NWP Senate Majority Leader likely strongest candidate to challenge incumbent CNS gov
DAYLE-LOCKE, New Portsmouth--Senate Majority Leader Ronald Burcheau (N-Rock Glen) appears to be moving toward a bid for governor in 2012.
Burcheau will announce this week he is forming an exploratory committee, friends close to him say, though they didn't want to be named as to not pre-empt the announcement. The 67-year-old senator, who has served as majority leader since 2007, has also reportedly told friends and aides he is planning on running.
That means he will likely have a clear path to the NAT nomination, as the only other announced candidate so far is Valait Beach businessman Kyle Reeser, who has less name recognition and support in the party's establishment, and would likely garner less financial support than Burcheau.
Whoever wins the NAT nomination will go on to challenge incumbent Conservative Gov. Jacqueline Bosseau, who has held the office since her narrow upset of former Gov. Dale Rochey (NAT) in 2008.
Rochey, who won the governorship in a special election in 2007 and served for just a year, ran again for a third time in 2010, but lost in the NAT primary to state Sen. Michael Barrett of Baylor. Barrett went on to lose the general election to Bosseau by a margin of 45% to 55%.
Neither Rochey nor Barrett have indicated if they plan on running again, however sources close to Rochey say the former governor is done with politics. Barrett appears focused on getting re-elected to the state Senate.
The only other formidable NAT candidates that could give Bosseau a real challenge are Rep. Charles Wornkin, who represents Dayle-Locke and the Yorkton Islands, Rep. Jean Larae Dowd, who represents the electorate of Bethany, and Secretary of State Richard Crux.
Wornkin is the former mayor of Dayle-Locke, and has never sought state-wide office. Dowd ran unsuccessfully for the Senate against incumbent Sen. Nadine Pietrasaelis in 2010. She continues to represent her Yanceyburg-based district in the National Assembly.
Crux has, in the past, expressed interest in the governorship, though NAT party leaders believe he will run for Attorney General when Nationalist Welma Sidley steps down from the AG post in 2012.
Wornkin has long been rumored to be considering a run for governor, but a spokesperson said the freshman representative is focused on "serving the people of Dayle-Locke and Yorkton Islands as best as he can" in the Assembly. Dowd is reportedly uninterested in the governorship.
New Portsmouth's two NAT senators could also make a run for governor and would certainly give Bosseau a tough challenge. But Sen. Chris McConnitch and Sen. Clinton Ashby appear to be comfortable in the Federal Senate, where terms are six years long, and neither one has indicated they're interested in the governorship, where each term is only for two years.
Still, the NAT is hoping Burcheau, who is popular in liberal circles, will be the candidate that knocks Bosseau off. The fact that 2012 is also a presidential election year will also give the NAT momentum in a state that traditionally leans toward their party.
Bosseau has yet to announce her run for re-election, though she has been raising money, indicating she will seek a third term.
DAYLE-LOCKE, New Portsmouth--Senate Majority Leader Ronald Burcheau (N-Rock Glen) appears to be moving toward a bid for governor in 2012.
Burcheau will announce this week he is forming an exploratory committee, friends close to him say, though they didn't want to be named as to not pre-empt the announcement. The 67-year-old senator, who has served as majority leader since 2007, has also reportedly told friends and aides he is planning on running.
That means he will likely have a clear path to the NAT nomination, as the only other announced candidate so far is Valait Beach businessman Kyle Reeser, who has less name recognition and support in the party's establishment, and would likely garner less financial support than Burcheau.
Whoever wins the NAT nomination will go on to challenge incumbent Conservative Gov. Jacqueline Bosseau, who has held the office since her narrow upset of former Gov. Dale Rochey (NAT) in 2008.
Rochey, who won the governorship in a special election in 2007 and served for just a year, ran again for a third time in 2010, but lost in the NAT primary to state Sen. Michael Barrett of Baylor. Barrett went on to lose the general election to Bosseau by a margin of 45% to 55%.
Neither Rochey nor Barrett have indicated if they plan on running again, however sources close to Rochey say the former governor is done with politics. Barrett appears focused on getting re-elected to the state Senate.
The only other formidable NAT candidates that could give Bosseau a real challenge are Rep. Charles Wornkin, who represents Dayle-Locke and the Yorkton Islands, Rep. Jean Larae Dowd, who represents the electorate of Bethany, and Secretary of State Richard Crux.
Wornkin is the former mayor of Dayle-Locke, and has never sought state-wide office. Dowd ran unsuccessfully for the Senate against incumbent Sen. Nadine Pietrasaelis in 2010. She continues to represent her Yanceyburg-based district in the National Assembly.
Crux has, in the past, expressed interest in the governorship, though NAT party leaders believe he will run for Attorney General when Nationalist Welma Sidley steps down from the AG post in 2012.
Wornkin has long been rumored to be considering a run for governor, but a spokesperson said the freshman representative is focused on "serving the people of Dayle-Locke and Yorkton Islands as best as he can" in the Assembly. Dowd is reportedly uninterested in the governorship.
New Portsmouth's two NAT senators could also make a run for governor and would certainly give Bosseau a tough challenge. But Sen. Chris McConnitch and Sen. Clinton Ashby appear to be comfortable in the Federal Senate, where terms are six years long, and neither one has indicated they're interested in the governorship, where each term is only for two years.
Still, the NAT is hoping Burcheau, who is popular in liberal circles, will be the candidate that knocks Bosseau off. The fact that 2012 is also a presidential election year will also give the NAT momentum in a state that traditionally leans toward their party.
Bosseau has yet to announce her run for re-election, though she has been raising money, indicating she will seek a third term.
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