sununu (R-N.H.) (http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=617).
HRC gave Coleman 22 of 100 on its scorecard for the 109th Congress, while Sununu got 33 of 100.
Resources also will be marshaled to help Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) (http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=661), considered a gay ally, retain what could become a hotly contested seat. She scored 88 or higher during the last three sessions of Congress.
Clyde Wilcox, a government professor at Georgetown University, said the five seats could be among the most competitive Senate races in the nation.
But wins in each race, he said, would be significant victories for gays who look to Democrats to advance their legislative goals.
“It would be a net gain of four seats for Democrats and put them at 55,” he said. “With the help of some liberal Republicans in the Senate, that would be enough votes to exercise a little muscle.”
Gay Activists targeting senators in ’08 races (http://www.washblade.com/2007/9-28/news/national/11302.cfm):not: