The effect of the Attorney firings scandal on Domenici and Wilson

[Adlai Stevenson]

Will the US Attorney firings scandal eventually lead to the downfall of Heather Wilson and Pete Domenici?

[Verily]

Kyl, too, though he's not up for reelection again until 2012.

I doubt it'll have much impact, but I can hope.

[Gabu]

It seems like something that's way too obscure for the public to care too much about.

[RBH]

It can be simplified as this

"

• and [y] got a U.S. attorney fired because he didn't do their bidding"

[Rob]

Only Wilson, though it could possibly force Domenici into retirement.

The funniest aspect of this scandal: certain posters on this website were strongly supporting Wilson's reelection because she wasn't a "machine hack," and was more "independent" than her opponent.

[Deano963]

Wilson is toast. She was already going to face another extremely tough challenge in '08 which she would have been only 50/50 to win had this scandal not happened - with this scandal she is as good as gone.

With Domenici, it depends on how big the scandal gets. It is starting to snowball in the MSM. The fact that today John Sununu of all people has called for AG Gonzales to resign is sure to make this story get even bigger. The expected testimony of DOJ officials and maybe even Karl Rove could turn this scandal - which did not sem so big at first - into a huge deal, even bigger than PlameGate. Domenici is very popular in NM, and even though he has already been tarnished by this affair, it would need to get bigger for even a top-tier Dem to be able defeat him. Of course there is also the very real possibility that he is forced into early retirement before this is over.

If it becomes clear to Domenici that Wilson is headed for certain defeat in '08, look for Domenici to retire. It's no secret he has been grooming her to replace him, and has been holding the seat for her. He probably only decided to seek reelection in '08 b/c he didn't think Wilson could have held the Senate seat for the republicans had he retired, given that '08 is shaping up to be another anti-Republican year, at least mildly so. If his hand-picked predecessor is headed for defeat, he might just call it a day.

Kyl, too, though he's not up for reelection again until 2012.

I doubt it'll have much impact, but I can hope.

How does this affect Jon Kyl?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Nate (who o/c voted for Wilson last year) mentioned this to me in a series of emails about a week ago:

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[Verily]

Kyl, too, though he's not up for reelection again until 2012.

I doubt it'll have much impact, but I can hope.

How does this affect Jon Kyl?

CNN reported yesterday that Kyl had also called up and possibly pressured Iglesias. That seems a little odd, given that it's a New Mexico scandal, but he is from a neighboring state.

[Deano963]

Kyl, too, though he's not up for reelection again until 2012.

I doubt it'll have much impact, but I can hope.

How does this affect Jon Kyl?

CNN reported yesterday that Kyl had also called up and possibly pressured Iglesias. That seems a little odd, given that it's a New Mexico scandal, but he is from a neighboring state.

I had not heard baout that. Why didn't Iglesias say that Kyl had called him as well when he testified?

[Verily]

Kyl, too, though he's not up for reelection again until 2012.

I doubt it'll have much impact, but I can hope.

How does this affect Jon Kyl?

CNN reported yesterday that Kyl had also called up and possibly pressured Iglesias. That seems a little odd, given that it's a New Mexico scandal, but he is from a neighboring state.

I had not heard baout that. Why didn't Iglesias say that Kyl had called him as well when he testified?

Maybe it was only a passing phone call or something, otherwise irrelevant. Kyl was only mentioned in conjunction; he may not have been involved.

[Padfoot]

Wilson is for sure done after this.  I doubt she'll manage to be re-elected and even if she is her statewide chances are completely shot.  Sen. Domenici's chances will depend on how long his name stays in the spotlight in connection with the scandal in both the national and NM press.  I don't think he will be defeated in 2008 though.  He will either win or retire.

If his hand-picked predecessor is headed for defeat, he might just call it a day.

Deano963, I think the word you were looking for here is successor not predecessor.  Domenici's predecessor was former Sen. Clinton Anderson.

One last thing.  If this scandal becomes serious enough that it forces Domenici to resign before his term is up, this would unexpectedly thrust Gov. Bill Richardson into the national spotlight as he would be responsible for appointing a replacement until the election is held.  His choice could affect his chances in the Democratic primary and possibly the general election.

[Deano963]

Wilson is for sure done after this.  I doubt she'll manage to be re-elected and even if she is her statewide chances are completely shot.  Sen. Domenici's chances will depend on how long his name stays in the spotlight in connection with the scandal in both the national and NM press.  I don't think he will be defeated in 2008 though.  He will either win or retire.

If his hand-picked predecessor is headed for defeat, he might just call it a day.

Deano963, I think the word you were looking for here is successor not predecessor.  Domenici's predecessor was former Sen. Clinton Anderson.

LOL - thanks for pointing that out, my mistake. Can't believe I mixed those two up.