According to Congressional Quarterly’s online service, CQPolitics.com, Democratic nominee Tim Mahoney now has the edge in the race to replace Mr. “I did not have sex with any minor children (and I’m a victim, too)“ Foley (as reported by the NY Times):
What until last Friday appeared a safely Republican seat in Florida’s 16th District is now anything but, in the wake of the resignation of six-term Republican Rep. Mark Foley — and the ballooning scandal surrounding inappropriate e-mails and instant messages he sent to teenage male congressional pages, and the Republican leadership’s handling of the situation.
CQPolitics.com, which on Friday changed its rating on the Florida 16 race to No Clear Favorite from Safe Republican, now rates the race as Leans Democratic.
(cont.)
My personal view is that L’affaire Foley is a distraction. I may be grossly off base on this, but I think that this entire episode of GOP hypocrisy and sexcapades will likely prove to be a wash come Election Day, but if the Democrats pick up Foley’s seat, that would at least prove to be a (pardon the pun) moral victory, even if they don’t reclaim the House. But there’s a long way to go before November 7th, ladies and gentlemen. Far too long.
With that in mind, here’s an article from the LA Times about the Republican who will replace Foley in this race, already being touted by the GOP spinmeisters as the “Anti-Foley:”
He’s the GOP’s Anti-Foley
… Negron seemed eager to discuss Foley. After he finished his jury service shortly after noon, Negron — a parent and former congressional intern — said that he was offended by Foley’s behavior.
“But Mark Foley should be responsible for his disgusting failures, not me,” he said. “Democrats are acting like Mahoney should be coronated because Mark Foley did disgusting things. But Republicans are not going to go into the fetal position because of Mark Foley’s disgusting behavior.”
In other words, it ain’t over until the last Diebold machine sings.
