Virginia's Republican candidate for governor avoided being near Bush

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theworld/2005/October/theworld_October780.xml§ion=theworld&col=

<snip>Perhaps most telling of Bush’s woes is that when he travelled to Virginia for a major speech on Friday, his party’s candidate for the state’s November 8 gubernatorial election was glaringly absent.

There is no doubt that the scandal has deeply damaged the White House. With another three years to go in his second term, it raises questions about whether Bush will be able to achieve any of his political goals — ranging from reforming social security, shaping up the federal pension system and cutting non-defence spending.

By a two-to-one margin, Americans said in a recent poll that they believe the country is headed in the wrong direction under Bush. In fact, the president’s problems — including the lingering bad taste over how inept his appointees were in handling hurricane Katrina — could hurt his Republican party in the 2006 elections, when all members of the US House of Representatives and one-third of US senators face reelection.

Republicans hold solid majorities in both chambers, but the opposition Democrats are expected to make gains if Bush’s woes continue.

[DJ MEW]

1. and they will continue

Bush's Social Security reform is already dead and there is no way in hell he will be able to resurrect it. His administration is going to be fighting to stay out of jail for the next few months at least, probably more it depends on how long Fitz takes with the new grand jury.

Bush Co. also has to nominate someone to replace O'Connor now that Harriet is out of the question. That person is going to fought tooth and nail no matter who it is. If the Democrats like the person the Republicans will claim they are not strong enough against abortion and if the Republican's like them then the Dems will complain that the person is too controversial and Will legislate from the bench.

I personally hold great hope for the Democrats in the 2006 election cycle.

[mtowngman]

2. can you blame the guy

for avoiding him? I haven't heard of any endorsements from Bush for NJ's rep. gubernatorial candidate Forrester. Any word? He's probably avoiding too.