Archive for the ‘Mark Souder’ Category

Stuart Rothenberg’s obituary on Michael Montagano’s campaign:

The case of Indiana hopeful Mike Montagano (D) is in a class all by itself. Like a few other allegedly serious hopefuls I’ve met over the years, he was short on credentials and maturity. Even worse, he either couldn’t or wouldn’t take positions on issues.

Montagano, who received considerable financial help from his father, clearly was in over his head in this race, and his ability to win 40 percent of the vote says something about incumbent Rep. Mark Souder’s limited appeal and district voters’ willingness to vote for any Democrat on the ballot.

Earlier in the year, Rothenberg had Montagano pegged, saying he was, “more like an overly enthusiastic undergraduate running for class president than a Member of Congress.”

Looks like his prediction–way back in July–held true come November.

If the latest Howey/Gauge Market Research poll says anything about the Governor’s race, it’s that it’s essentially over and Jill Long Thompson’s campaign is D.O.A. for election day.

According to HPI:

Daniels is poised for a resounding victory. The governor leads in the Fort Wayne media market 63-31 percent; in South Bend 66-31 percent; Indianapolis 65-29 percent; Louisville 64-25 percent; while the Chicago market is tied at 44 percent. Thompson leads among African-Americans by only a 56-41 percent margin. Daniels’ standing with African-Americans has increased 14 percent since our August poll. Daniels is winning 37 percent of the Democratic vote - more than one in three - and among independents 64-21 percent.

Daniels is also getting 40 percent of the Obama vote. Gov. Daniels’ re-elect stood at 59/33 percent. Mitch Daniels re-elect support is among the strongest in the nation for a Republican holding a major office, Davis said.

Howey went on to say:

The numbers bear out our analysis: that the Thompson campaign is one of the worst gubernatorial campaigns we’ve ever witnessed.

If being 12% down in the South Bend Tribune/WSBT poll is “confidence” what is being down 31 percent?  That must be the “We’ve got them right where we want them” kind of feeling.

The poll didn’t just cover the governor’s race.  It also looked at the presidential race, the 3rd Congressional district race as well as a brief look at the two other statewide races.  The good and, what could be, very bad news after the leap. (more…)

I guess at least Mike Montagano isn’t living up his cushy lifestyle in his parents basement.  Geez, I own my house and my own car (though it’s not a snazzy H3 Hummer, it’s only a 2001 Honda Civic).  I guess that makes me more qualified than Mike Montagano to run for Congress

Mike Montagano:  Thanks Dad!
Montagano’s Home,Taxes Paid by his Father, FEC Complaint Filed

Washington – Fresh out of law school, 27 year-old Mike Montagano has no job and modest savings.  But that hasn’t stopped him from living the high life.  His new H3 Hummer, his impressive $326,000 house, and $33,500 in contributions to his own campaign are evidence that he’s living it up – so who’s paying the bills?

Montagano graduated from Indiana University Law School in 2006.  After a short stint with an Indianapolis law firm, he moved to the Third District to become a candidate for Congress.  By April 2007, Montagano reported in his FEC disclosures only two bank accounts valued at less than $15,000 and no other assets or income.

Over the next three months, however, the Congressional candidate contributed over $30,000 to his own campaign.  He was the proud owner of $326,000 home by mid-July.  According to documents filed with the Elkhart County Recorder, dad Joe Montagano purchased the property with son Mike.  Three months later, Dad and Mike jointly took out a mortgage for $226,000.  Dad then paid Mike’s $716 property tax bill in November, all while serving as Mike’s campaign Treasurer.

Unfortunately for Mike, he didn’t spend enough time studying campaign finance law in Bloomington.  Purchasing a home, co-signing a mortgage, and paying tax bills for a candidate are a big no-no and wildly exceed the maximum $4,600 contribution limit allowed by law, which today earned Montagano a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission.

“People in Indiana are losing their jobs, homes, and savings, but Mike Montagano wouldn’t know,” said NRCC spokesman Brendan Buck.  “His parents bought a house for him and even paid his property taxes.  Still relying on dear old dad, Mike Montagano’s not worried about the economy, so how can hard-working Hoosiers expect we will worry about them in Congress?”

Didn’t even pay his property taxes?! Has this kid even had a chance to grow up yet? How can he even be a serious candidate for congress?

You know the routine. Fred Sanford clutches his chest and look upwards as he scream “Hear that ‘Lizabeth? I’m coming to join ya honey!”

Well, that’s about the reaction I had when I saw the Ryerson Rag actually endorsed the Republican candidate for Southern Indiana’s 9th Congressional District.

From the Rag:

(Read more after the leap) (more…)

Exerpted from a much longer piece in the Rothenberg Political Report about Democrat long-shot races in heavily-Republican districts:

Everyone knows about the 40 to 50 GOP House seats at risk this cycle. But what about those lower-tier contests that some consultants and bloggers are pushing?

Does Mike Montagano (D) really have a chance in Indiana’s 3rd or Steve Sarvi (D) in Minnesota’s 2nd?

Talk of a 30-plus seat Democratic year is overblown. Even though many factors favor Democrats, the party would need to win solidly Republican districts to get that kind of gain, and that’s a daunting challenge. Partisanship still matters a great deal.

If [Michael] Skelly were running in a competitive district [TX 7], I’d think he’d have a good shot. But he isn’t. Texas’ 7th gave George W. Bush 64 percent in 2004 and regularly delivers big numbers for Republicans, making it a nightmare for any Democrat.

If you really think Skelly has much of a chance, ask yourself this: Do you really think that Republicans could beat Reps. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.), Barney Frank (D-Mass.) or Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.) even in a bad political year for Democrats? Of course not. Yet their districts went for Kerry in 2004 by roughly as much as Culberson’s Texas district went for Bush four years ago.

Montagano and Sarvi? Sarvi has no money ($98,000 in the bank on June 30) and Montagano, 27, who has raised an impressive amount (probably with some family help), seems more like an overly enthusiastic undergraduate running for class president than a Member of Congress.

(Read more after the leap) (more…)