Dems Miss 2 More Recruits
House Dems have succeeded in keeping the number of retiring members low, but the party is having trouble recruiting candidates to run to replace at least one of the few who have stepped aside.
Late yesterday, ex-KC Mayor Carol Marinovich (D) said she will not run for the seat held by retiring Rep. Dennis Moore (D-KS), becoming the latest Dem to take a pass on the race. Dems will now look to current KC Mayor Joe Reardon (D) as they search for a top-tier candidate.
Meanwhile, philanthropist Linda Ketner (D) said she will not make a second attempt at a House seat held by retiring Rep. Henry Brown (R-SC). Ketner won 48% of the vote in '08, narrowly losing to Brown in what turned out to be a surprisingly close race.
GOPers in the race to replace Brown include businessman/ex-Gov. Campbell son Tumpy Campbell, state Sen. Chip Campsen and Navy vet./ex-town councilman Mark Fava. Charleston Co. Commis. Paul Thurmond (R), the son of the late Sen. Strom Thurmond, is considering his own bid.
In other House news, VA state Sen. Robert Hurt (R) announced Thursday he had raised $293K in his first 2 months as a candidate, leaving him with $259K in the bank as he challenges Rep. Tom Perriello (D).
And check out the Kansas City Star's write-up of Marinovich's decision not to run. Note to candidates: If you want to run for office, don't let yourself be photographed in a tiny race car. The NRCC would have had fun with that one.