Bagels & Ballots: 2012 Presidential Race Edition (Already!)
Vetting for 2012: With less than a week to go until midterms, it’s safe to say the 2012 presidential race is warming up. The Democratic National Committee has already approached the Pentagon to learn about potential Republican opponents—part of its early stage opposition research. According to ABC News, The DNC has filed Freedom of Information Act requests with the Defense Department for any communications between military agencies and nine potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates: former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin; former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney; Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippi; Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty; former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich; South Dakota Senator John Thune; Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana; and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. (ABC News)
Calling Illinois Jews: Illinois’ Republican senatorial candidate Mark Kirk and gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady drummed up support at a rally for Jewish voters organized by the Republican Jewish Coalition. (Associated Press)
Democrats, Winning? Or at least that’s what the party says in a new memo, which claims that the Republican surge has not materialized in early voting: “In key states, such as NV, IA, CA, WI, WA, IL and WV, Democrats are outpacing Republicans in early vote. In other states, such as CO, Democrats tend to cast votes later than Republicans (as they did in 2008), and we are confident that margin will close.” (Politico (PDF))
Refuah Shlemah: We’re glad to see that California’s Republican senatorial candidate Carly Fiorina is feeling better and back on the trail. On Monday, the former H-P exec was hospitalized from an infection that developed from a breast cancer treatment, but her campaign says she’s better now. Of course, this comes with speculation of a sympathy vote… (San Jose Mercury News)
42 Again: The senatorial race in Pennsylvania is heating up, creating an opportunity for Bill Clinton to step in for his party. Today, the 42nd president is joining Democratic candidate Joe Sestak at two rallies, along with a radio ad in Sestak’s favor. And if that’s not enough to tip the needle, POTUS is joining in on Saturday. (Pennlive.com)
Why I became the Forward’s Editor-in-Chief
You are surely a friend of the Forward if you’re reading this. And so it’s with excitement and awe — of all that the Forward is, was, and will be — that I introduce myself to you as the Forward’s newest editor-in-chief.
And what a time to step into the leadership of this storied Jewish institution! For 129 years, the Forward has shaped and told the American Jewish story. I’m stepping in at an intense time for Jews the world over. We urgently need the Forward’s courageous, unflinching journalism — not only as a source of reliable information, but to provide inspiration, healing and hope.
