>>Message from Sen. Jim DeMint, Chair of Senate Conservative fund

Dear Fellow Conservatives:

I want to thank everyone who joined our conference call last Tuesday night. Over 19,000 people participated in our discussion about eight of the most important Senate races taking place across the country.

I also want to apologize for the technical problems that prevented many of you from listening in. Fortunately, we recorded the call. You can listen to the streaming audio by clicking here.

Here’s a brief summary of each of the eight races we discussed:

ARKANSAS – Sen. Blanch Lincoln (D-AR) has a very liberal record. She scored only 9% on the SCF scorecard based the votes she cast in 2008, and she recently voted for the ObamaCare bill in the Senate Finance Committee. There are a number of Republicans running to challenge Sen. Lincoln but it’s not clear yet which candidate conservatives should support. If you have information about this race, please send us your tips.

CALIFORNIA – Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) has an even more liberal record. She scored only 4% on the SCF scorecard, and she’s leading the effort to impose a massive cap-and-trade energy tax on American families. There are two viable Republicans in the race to replace her: Assemblyman Chuck DeVore and businesswoman Carly Fiorina. Chuck DeVore is a tested, conservative leader we can count on to stand up for the principles of freedom. SCF endorses Chuck DeVore.

COLORADO – Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) was appointed to the seat earlier this year. In just a few months, he’s already voted for over $1 trillion in deficit spending. Bennet has a serious Democratic challenger as well as several Republican challengers. The two most prominent Republicans in the race are former Lt. Governor Jane Norton and Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck. It’s not clear yet which candidate conservatives should support. If you have information about this race, please send us your tips.

FLORIDA – The race to fill this open seat will likely be a contest between liberal Democrat U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek and the winner of the Republican primary between Governor Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio, the former Florida Speaker of the House. Marco Rubio is a standout conservative who does not apologize for his principles, and has cut Governor Crist’s lead in half in just a few months. We believe this primary is the most important race in the country. SCF endorses Marco Rubio.

KENTUCKY – There are several Republicans and Democrats running to fill this open seat. The most viable Republicans in the race are Secretary of State Trey Grayson and Rand Paul, an eye surgeon and son of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX). It’s not clear yet which candidate conservatives should support. If you have information about this race, please send us your tips.

NEVADA – Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) has a very liberal record. He scored only 4% on the SCF scorecard. There are several Republicans running to challenge Reid, but the two discussed most are businessman Danny Tarkanian and former state GOP chair Sue Lowden. It’s not clear yet which candidate conservatives should support. If you have information about this race, please send us your tips.

PENNSYLVANIA – Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) scored a 44% rating on the SCF scorecard when he was a Republican. Specter, now a Democrat, is being challenged on the left by U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak in the Democratic primary. The winner will face former Republican Congressman Pat Toomey in the general election. Pat Toomey is a proven conservative leader who will fight the massive spending, bailouts, and debt being forced on us in Washington. SCF endorses Pat Toomey.

TEXAS – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) said she plans to resign to run for Governor. When that occurs, Republican Governor Rick Perry will appoint an interim Senator to serve until Texas holds a special election. Texas insiders believe the appointment will likely go to either Lt. Governor David Dewhurst or Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams, and the appointment will make that candidate the front runner in the special election. It’s not clear yet what conservatives should do to ensure the seat is filled by a conservative. If you have information about this race, please send us your tips.

During the course of the call on Tuesday, we also conducted a series of instant polls that allowed participants to vote using their telephones. For a complete list of the these polls and the results, click here.

We will continue to monitor each Senate race taking place across the country and keep you informed of any developments. The 2010 elections are just one year away so we need to do work quickly to identify and build support for the best candidates nationwide.

Yours truly,

Jim DeMint
United States Senator
Chairman, Senate Conservatives Fund

 

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