Tue, November 18, 2008 - 10:58 AM

Senator-elect Kay Hagan, D-N.C., named five staffers for her office today.

Crystal King will serve as chief of staff. She ran Hagan’s senate campaign and previously worked for several members of congress, including Rahm Emanuel, the Illinois representative who will serve as President-elect Barack Obama’s chief of staff.

Colleen Flanagan, who served as communications director during the campaign, will reprise that role. She previously worked for Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, a former Democratic presidential candidate.

Muthoni Wambu, who served as deputy campaign manager and previously worked on Vice President-elect Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, will become state director. And Melissa Midgett, a North Carolina native who worked for Hagan in the state Senate and was deputy finance director for her Senate campaign, will become deputy state director.

Another North Carolina native, Forest Michaels of Greensboro, will serve as Hagan’s scheduling director.

--Sean Mussenden

Mon, November 17, 2008 - 1:42 PM

A leading anti-tobacco advocate will serve on President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team reviewing health policy and the Dept. of Health and Human Services during the administration switch.

Bill Corr, executive director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, was one of 12 health policy specialists who will “will complete a thorough review” of the health agency “to provide the President-elect, Vice President-elect, and key advisors with information needed to make strategic policy, budgetary, and personnel decisions prior to the inauguration. The Teams will ensure that senior appointees have the information necessary to complete the confirmation process, lead their departments, and begin implementing signature policy initiatives immediately after they are sworn in,” according to transition officials.

A spokesman for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids referred a request for comment to a transition spokesman, who did not return a message seeking comment.

--Sean Mussenden

Fri, November 14, 2008 - 1:39 PM

Think this election is over? Think again.

Things are still heated in Georgia, where Republican incumbent Sen. Saxby Chambliss is still fighting to keep his seat from being taken from him by Democrat Jim Martin.

Case in point: John McCain was campaigning for Chamliss Thursday.



Chambliss took 49.8 percent of the vote. In Georgia, a candidate must receive 50 percent of the vote or else the election goes to a runoff election, which will happen Dec. 2.

McCain appeared to be there out of loyalty to the Republican Party. Six years ago during Chambliss’ last Senate race, McCain had criticized an ad Chambliss ran.

But Democrats now have a strong majority in the Senate and a seat like the one in Georgia is extremely important to the party.

Martin has asked for Obama’s help, but no word yet whether or not the presidential-elect will make a trip to Georgia in the near future.

-- Amy Dominello

Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina was elected to run the Republican Governors Association today. In the current GOP leadership vacuum, the post will give Sanford, a potential presidential candidate in 2012, a voice in the debate over the party's future. From the AP:

MIAMI (AP) — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is the new chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

In a statement released by the group Friday, Sanford said he was honored to be elected by his colleagues. The association has been meeting this week in Miami — and some discussions have revolved around what went wrong for the party on Election Day.

Sanford says the group will work to win gubernatorial elections. He succeeds Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who will now serve as finance chairman.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour was selected as vice chairman.

Sanford is a 48-year-old former congressman. His second term as governor ends in 2011 and term limits prevent him from running again.

--Sean Mussenden

Press play for a brief update on North Carolina and South Carolina lawmakers in Washington.



--Sean Mussenden

President-elect Barack Obama will meet with the man he defeated to become the 44th president, Sen. John McCain, on Monday in Chicago, the transition committee announced this morning. Joining McCain will be South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close confidant of McCain's who frequently campaigned with him this fall, will sit in on the meeting, along with Rahm Emanuel, who will serve as Obama's chief of staff.

"It's well known that they share an important belief that Americans want and deserve a more effective and efficient government, and will discuss ways to work together to make that a reality," a transition committee spokeswoman said.

--Sean Mussenden

This morning's buzz is whether Sen. Hillary Clinton could be the next secretary of state.

NBC News first reported last night that Clinton is "under consideration" by President-elect Barack Obama, according to unnamed sources. The Associated Press is also reporting the story. And today, everybody's talking about it.

NBC reported that Clinton traveled to Chicago, but even that hasn't been confirmed. Nobody's saying whether she met with Obama or his transition team if she did go to Chicago.

And if it's not Clinton, here are some other names that are being bandied about for the post: Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska.

The idea of Clinton as secretary of state appeals to her supporters, of course. But would it mean she has given up on being president? And how would her being secretary of state square with former President Bill Clinton's international business dealings? Could he be reined in? Her appointment also would reinforce criticism that Obama is populating his administration with Clintonites when he promised change.

-- Marsha Mercer

Thu, November 13, 2008 - 3:23 PM

U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., isn’t saying until January, at least officially, whether he’ll run for a second term in two years. And he does not yet have a declared Democratic foe.

But today, the non-partisan Cook Political Report, in its opening round of predictions for the 2010 Senate races, puts the race for Martinez’ seat in its “toss-up” category.

Only two other Senate races in 2010 – the contests for Kentucky Republican Jim Bunning’s seat and Louisiana Republican David Vitter’s – are similarly rated as “toss-ups.”

There will be a total of 34 total Senate races in 2010, 19 currently held by Republicans, 15 by Democrats. The number of races could grow if Barack Obama appoints some sitting senators to his administration.

“Here’s my reasoning,” said Cook analyst, Jennifer Duffy, of why Martinez may be in jeopardy if he runs for another six-year term.

“Barack Obama proved what Democrats in Florida have been saying for two to four years,” said Duffy, “that the I-4 corridor makes all the difference in the world, and that that swing area can move to Democrats, as it did for Obama.”

“His other problems are that he is not especially well-defined for voters. And, because he was a good sport and agreed to serve as the chairman of the Republican National Committee, he’s neglected his fundraising somewhat,” she said.

Martinez has reported having less than $1.3 million on hand in his campaign war chest.

“Florida is a very big, very expensive swing state now, and this is going to be a $25 million-plus race,” Duffy said.

Responded Martinez spokesman Ken Lundberg to the Cook analysis: “It’s no great surprise. Florida is always going to be toss-up state."

-- Billy House, Media General News Service

President-elect/Sen. Barack Obama will officially drop one of those titles on Sunday, when he resigns his Senate seat, the transition committee just confirmed.

Here's the full statement:

“It has been one of the highest honors and privileges of my life to have served the people of Illinois in the United States Senate. In a state that represents the crossroads of a nation, I have met so many men and women who’ve taken different journeys, but hold common hopes for their children’s future. It is these Illinois families and their stories that will stay with me as I leave the United States Senate and begin the hard task of fulfilling the simple hopes and common dreams of all Americans as our nation’s next President,” said President-elect Barack Obama.

--Sean Mussenden

Interested in a job in the Obama administration? Get in line. Tens of thousands of applicants are angling for a limited number of political appointments in executive branch agencies and the White House under the next president.

If you’d like to be the next deputy assistant undersecretary for something, check out the Plum Book for a full listing of political appointment jobs under the last administration, most of which will be filled by newcomers.

--Sean Mussenden

The long campaign really is over, and here at mgwashington.com and the Washington bureau of Media General News Service, we've sent our political blog, Herd on the Trail, off to a happy retirement. We've launched a new blog, Herd in Washington.

This is where you can read the latest about the dizzying changes coming to the nation’s capital with a new Congress and the presidency of Barack Obama. We’ll keep you posted on inaugural festivities, the transition and what’s happening on Capitol Hill as Democrats take control of both the executive and legislative branch.

We draw on staff reporting from our team of talented multimedia journalists and point you to the best from Media General’s newspaper and TV coverage and other news sources and blogs from around the Internet.

Besides our blog, check out mgwashington.com for news coverage from Washington targeted to the 10 states where Media General has properties. Watch staff-produced videos, take our weekly news quiz, vote in the daily poll and read commentaries by yours truly.

And,for you political junkies, don’t worry. We’re already writing about the next campaign.

We’re also working on some new video moments and other cool stufff, so come back soon.

And remember, we want you to be part of the conversation. Be sure to register and comment on what you’ve read.

You’ll hear it on Herd.

-- Marsha Mercer

Many balls are still in the planning stages, but click here for information on some planned galas.

This is no means a complete list, but we’ll keep updating as time goes on.

-- Amy Dominello

Wed, November 12, 2008 - 2:19 PM

A Florida Ball to be held at one of Washington’s most prestigious museums is among the wave of inaugural-eve celebrations surrounding Democrat Barack Obama’s historic swearing-in as president Jan. 20.

The “Sunshine and Stars 2009 Florida Inauguration Ball,” featuring Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, is set for Monday, Jan. 19 at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, according to a message from Crist, which can be viewed at here.

The event will include a reception and dinner, but few other details are provided. The message does provide a link to an e-mail address to for those interested in acquiring more details about sponsorship and other opportunities, presumably including the cost of tickets.

That address is 2009floridainauguralball@linderassociates.com.

“Welcome to Florida’s home for events surrounding the 2009 presidential inauguration!” begins Crist’s message.

“Through your support for Florida’s Inaugural Ball on January 19, you will not only be signing up for a wonderful evening at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, but you will be supporting two worthy causes: Florida House and the Florida State Society.”

“Thank you in advance for your participation in this great event …”

“Look forward to seeing you there,” Crist concludes.

-- Billy House, Media General News Service

It’s transition time in Washington. And that means if you are evenly mildly important your name will be whispered as a possibility for some very important job in the new administration.

Rep. Artur Davis, D-Alabama, is no exception. In the Montgomery Advertiser, he shot down rumors that he’s being considered for attorney general.

"I am not a candidate for attorney general. I am not under consideration for attorney general," he tells the paper. "I've made it very clear to people that the governor's race has been my focus."

-- Amy Dominello

Tue, November 11, 2008 - 5:23 PM

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine may have been crying tears of joy on Election Night, but his impassioned work on behalf of Barack Obama is not likely to move him away from Richmond before his term expires in January 2010.

Kaine spokesman Gordon Hickey reiterated today the Virginia Democrat is not seeking any job with the new administration or elsewhere in Washington.

The Washington Post put Kaine on the not-so-short list of Obama loyalists who could be tapped to replace outgoing Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean. But a Kaine aide dismissed that one.

“He’s not going to be the DNC chair,” Hickey said. “Right now the governor’s busy being the governor.”

Hickey said he didn’t know if Kaine was playing any role in the Obama transition.


Boyd Looking for Job in Obama Administration

After spending months campaigning for Barack Obama across the South, John Boyd Jr., president of the National Black Farmers Association, is now seeking to have a larger voice in U.S. agricultural policy, hopefully as secretary of agriculture.

“I’ve had some conversations with the campaign. I thought they were positive,” said Boyd, of Baskerville, Va., who does not have any formal role in the Obama transition team. Several more experienced politicians have been mentioned for the government’s top ag job.

Boyd has been a leading voice in a multi-million dollar class action suit against the U.S. government for discriminating against black farmers

“Farmers around the country want to see some change at the Department of Agriculture,” Boyd said, adding he would focus on farm lending and program delivery if given the chance to serve in the administration.

This year’s farm bill lifted the statute of limitations on the black farmers suit, allowing the group to add more plaintiffs to the case, which Boyd said could include claims from 40,000 farmers.

“It’s going to take an administration and an Agriculture Secretary and an Attorney General who can sit down and bring resolution to the farmers,” Boyd said.

--Neil H. Simon