South Ceona governor's race a repeat of 2012 campaign

FAIRFIELD, South Ceona -- A new poll released today confirms what pollsters have been saying for some time: the race for governor in South Ceona is neck-and-neck.

Gov. Scott Bannich, a conservative Nationalist, is fighting for his political life, as he attempts to hold off his insurgent CNS opponent, Assemblyman Greg Laskie.

Bannich is running for his second but first full term. He was first elected to the state's top post in 2012 in a special election, in which he also faced Laskie.

Bannich just barely won that contest, taking 50.6% of the vote to Laskie's 49.4%, and the two candidates have virtually been campaigning non-stop for the past two years, as they vie for a full, four-year term.

Conservatives are particularly energized this year, and are eager to knock off the vulnerable Bannich, especially given that Laskie was the front-runner in the 2012 race but was defeated in an upset.

The 2014 race has been unusual.

Though Laskie was widely expected to announce a second run for the governorship, for several months, he remained coy about his plans. He didn't announce his candidacy until late spring of this year.

Many political pundits believed Laskie to have the edge going into the 2014 race, since this election cycle has proven to be in the CNS' favor, and Bannich was a moderate Nationalist trying to distance himself from unpopular national NAT leaders and President Brenton Menuhaeo.

But Laskie's edge appeared to fade over time. His energy seemed to dwindle, and the candidate took several days off from campaigning with no explanation. Pundits, Nationalists, and even fellow Conservatives noticed the normally vocal Laskie appeared more withdrawn on the campaign trail and at times, disinterested.

It wasn't until September that voters learned the reason for Laskie's malaise. His wife of 27 years, Margi, had been diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. Laskie told the media his wife's diagnosis "hit me like a ton of bricks."

"It's something you think will never happen to you and your family. Other people, but not you. I was shocked, scared, numb, just a variety of emotions, and that has spilled over into my campaign," said Laskie.

The CNS candidate, who has been a darling of the conservative Freedom Warriors movement (the Grassadellian equivalent to the USA's Tea Party movement), apologized to campaign supporters and political allies for the slow down in his campaign.

"This cancer news has slowed down and impacted my campaign in a negative way, and I want to apologize to all of my staff, my supporters and my Conservative colleagues if it seems I let you down or I didn't have my heart in this race. If I did, it was unintentional. Margi and I and our family have been trying to process this news and trying to deal with a deeply personal issue in a very public setting, and we apologize if we didn't handle it correctly," said Laskie in a tearful press conference, holding his wife's hand.

Though some party leaders and contributors complained privately about Laskie's underwhelming campaign style, the reaction from the public was generally positive.

Even the Bannich campaign responded with class. On days when Margi Laskie had appointments with her oncologist, she and her husband took the day off from campaigning.

Scott Bannich and his running mate Mike Kriewer (pronounced "crew-er") did the same, as a gesture of support.

"The Laskies are taking the day off today for medical reasons for Mrs. Laskie, and Mike (Kriewer) and I have decided we will do the same. To continue campaigning while they are at an important doctor's appointment would be insensitive and impolite. We want Greg and Margi to know that there are things that are more important than politics, and we are rooting and pulling for Margi to win this fight," said Bannich.

While the Laskie family has been dealing with their private matters out of the spotlight, Greg Laskie's running mate Jane Karsten, a state senator from Rathclan, has been campaigning on over-drive, traveling around the state, filling in for Laskie at important luncheons, speeches, fundraisers and campaign events.

It wasn't until about a month ago that Laskie revved up his campaign tempo. He told reporters in a poignant news conference, joined by his wife, that they were determined to win the election and beat cancer at the same time.

"We want to win this race bad. But we want to beat cancer even more. I'm hoping for a double-miracle," Laskie said, smiling with his wife by his side.

His wife's illness may have temporarily paused the campaign and created a momentary cease-fire between the rival campaigns. But during a debate last week in Gallaghan, Laskie came to play ball.

He lampooned Bannich for incompetence, following revelations that the governor's Secretary of Housing had lost key documents that were subpoenaed by state lawmakers.

Laskie also criticized Bannich for a stubbornly slow-moving economy, raising taxes, and letting the federal government usurp state sovereignty.

"Under Scott Bannich's leadership, South Ceona is worse off economically, has higher taxes, has a state bureaucracy that is broken and corrupt, and has less freedom because he's allowed Brenton Menuhaeo and his liberal cronies to come into South Ceona and take away our state sovereignty," said Laskie. "Is that what we want for our state? To be a poor, corrupt, over-taxed state ran by Brenton Menuhaeo and Mavocke liberals?"

Bannich countered, saying the economy is growing, if slowly. He called accusations he raised taxes "nonsense" and "deliberately misleading."

"We have raised taxes on the wealthy, elite, affluent people, the richest people in our state, the very people Mr. Laskie is trying to protect," said Bannich. "But we have lowered taxes on the middle class and the poor, and that's a record I am proud to run on."

Regarding allegations of corruption and incompetence in his administration, the governor reminded the audience that he fired those involved and demanded accountability from his staff.

"I do not believe this was a case of widespread corruption, as my opponent says. But it was a case of gross incompetence and negligence, and we can't have that at the highest levels of our government. So I fired all those involved. Every person that was responsible for losing documents and trying to cover things up and save their skins, I fired them. Because I want a transparent, clean, open government that works for the people and does not abuse that power."

 Laskie then accused the governor of sugar-coating the scandal.

"I call it 'corruption,' you call it 'incompetence.' We'll let the people of South Ceona decide what to call it. But it was illegal and it was against protocol. So make of that what you will."

The issue of state sovereignty has been a topic Laskie eagerly brings up to tie Bannich to President Brenton Menuhaeo, who is deeply unpopular in South Ceona.

"We have a president who is trying to socialize this country, trying to take away state's rights and state sovereignty, trying to control the states and centralize government in Mavocke. And Scott Bannich let him. Scott Bannich enabled the president. He told President Menuhaeo to come on in to South Ceona and take our state-owned land and federalize it. Come on in to South Ceona, and dictate how we can run our education and our health care. Come on in to South Ceona and put strict new environmental laws that will hamper economic growth. On issue after issue, Scott Bannich has willfully and eagerly invited Brenton Menuhaeo into this state and let him have free reign, and that will stop under a Laskie-Karsten administration," said Laskie.

Bannich defended himself, saying the state couldn't afford to continue managing some state parks and state-owned land.

"It made sense to sell this land to the federal government because we couldn't afford to manage it anymore," said Bannich. "I find it ironic that Mr. Laskie, the so-called 'champion of the tax-payer,' would continue to own and operate these parks when the state couldn't afford it. That doesn't sound very fiscally sound to me."

South Ceona's education and healthcare systems are still under South Ceona control, Bannich added.

"There's nothing different about how we run education or healthcare in this state. We still have control, we still set the guidelines and the requirements, and the federal government is not bossing us around and controlling how we do things."

The state did agree to have the state's public schools aim to achieve goals for literacy, mathematics, science and social studies scores set by the Menuhaeo administration, Bannich said.

And Bannich did allow an extension of Medicare/Medicaid coverage that was offered by the federal government. That expansion allowed 229,000 South Ceonans to be added to or continue on healthcare coverage.

And on the environment, a bullish Bannich said he is aggressively reviewing the standards set by the federal Department of Environmental Affairs, and would reject any standards that endanger South Ceonans' property rights or the state's budding oil industry.

"I want to protect the environment, like everyone else. And I'm willing to have a dialogue about that. But I won't sign onto any agreement if it threatens our way of life here in South Ceona or threatens economic growth in this state."

In the final weeks of the campaign, both candidates are on edge, as the close poll numbers show the race could swing either way.

Conservatives continue to attempt to tie Scott Bannich with Brenton Menuhaeo and "liberal" Nationalists such as Christine Gabler, the governor of Marchenay, who serves as chair of the Governors Board, and Rod Penora, the colorful liberal governor of Damoign.

The Bannich campaign remains on the defensive, and continues to tout the governor's independence and his willingness to buck his party.

The political parties and interests groups are also taking note of the close contest. More than $6 million has been spent on the race thus far, about evenly split between the candidates, and more last-minute money bombs may come from the parties or wealthy donors.

Greg Laskie's top donors come from the oil and mining industries, the gun rights lobby, and business groups.

Scott Bannich has wide support from education groups, healthcare executives, and the social welfare sector.

Both candidates agreed to three debates, just as they did in the 2012 race. The last debate of this campaign will be held Tuesday in Necadia. 

Greene Mountain Press endorses Kozzy in Biereland governor race

BROOKINGS, Biereland -- Fresh off an unexpected endorsement from Biereland's largest newspaper, Independent gubernatorial candidate Bob Kozzy is feeling energized as he heads into the final two weeks of the campaign.

The endorsement from the Greene Mountain Press (GMP) was a much-needed boost for Kozzy (pronounced "cause-ee"), who is running in a three-way race against incumbent Gov. San Bartholomew (N) and Conservative Ben Jordan, who is the state's attorney general.

In its endorsement editorial, the GMP said it was throwing its support to Kozzy because it couldn't in good conscience support the two main party candidates because of their fierce partisanship.

"Both San Bartholomew and Ben Jordan have carried out their current jobs using extreme partisanship. Right now more than ever before, Biereland needs bipartisanship and cooperation at the state capitol in Brookings," the paper wrote.

The paper also blamed Bartholomew for a sluggish economy and picking fights with Conservative lawmakers in the legislature over environmental protection laws and gun restrictions.

"The fact is, San Bartholomew promised to jump-start the economy, and yet the economy in Biereland remains stagnant. During the 2010 campaign, Bartholomew criticized then-Governor Jenny Duschowitz for presiding over a slow-moving economy, and still, unemployment remains high, job creation has been painfully slow, and Bierelanders continue to struggle. The governor has also used much of his political capital to force through controversial legislation on environmental regulations and gun restrictions. While the motivation behind these laws is commendable, the partisan and contentious manner in which they were passed was wrong."

On Ben Jordan, the GMP had strong feelings about his partisan and vindictive demeanor.

"While Ben Jordan has a strong resume, and has held a tough line on crime during his tenure as a prosecutor and attorney general, his overall record skews heavily to the right. More disconcerting though is the aggressively partisan manner in which he's conducted his campaign. His brand of in-your-face conservatism might endear him to the right, but it wouldn't be conducive to a fair-minded governorship."

The paper also questioned Jordan's economic plan, saying that cutting taxes and spending would not be enough to spur the economy.

Bob Kozzy, the paper noted, is a proven bipartisan leader. During his short stint as a Conservative federal senator, he frequently worked with Nationalists on a range of bills. And his views, which Kozzy has admitted are more libertarian than either conservative or liberal, are popular with people from all points of the political spectrum.

His fiscally conservative but socially moderate positions are more in line with Bierelanders', and his choice of another former federal senator, Michael Kreighorn, as his running mate shows Kozzy is committed to bringing bipartisanship to Brookings.

"Bob Kozzy and Michael Kreighorn are the best candidates to reform Brookings, to bring genuine bipartisanship to the state capitol, and they are the only candidates who have presented a detailed plan of how they would handle the economy, which is the dominant issue during this election cycle," said the GMP.

Specifically, Kozzy's plan calls for cutting taxes for low and middle-income families and individuals, while maintaining taxes where they are on large corporations, but cutting taxes for small businesses.

Kozzy has also promised to cut spending across the board by 5%, but only after consulting with department heads to make sure the cuts are as painless as possible.

The GMP did acknowledge, however, that Kozzy isn't a perfect candidate.

They cited his occasional angry outbursts, which have occurred during recent debates. The paper chocked up his emotional outbursts to his impassioned views, calling it "righteous indignation."

Kozzy also has few allies in the state legislature or with national party leaders, so he may lack the influence that both Bartholomew and Jordan already have.

Kozzy also has no managerial experience, something his opponents also both have on their resumes.

"We do have reservations about Bob Kozzy. He is far from perfect, but he is the best choice for Biereland at this pivotal time in our state's history," the paper declared.

It wasn't a glowing endorsement, but it was an endorsement nonetheless, and that has the Kozzy campaign feeling optimistic heading into the final two weeks of the race.

"We are honored to have the Greene Mountain Press' endorsement," Kozzy told reporters Saturday at a campaign stop.

The Jordan and Bartholomew campaigns downplayed the endorsement, pointing out that newspaper endorsements usually have little influence on voters' choices.

Each campaign also pointed to endorsements they received from other newspapers across the state.

The Ferriston Harbinger endorsed Bartholomew, as did the Welhausen Liberal-Union, the Coxon County Herald, and the Cedarie Outlook.

Ben Jordan wracked up the most endorsements, including from the state's second-largest newspaper, The Bierelander of Sebotnie, the Auburne Republic, the Avondale Royal Tidings, and the Farnham Daily News. 

Jordan was also backed by the Twin Cities Tribune of Dorchester-Gerbannon, the Barringer Beacon, the Kensington Emissary, and the Courier General of Mecklinburg-Atterbearn.

Overall, newspaper endorsements, and endorsements in general, matter very little. Most voters will make up their own minds. And other than the Greene Mountain Press' surprise endorsement of Kozzy, there have been no other unexpected endorsements in this year's gubernatorial campaign.

All of the state's prominent Nationalists are backing Bartholomew, all prominent Conservatives are supporting Jordan, and no major statewide political figures are backing Kozzy at this time, though he does have the support of a handful of mayors and local officials.

The most recent poll released this weekend by ITS Strategies finds Bartholomew and Jordan neck-and-neck for first place, with Jordan leading 41% to Bartholomew's 40%, and Kozzy's 18%.

The poll suggests no candidate will reach the necessary 45% to win. If that's the case following the general election on December 2, the top two candidates will face a run-off election January 5, 2015 to determine the next governor.

Murray polling much stronger than DeSalle in Kalnier

LAMBERTH, Kalnier -- Two young Nationalist women, one liberal state. And two very different situations heading into the December elections.

One would think Gov. Karen DeSalle and Sen. Kallie Murray - both up for re-election this year and both the first women to hold their respective positions in Kalnier - would each be struggling in the polls in an election year that favors Conservatives.

But recent polls conducted in the Snow Peak state have found the freshman senator Murray faring much better than her colleague, the freshman governor, Karen DeSalle.

A poll released last week by the University of Kalnier (UK) found Murray leading her CNS challenger, former Lt. Gov. Paul Crisp, by a margin of 59% to 41%.

That's a far cry from the University of Kalnier's governor's race poll released today, which shows Gov. Karen DeSalle trailing her CNS opponent, Tony Ritonio, 49% to 51%.

The conflicting polls have many asking why DeSalle is faring so badly compared to her ally Kallie Murray.

There are several reasons, according to Dr. John Kestell, a political scientist who conducted the UK poll.

First, DeSalle is unpopular at a time of voter unrest, while Murray remains relatively popular.

DeSalle's approval ratings have plummeted since she took office back in 2011, with just 41% of voters approving of her performance in late October. Murray's have fallen somewhat, but remain at a healthier 55%.

Another reason Murray is faring better in the polls is because she faces a lesser known and less significant challenger than does DeSalle.

Paul Crisp is a little-known former lieutenant governor, who served a partial term under former Gov. Joe Gramma (C).

Before being appointed to the lieutenant governorship, Crisp worked as an adviser to Gramma.

The 63-year-old Crisp is not well known, and is comparatively under-funded.

The Conservative Senate Campaign Committee has been reluctant to give his campaign money, as they fear (rightly so) a Crisp victory is unlikely, at best.

Karen DeSalle's opponent, on the other hand, is both well known and well-financed.

A wealthy businessman and entrepreneur, Tony Ritonio first ran for the Senate back in 2008, but lost to then-Sen. Eli Dundree (N).

His failed Senate bid gave him exposure, however, and he has been well known and active in state CNS politics since.

Additionally, Ritonio has broad support from national CNS party leaders and Conservative interest groups, who believe a Ritonio victory is pivotal to the party's national campaign.

Ritonio also has a personal fortune estimated at $23 million, making him a much more formidable opponent than Paul Crisp is to Kallie Murray.

And finally, much of Gov. DeSalle's currently unstable position comes down to personality.

The governor is well known for her combative and take-no-prisoners approach to governing.

During her tenure, and before the governorship as a state senator, DeSalle has been known for ramming legislation through with little to no bipartisan support.

She is well known on Marble Hill as a partisan who has few friends across the aisle.

That's in stark contrast to Kallie Murray, who has built strong bipartisan ties in the Senate. Murray is regarded as a friendly, amicable bipartisan figure in the Senate.

Though her voting record is strongly in line with NAT policies, she has partnered with Conservatives on many projects, including veterans issues, literacy, pediatric healthcare, transportation, sea commerce, and anti-terrorism legislation.

The two young, up-and-coming women, both beloved by Nationalists and both trailblazers in their state, are very different. And so are their opponents.

And that, says Dr. Kestell, is why Kallie Murray is in a much more secure position heading into election night.

"It's going to be a much more comfortable night for Kallie Murray than for Karen DeSalle," says Kestell. "Kallie Murray is almost certain to head back to the Senate. Karen DeSalle may very well lose the governorship."

Despite their very different circumstances, both ladies say they remained committed to helping each other.

Murray has kept her distance from DeSalle throughout the campaign. However, the two did host a "sisters rally" in Lamberth last month to raise support among women, the key electorate to an NAT victory this December.

"We're like sisters," Murray told the NPF. "We believe in the same things, we believe in empowering women, in equality for all, in social justice and education and healthcare. And we're both strong women trying to make it in the male-centric world of politics. So we really identify with each other."

DeSalle said she would continue working closely with Murray if re-elected.

"Kallie and I have partnered together on so many issues, and we will continue the fight if I am returned to Appenbaum. I hope we can continue working together because there is so much more that needs to be done," said DeSalle.