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Will Republicans win control of the Senate in this falls elections?

Its a risky bet, even in what is shaping up to be a solid year for Republicans that will see them staying in control of the House.

Theyll gain three or four seats in the Senate, perhaps five, as they capitalize on President Obamas sinking ratings, an economy thats recovering in fits and starts, and a sense that U.S. foreign policy is bogged down.

To take control, though, the GOP needs a net gain of six seats. Its not an impossible task, but its a tough one.

Either way, the margin will be slender: 51-49 or even 50-50, with Vice President Joe Biden being called on to cast tie-breaking votes.

Six months out, it appears races in eight states -- Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina, South Dakota and West Virginia -- will decide who controls a majority in the upper chamber. All but Georgia are now Democratic seats.

The GOP seems poised to flip seats in Montana, South Dakota and West Virginia. In the last two, long-time incumbents are retiring. In Montana, Max Baucus has already departed to become the U.S. ambassador to China.

Democratic incumbents in Alaska and North Carolina appear to be in danger as well. Republicans would be assured of a tie if they win all five of these seats and dont lose any that they hold now. If it ends up 50-50, Sen. Angus King (I-N.H.) may be the most important man in Washington for a while. He caucuses with Democrats now and would be pressed to stay with them. But Republicans, too, will court him, offering key committee posts and other sweeteners to cross the aisle.

At the moment, once-vulnerable Democratic incumbents seem to be bouncing back in Arkansas and Louisiana. One reason: Their support for Obamacare isnt scaring away many voters, thus stripping Republicans of a key issue they were hoping to use successfully in those two states and others. Republican efforts to tie the Democrats to Obama arent getting much traction, either. The presidents delay of the Keystone XL Pipeline gives Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, both pipeline supporters, room to criticize him and score points at home.

If Republican chances in Arkansas and Louisiana dont improve, look for the GOP to try to put Colorado, Iowa and Michigan in play. Democrats are narrow favorites to hold onto those seats now, so theyre not on our list. Republicans cant openly root for what would help them the most: an economic reversal, a war or an act of terrorism. But theyll be set to pounce, saying Democrats have hurt the economy. (Thats an iffy argument in some areas, where Democrats will argue that the economy is finally improving after the recession.)

Excerpt from:
Republicans Can Win Back the Senate, but Will They?

The Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has indicated its interest to withdraw the suit it filed against the Peoples Democratic Party. The matter is before an Ilorin High Court presided over by Justice Sulieman Kawu.

In the suit, APC challenged the local government election held on October 26, 2013 in the state.

But the current APC Kwara State Secretary, Mr. Yemi Afolayan in a letter obtained by our correspondent in Ilorin on Tuesday stated that APC was no longer interested in the matter.

Afolayan, in the two-page letter dated May 8, 2014 which was addressed to the plaintiffs lead counsel, Mr Deji Gbadeyan, said APC was willing to discontinue with the matter.

The letter was copied to counsel to Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission, Mr Adebayo Adelodun (SAN), the High Court Registrar and KWASIEC Chairman.

I wish to inform you that our party, All Progressives Congress is no longer interested in the matter, which is in the court of Hon. Justice Sulieman Kawu, Afoloyan said.

The APC had challenged the conduct of the October 26, 2013 local government election in the state.

It had with six other plaintiffs sued KWASIEC, PDP and the Labour Party.

The motion, filed by the Partys lawyer, Deji Gbadeyan, contained a 10-paragraph affidavit deposed to by one Ayodeji Kudabo from Gbadeyans Chambers.

The plaintiffs in a motion filed by Gbadeyan had averred that KWASIEC and PDP went ahead to conduct and participate in the elections on Saturday knowing well that all the parties concerned were in court over the matter.

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APC to withdraw suit challenging Kwara LG poll

Founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress, Dr. Fredrick Fasehun

The All Progressives Congress in Lagos State has urged the Federal Government to accept the negotiation terms offered by the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, in the efforts to obtain the release of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

The Lagos APC Interim Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, told our correspondent in a telephone interview that hostage negotiation was not new, adding that it had executed executed in many parts of the world in the past.

He said, It (negotiation) has been done in Israel and Palestine and many other countries. In war situations, prisoner exchange is very common. It is an international convention.

The government should put those girls first because one of those girls is worth more than all of Boko Haram put together. Also, those people that are calling on the government not to negotiate are doing so because their children are not among the kidnapped girls.

In a related development, the founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress, Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, told journalists at a press conference on Tuesday that the abduction of the girls showed the failure of intelligence for which the Federal Government must be blamed.

Fasehun, who is also the National Chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria, said the government should see the rescue of the girls as a short term measure and separate from the long-term goal of terminating Boko Haram.

He said, When nations declare war, they still look for a means of negotiation. In the past, Boko Haram was not going to negotiate, they were just killing people. But we do not know what has come over them to initiate negotiations.

It should be a welcome move. Give us our children and we will give you your soldiers, either dead or alive. It is a good deal. There is nothing too much for Nigeria to do in exchange for those girls.

Fasehun recalled that the current insurgency began in the heat of the 2011 elections when some aggrieved politicians threatened to make the nation ungovernable if they did not have their way.

See the original post here:
APC, Fasehun ask FG to accept BHaram deal

CEDAR RAPIDS | She may be touted as the voice of a new generation, but Anesa Kajtazovic is resonating with an older generation that sees her as a new flag-bearer for their progressive values.

These are things weve wanted to get done for a long time, Janet Manatt of Cedar Rapids said after hearing Kajtazovic, 27, talk about her American Dream Agenda of education, economic security and energy security at a campaign fundraiser in Cedar Rapids Monday night.

All of the things she talks about have been important to me for a long time, added Gary Widdel of Cedar Rapids. Hes narrowed his choice to three of the five candidates running to succeed Democrat Rep. Bruce Braley whose mother has endorsed Kajtazovic.

The appeal of the new generation candidate to old generation voters like him is simple, Widdel said.

Ive got grandkids, so Im looking at what their lives are going to be like, he said. I want to make sure their lives are better.

He plans to submit his absentee ballot this week and its hers to lose, Widdel said about the second-term Iowa House member from Waterloo.

Steve Sovern of Cedar Rapids made a case for Kajtazovic, telling Widdel and more than 50 others that while everyone is talking about growing the middle class, shes addressing the barrier to making that happen.

As long as money is in charge of politics, politics will be responsive to money, he said.

Kajtazovic told her audience that the current system of financing campaigns is a huge threat to achieving their shared values and goals.

She claimed to be the only candidate talking about campaign finance reform and I wont stop because its so crucial to our future and its the right thing to do.

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Kajtazovics new voice resonates with older generation of progressives

By James Q. Lynch, The Gazette

CEDAR RAPIDS She may be touted as the voice of a new generation, but Anesa Kajtazovic is resonating with an older generation that sees her as a new flag-bearer for their progressive values.

These are things weve wanted to get done for a long time, Janet Manatt of Cedar Rapids said after hearing Kajtazovic, 27, talk about her American Dream Agenda of education, economic security and energy security at a campaign fundraiser in Cedar Rapids Monday night.

All of the things she talks about have been important to me for a long time, added Gary Widdel of Cedar Rapids. Hes narrowed his choice to three of the five candidates running to succeed Democrat Rep. Bruce Braley whose mother has endorsed Kajtazovic.

The appeal of the new generation candidate to old generation voters like him is simple, Widdel said.

Ive got grandkids, so Im looking at what their lives are going to be like, he said. I want to make sure their lives are better.

He plans to submit his absentee ballot this week and its hers to lose, Widdel said about the second-term Iowa House member from Waterloo.

Steve Sovern of Cedar Rapids made a case for Kajtazovic, telling Widdel and more than 50 others that while everyone is talking about growing the middle class, shes addressing the barrier to making that happen.

As long as money is in charge of politics, politics will be responsive to money, he said.

Kajtazovic told her audience that the current system of financing campaigns is a huge threat to achieving their shared values and goals.

Continue reading here:
Anesa Kajtazovics new voice resonates with older generation of progressives