Mediaboss Marketing

JEFFERSON CITY Republican Tom Schweich has amassed a million-dollar war chest in his bid for re-election as state auditor.

But he doesnt need it. No Democrat is challenging him.

In the race for Missouris only statewide office on the Nov. 4 ballot, Schweich faces token opposition, from Libertarian and Constitution Party candidates. That means he can sock away his campaign treasury for future elections, including a possible bid for governor in 2016.

Odd as it sounds, some Democrats hope he does run for governor.

Their likely gubernatorial nominee, Attorney General Chris Koster, would benefit from a divisive Republican slugfest. And Republican Catherine Hanaway of St. Louis County, a former prosecutor and House speaker, has already announced she is running for governor.

I personally can see no harm coming if Catherine Hanaway and Tom Schweich spend a million dollars bashing each other, said Roy Temple, chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party.

Schweich said he is focused on the auditors race and helping other Republicans in key contests this year. He is mum about his interest in running for governor, other than to say that Democrats should watch out what you wish for.

In just four years, Schweich, 54, has vaulted up the political ladder.

The Clayton lawyer has gone from being a political novice at odds with his party to being the partys standard-bearer, his bright blue signs adorning Missouri Republican Party headquarters.

Known for his tenacious personality, he thrives on the auditors role of ferreting out wrongdoing, holding news conferences to trumpet his findings and returning several months later to see if his recommendations are in use.

Original post:
Easy re-election campaign for auditor prompts talk of governor's race

Last June, Parliament was rocked by one of its periodic lobbying scandals; Lord Laird resigned his Ulster Unionist Party whip, and the Tory Patrick Mercer eventually left his seat and triggered a by-election, after being caught up in a cash-for-questions row. Nick Clegg, wearing his serious face, told this newspaper that he wasn't surprised by the allegations, and it was time for a register of lobbyists to prevent it all happening again.

It wasn't a new idea: in the original Coalition agreement in 2010, Clegg's party had pledged such a register. But the Mercer/Laird business put a new fire into Lib Dem hearts, and Clegg pushed boldly forward.

That was 16 months ago. How's it coming along, Nick?

In the 2010 Coalition agreement, Clegg and the Lib Dems promised that they would support boundary reforms which would make the parliamentary constituency system less rigged in Labour's favour; Clegg said that the reforms were important for democracy. Then they threw a gigantic tantrum, refusing to support the boundary reforms, after the Conservatives themselves refused to support Lib Dem plans to refashion the House of Lords. "The Conservative Party is not honouring the commitment to Lords reform and, as a result, part of our contract has now been broken," said Nick, perhaps adding "and they started it, Mummy," under his breath.

This was the biggie, really. Nick Clegg, wearing his serious face, signed a pledge ahead of the 2010 election not to raise tuition fees. He really, really meant it, too. Then, in November 2010, barely six months after that election, he and his party signed up to Conservative plans to allow universities to charge up to 9,000 a year. Perhaps predictably, students rioted, with the pleasingly straightforward chant "Nick Clegg, we know you, you're a f***ing Tory too," to the tune of "This Old Man".

A small gathering of a few thousand of Nick Clegg's closest friends, in November 2010

And Nick, wearing his serious face again, apologised, doing that almost-tearful thing he does when he's been caught out. The apology got remixed in various forms, entered the charts, and made history as an internet meme. (Clegg is unusual among politicians in having two memes. The other is "Nick Clegg Looking Sad", which he does a lot, especially when he has to apologise for a broken promise, which he does a lot.)

For a man who breaks a lot of promises, you might think it would be unwise to promise "no more broken promises". But Nick did that, while wearing his serious face. We think it's reasonable to say that he has not been 100 per cent successful at keeping those promises. Labour noticed this, and made the above video earlier this year - which frankly we feel could be rather funnier than it is, but no one went into politics because they were good at comedy.

BONUS PROMISE and hopefully, this will be one he does keep: Nick insists he'd rather "go to bed" with Miriam - his wife - than Ed Miliband or David Cameron. Which you'd hope, really.

Visit link:
Liberal Democrat conference: the many broken promises of Nick Clegg

Maura Healey, Democrat for attorney general, visits The Sun
Maura Healey, Democrat for attorney general, visits The Sun.

By: LowellSun

Visit link:
Maura Healey, Democrat for attorney general, visits The Sun - Video

Democrat Policy Expert David Genser on Obama #39;s Intelligence Briefings
Democrat Policy Expert David Genser on Obama #39;s Intelligence Briefings.

By: The Daily Ledger

Continued here:
Democrat Policy Expert David Genser on Obama's Intelligence Briefings - Video

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has said his party is not complacent about the chances of hanging on to a key marginal seat in the North East, as the party begins its annual conference.

Lib Dems will be battling in Berwick-upon-Tweed at the next election, the only seat they currently hold in the North East.

Veteran MP Sir Alan Beith held the seat with a majority of 2,690 in 2010 but Sir Alan is retiring after representing the area since 1973.

Conservatives have named the seat one of their official targets for the general election due in May next year, and hope that the loss of Sir Alans loyal personal supporters might cost the Lib Dems the seat.

Mother-of-two Julie Prksen, a former international development worker, will be standing for the Lib Dems this time.

Mr Clegg said: The Liberal Democrats have never been complacent about any constituency and have never taken any vote for granted.

I know that Alans hopeful successor in Parliament, Julie Porksen, is campaigning extremely hard.

And shes doing it hand in glove with Alan. I find it remarkable that after his long years of public service Alan still has the appetite, even though hes not standing himself, to get out on the doorstep.

Hes hugely popular and Julie is quite rightly working hand in glove with him so that people know locally that everything they valued in Alan is what they would also get from Julie as their local MP.

Other than Berwick, the only Lib Dem seat near the North East region is Redcar, in North Yorkshire.

Here is the original post:
Nick Clegg: We're not complacent about our North East seat