North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven to announce Senate bid

[ccharles000]

North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven is expected to kick off his candidacy for U.S. Senate Monday evening at a GOP district convention in Bismarck, according to a state Republican familiar with his plans.

Hoeven's announcement will come just six days after Democratic Sen. Byron Dorgan said he would retire rather than seek a fourth term in 2010.

Hoeven's entry into the race is no surprise. A Rasmussen Reports poll conducted last month showed Hoeven leading Dorgan by 22 percentage points. Dorgan's abrupt and unexpected exit from the campaign made the race even more appealing to the widely popular three-term governor.

In recent days, top Republicans, including 2008 presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, have encouraged Hoeven to make the run in a contest in which he's presumed to be the favorite.

Hoeven, the nation's longest-serving governor, is expected to begin speaking to the Bismarck Republican District Convention around 6 p.m. Monday in order to snag live coverage from the local evening newscasts.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31339.html

[RC]

1. Hoeven loves photo ops.

With Dorgan gone, I wonder how long it will take for North Dakota to turn into Mississippi or Minnesota?

[malakai2]

2. Could be quick

Governor Potted Plant will be gone. On the one hand I'd like to see him take stands on national issues and have to squirm in front of a much larger audience, but on the other hand if North Dakota gets a more active conservative in his place it could be ugly. Imagine a guy like Perry or Purdue running the state...talk about laying out the red carpet for oil companies and ag conglomerates.

[RC]

3. Thanks for the warning.

It could very well happen here.