Bagels and Ballots – Thursday
–Rahm Emanuel is still mulling a run in the Chicago mayoral race — one that could make him the city’s first Jewish mayor. He even met with potential opponent Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. to talk about it last night: (Chicago Tribune)
-We’re keeping an eye on the three-way race for Florida’s senate seat. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll gives Republican candidate Marco Rubio a decisive lead: 40% over independent candidate Charlie Crist’s 26% and Kendrick Meek’s 21% among likely voters. Reuters attributes the numbers to the enthusiasm gap between Democrats and Republicans. (Reuters)
-But many Jewish voters, enthusiastic or otherwise, will probably miss out on an upcoming Values Voter Summit — a faith-focused right-wing event that will feature Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich — because it’s being held on Yom Kippur. (The Huffington Post)
-Wisconsin’s Senate hopefuls are hammering out debate details, though Democrat Russ Feingold is crying foul about Republican Ron Johnson’s decision to hold three debates instead of six. (WisPolitics)
-Also in Wisconsin: Despite radio station WKOW’s requests, Feingold’s campaign isn’t pulling an advertisement that WKOW says includes clips he never gained permission to use. (WKOW)
-Everyone’s talking about Tea Party hero turned Delaware Republican senatorial candidate Christine O’Donnell: The Times says she grew up in New Jersey; campaigned against masturbation; has personal finance woes; “fudged” her achievements; and is staunchly anti-abortion. And a new poll gave her opponent Chris Coons an 11-point lead. (New York Times)
-Meanwhile, consummate Wilmingtonian Joe Biden — a former holder of that Senate seat — is getting ready to campaign for Coons: (USA Today)
-On MitzVote, Nathan Guttman wonders whether Tea Partiers O’Donnell and New York’s Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino are good for the Jews: (MitzVote)
