John Ensign heading to Iowa

[WalterMitty]

Its difficult to see, though, what John Ensign offers that no other candidate provides.  As others point out, he's not a bad choice as such, but everything he can do, someone else in the Republican field can do better.

He's from a critical swing state/area. He has the experience that few other major candidates for the nomination can match.

nevada isnt a swing state any longer.

[Lunar]

I should add though that it's not easy to win as the statewide rep. from a small state, especially one that's dominated by special interests and still trying to find its political legs.  But hell, Sarah Palin is considered credible, so why not?

Its difficult to see, though, what John Ensign offers that no other candidate provides.  As others point out, he's not a bad choice as such, but everything he can do, someone else in the Republican field can do better.

He's from a critical swing state/area. He has the experience that few other major candidates for the nomination can match.

nevada isnt a swing state any longer.

It's still a purple state in a 50/50 election.  Any winning GOP coalition is going to have to do better among secular suburbanites and Hispanics, disproportionately located in higher concentrations in Nevada.  Assuming Republicans figure out how to win again by 2012 (a maybe), Nevada should be in play, at least reasonably so, until we find out more about the campaigns.

[paul718]

I don't know. There's a little too much crazy in Pentecostalism for one to be elected nationwide, I think. Now, Ensign is not quite as vocal about his religious views as Palin (who is also Pentecostal, or at least was at one point; her Wikipedia article calls her non-denominational), but it would be a pretty obvious strategy to just run Pentecostal leaders saying crazy stuff about armageddon and speaking in tongues. Not too much, just hints of crazy at the edges, enough to make people nervous and raise the specter of Palin.

Our current President belonged to a church that seemed much "crazier" than this one.  I don't see how it could be an issue. 

While a few such gimmicks like race or region matter, what's most important is who is the most talented politician who can build campaign infrastructure and momentum.

Ensign is the real deal as far as political talent goes.

Yup.  Superficially, there aren't many better (i.e., he performs well in front of the camera) as far as the GOP bench goes.  I think he should definitely be taken seriously.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Great! Ensign would be near perfect. He was Santorum's best friend in the Senate, you know. 

Who was the man and who was the dog in their relationship?

[pbrower2a]

Its difficult to see, though, what John Ensign offers that no other candidate provides.  As others point out, he's not a bad choice as such, but everything he can do, someone else in the Republican field can do better.

He's from a critical swing state/area. He has the experience that few other major candidates for the nomination can match.

nevada isnt a swing state any longer.

He has won statewide election (US Senate) in Nevada, so he should have at least the Favorite Son effect  working for him in Nevada.  Should he be the Republican nominee, then Nevada will be close.

I just can't imagine Ensign doing well among Roman Catholics.  Besides, he may be a representative of a Nevada that no longer exists as it did when he was winning elections.   

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I could do him - and he's actually pretty good looking.

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Wow - looking back, that came out much gayer than I intended (and I didn't intend for it to be gay at all).

When I said "I could do him" - it was more of a "I could vote for him".

And honestly, he is decent looking - he could fight with Romney for the "looks" vote.

[Brittain33]

nevada isnt a swing state any longer.

Of course it is. One huge Democratic victory gives Democrats hope to hold it, but it's only one win in a rapidly changing state.

[Lunar]

I could do him - and he's actually pretty good looking.

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Wow - looking back, that came out much gayer than I intended (and I didn't intend for it to be gay at all).

When I said "I could do him" - it was more of a "I could vote for him".

And honestly, he is decent looking - he could fight with Romney for the "looks" vote.

Freudian slip?

[Lunar]

I just can't imagine Ensign doing well among Roman Catholics.  Besides, he may be a representative of a Nevada that no longer exists as it did when he was winning elections.   

Eh, he won't be broadcasting his religion during the primaries like Huck or Palin would, partially because of how ridiculous his church's name is.   A devoutly Catholic VP like Guiliani lol or Bunning lol or Vitter lol or Arnold lol..or Brownback or Johanns might work...

He probably won't run though.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Its difficult to see, though, what John Ensign offers that no other candidate provides.  As others point out, he's not a bad choice as such, but everything he can do, someone else in the Republican field can do better.

He's from a critical swing state/area. He has the experience that few other major candidates for the nomination can match.

nevada isnt a swing state any longer.

Yes it is.  Just because it gave Obama a larger than national victory doesn't mean it is permanently in the Democratic column.  In an election where Obama isn't far ahead in the polls, it will be in play.

[Keystone Phil]

I just can't imagine Ensign doing well among Roman Catholics.  Besides, he may be a representative of a Nevada that no longer exists as it did when he was winning elections.   

Because he's a Pentecostal? Eh, big deal. I know I don't speak for all Catholics but I'm a devout member of my faith and I have absolutely no problem with his religion. Then again, that isn't even a factor when I consider who I'm going to support.

[© tweed]

I just can't imagine Ensign doing well among Roman Catholics.  Besides, he may be a representative of a Nevada that no longer exists as it did when he was winning elections.   

Because he's a Pentecostal? Eh, big deal. I know I don't speak for all Catholics but I'm a devout member of my faith and I have absolutely no problem with his religion. Then again, that isn't even a factor when I consider who I'm going to support.

you're not a 'swing voter'

[Verily]

I don't know. There's a little too much crazy in Pentecostalism for one to be elected nationwide, I think. Now, Ensign is not quite as vocal about his religious views as Palin (who is also Pentecostal, or at least was at one point; her Wikipedia article calls her non-denominational), but it would be a pretty obvious strategy to just run Pentecostal leaders saying crazy stuff about armageddon and speaking in tongues. Not too much, just hints of crazy at the edges, enough to make people nervous and raise the specter of Palin.

Our current President belonged to a church that seemed much "crazier" than this one.  I don't see how it could be an issue. 

Ah, but it did hurt him. Pretty badly. But they key was the timing. It came too late in the primary season to stop him from winning, but far, far too long before the general election for people to still care by November. That doesn't mean it wasn't a huge issue. Moreover, a whisper campaign is a different sort of strategy than the all-guns-firing strategy the Clinton campaign employed in March and April, and one that would IMO be more effective in the long-run. (Of course, Clinton didn't want to be effective in the long-run. For her, the campaign against Obama was almost over, even if some miracle delivered her the primaries.)

[Keystone Phil]

I just can't imagine Ensign doing well among Roman Catholics.  Besides, he may be a representative of a Nevada that no longer exists as it did when he was winning elections.   

Because he's a Pentecostal? Eh, big deal. I know I don't speak for all Catholics but I'm a devout member of my faith and I have absolutely no problem with his religion. Then again, that isn't even a factor when I consider who I'm going to support.

you're not a 'swing voter'

He didn't mention anything about swing voters; he just said Catholics. That being said, re-read my post. I said I know I don't speak for all (or even most, necessarily) Catholics.

[Keystone Phil]

I really can't stand how his name is pronounced "in sin" instead of "in sine".  Like seriously, what the hell?

Yeah, it is annoying. I've been calling him (and still often do call him) "en sine."

[paul718]

I really can't stand how his name is pronounced "in sin" instead of "in sine".  Like seriously, what the hell?

Why is "colonel" pronounced "kernel"?

[Keystone Phil]

I really can't stand how his name is pronounced "in sin" instead of "in sine".  Like seriously, what the hell?

Why is "colonel" pronounced "kernel"?

Yeah, that drives me wild too. I hate that.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

What's really odd is the guy was a casino owner before he got into politics. Why's that odd? Note his church that Tweed linked to earlier. Those type of churches usually not only have the same policies as your basic conservative churches but also do things like prohibit all alcohol consumption and gambling under any circumstances, and often even women wearing pants or any dresses that end above their ankles. And the guy was a casino owner, obviously if he doesn't care too much about what his church preaches it wouldn't make him the first person ever, but this could create issues similar to John Kerry's status as a pro-choice Catholic. Actually it's even worse than that, this would be more equivalent to a Catholic being a doctor that performs abortions.

[paul718]

Actually it's even worse than that, this would be more equivalent to a Catholic being a doctor that performs abortions.

Yeah, I could see how owning a casino could be equated to the taking of a perceived innocent life.

[Keystone Phil]

Actually it's even worse than that, this would be more equivalent to a Catholic being a doctor that performs abortions.

Yeah, I could see how owning a casino could be equated to the taking of a perceived innocent life.

Oh, that's not fair. That's not what he was saying. He was comparing how the one is seen within Ensign's church with the way abortion is seen within our's. He wasn't saying that they're as bad.

[paul718]

Actually it's even worse than that, this would be more equivalent to a Catholic being a doctor that performs abortions.

Yeah, I could see how owning a casino could be equated to the taking of a perceived innocent life.

Oh, that's not fair. That's not what he was saying. He was comparing how the one is seen within Ensign's church with the way abortion is seen within our's. He wasn't saying that they're as bad.

I know what he meant, but I'm assuming that Pentecostals look down on abortion, more than they look down on gambling.  Then again, I don't know anything about Pentocostalism, so I should probably just shut up.

[pbrower2a]

Actually it's even worse than that, this would be more equivalent to a Catholic being a doctor that performs abortions.

Yeah, I could see how owning a casino could be equated to the taking of a perceived innocent life.

American voters seem to loathe hypocrisy.

[Lunar]

I'm not sure if Ensign coming across as less religiously devout than some evangelical preacher would necessarily be a bad thing for someone belonging to an obscure church.

[Keystone Phil]

Actually it's even worse than that, this would be more equivalent to a Catholic being a doctor that performs abortions.

Yeah, I could see how owning a casino could be equated to the taking of a perceived innocent life.

American voters seem to loathe hypocrisy.

If Americans really didn't care about Obama's church scandals, they really won't care about something like this.

[justfollowingtheelections]

Yeah I agree with Phil, his religion won't hurt his chances.

He won't win the GOP primaries because he's a moron, but assuming that he does Obama will murder him.  Ensign's problem is that he's one of the least clever people in the Senate right now.