USApp Managing Editor, Chris Gilson, looks at the week in U.S. state blogging. Click here for our weekly roundup of national blogs.
Northeast
In New Hampshire this week, Granite Grok reports that former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was in the state this week to push gun control. They say that while Giffords claimed that she would be joined by New Hampshire women leaders at a meeting on gun control, this was not the case, and that Gifford’s gun control organization is not about protecting women, but about pushing gun control legislation on a state that neither wants nor needs it.
Heading west to Vermont, VTDigger looks at the state’s economy – or rather its dependence on the national economy in light of debates on the economy in the state’s gubernatorial race. They write that while the Green Mountain does have economic problems, this is because the economy as a whole is growing slowly, and that the state is more rural than most.
In the Ocean State on Tuesday, Rhode Island Public Radio report that three of the state’s top former federal prosecutors have stated their concerns about Province mayoral candidate Buddy Cianci’s criminal record, in light of the fact that many young voters may not be familiar with his previous conviction for assault and the corruption that plagued his 1980s mayoral administration.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has a new autobiographical book out, entitled “All Things Possible”, but it is one his Republican challenger Rob Astorino will not be reading as he considers it to be a work of fiction, reports State of Politics this week, . Astorino also blasted Cuomo for his planned book tours in Central America as a sign that he holds New Yorkers “in contempt”. Capitol Confidential reports on Monday about Astorino’s attempt this week to make political hay out of Cuomo’s book – he is offering $1,000 to anyone who can get Cuomo to sign the book and answer five questions on the Moreland Commission on corruption in the New York State Executive.
This week, Blue Jersey has a beef with the out of state trips made by GOP Governor, Chris Christie. They say that Christie’s campaigning across the country takes his attention away from state issues such as jobs and the economy which require his undivided attention.
South
This has not been the best of weeks for the Democratic Senate candidate in Kentucky, Alison Lundergan Grimes. On Saturday, Outside the Beltway reports that she taking heat for evading a question from a newspaper editorial board about whether or not she voted for President Obama. They say that it is not surprising that she avoided the question given the President’s very low job approval ratings in Kentucky. As the week continued, it was reported that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) had decided to halt its TV ad buys supporting Grimes in her race against Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell. Hillbilly Report writes on Wednesday that while many in the media have called the DSCC’s move a ‘pullout’ from the state, their effort is more than buying TV ads, and the race remains a close one.
North Carolina’s Progressive Pulse writes this week that House Speaker Thom Tillis’ 2012 prediction that an amendment to the state’s constitution to ban same sex marriage has come true 17 years early. Tillis had stated that the measure would likely be repealed within 20 years in the Old North State despite campaigning for it during a primary election. Staying in South Carolina, PoliticusUSA says that it is ironic that a state that has the lowest percentage of women in its legislature of any state in the union arguably has the worst governor in the country, in the form of Nikki Haley. They say that Haley is seeking her second term (and is likely to be successful) after a first term characterized by ethics questions, refusing to expand Medicaid and education, and a disdain for women and the black community.
Meanwhile in the Georgia this week, Peach Pundit writes that Gallup Polls are predicting that the state’s gubernatorial and Senate races may well be headed to runoffs. They say that Georgia’s Republican Party might be better served if its statewide candidates ran on issues rather than on a general anti-Obama platform.
A somewhat surreal development in Florida’s gubernatorial race occurred this week, with a debate between the GOP incumbent, Rick Scott, and his Democratic opponent, Charlie Crist, was delayed by Scott’s refusal to come on stage due to Crist’s insistence on having an electric fan present. Saint Petersblog reports that it took Scott seven minutes to come on stage on Wednesday night, in an incident now dubbed #fangate. With the race virtually tied, such a seemingly trivial incident may well prove decisive.
This week Burnt Orange Report writes that in the Lone Star State, a new ad from Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Wendy Davis, has ‘hammered’ her GOP opponent, Greg Abbott, for his hypocrisy in receiving millions in a lawsuit that left him unable to walk, only to use the money to launch his political career that has seen him, deny justice to others.
Midwest
On Friday, Plunderbund comments on new job figures released by Ohio’s Department of Jobs and Family Services that the state added 6,000 new jobs last month. They say that while the new jobs are good news, the bad news is that this is the 23rd consecutive month the state has been below average nationally for job growth. They say that the figures will not play into the narrative of GOP Governor, John Kasich, who won his seat in 2010 by promising to outperform the nation in job growth.
Heading north to Michigan, electablog writes on Sunday that Republican Governor, Rick Snyder has been endorsed by the National Rifle Association (NRA), and Michael Bloomberg – who is generally anti-gun. They say the endorsements put Governor Snyder in a tough place, with many NRA members likely to be turned off by Bloomberg’s endorsement.
This week in Minnesota, True North reports on a new survey which shows that the North Star State may be slipping away from the Republican Party once again. They write that the GOP has not won a statewide electoral contest since 2006, and despite seeming Republican leads in the summer, Democratic Governor Mark Dayton, and Senator Al Franken look set to easily win their midterm contests.
Wisconsin was once again in the news this week, with a poll finding that Republican Governor Scott Walker is now tied with his Democratic opponent, Mary Burke at 47 percent. Blogging Blue says that this is a big deal, as Burke has erased Walker’s five point lead in two weeks, which may show that her campaign is picking up momentum at the right time. Staying in Wisconsin, The Prairie Badger may have an explanation for Walker’s faltering polls – the state GOP may be running low on money, volunteers and resources.
One Republican who has had better news this week is Joni Ernst, the Senate candidate for Iowa. The Iowa Republican reports that Ernst ‘steamrolled’ her Democratic opponent, Bruce Braley, in a TV debate this week, writing that she was the clear winner on the debate’s substantive issues such as the government’s reaction to Ebola and ISIS.
On Friday, South Dakota War College writes that state Democrats are ‘apoplectic’ after Congressional hopeful, Corinna Robinson’s ‘career ending’ performance in a debate against her opponent Representative, Kristi Noem.
West and Pacific
ColoradoPols reports on the Centennial State’s Senate race this week, writing that Republican candidate, Cory Gardner has recently stated on Twitter that he was “honored and humbled” by the endorsement of the Denver Post newspaper. They point out that Gardner has a record of sweeping statements trashing journalism as being critical of Republicans, and that he has only stopped when the media benefits him.
Heading over to Idaho, Daily Kos writes on Tuesday that the Gem State’s gubernatorial race ‘just got really, really weird’. They say that the incumbent GOP Governor, Butch Otter, does not look to have the race sewn up (as many commentators previously thought), as his favorability ratings lag behind those of his challenger, Democrat A.J. Balukoff. While Otter leads 39 to 36 percent, the Republican Governor’s Association committed six figures to the race at the start of October, indicating that they are worried the race may not go their way.
Blog for Arizona looks at what they call the Grand Canyon State’s ‘silly season’, which has been characterized by non-scandals gaining media attention. They say that the Arizona Republic newspaper has run stories on Democratic gubernatorial candidate Fred DuVal’s traffic infringements, including having his license suspended for a right turn violation.
Heading west to the Golden State, Wonkblog reports on the effects of marijuana decriminalization in California. They say that a new report has found that the move has not led to an increase in harmful consequences for teenagers such as overdoses, crime, and dropping out of school. Staying in California, Calbuzz writes this week that incumbent Democratic Governor, Jerry Brown, has exposed a weakness that his GOP challenger might be able to exploit; diaper changing dads. They say that Brown recently vetoed two bills which would require businesses to provide at least one diaper changing table accessible to men. They say that this might alienate up to ‘700,000 potential diaper dad voters’.
On Monday, The Mudlflats reports that Alaska is celebrating marriage equality after a judge ruled that the state’s restrictive marriage laws were unconstitutional.
Featured image credit: J. Stephen Conn (Flickr, CC-BY-NC-2.0)
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