Hoffbourn quietly consulting Bannich on possible gubernatorial run

FULKHAM, Remmington -- He's not officially running for governor yet, but former Remmington Sen. Matt Hoffbourn is quietly moving to build a campaign.

The centrist senator is reportedly consulting with another moderate Nationalist who successfully ran for governor in a conservative state - Scott Bannich, the former governor of South Ceona.

Despite the Primrose State's conservative tilt, Bannich won a special election in 2012 as an underdog against a favored CNS candidate.

Two years later, he lost to the same opponent by a narrow margin.

But allies of Hoffbourn - who is well-known and well-liked in Remmington - confirmed to the Mavocke Capitol the former senator is privately receiving advice from Bannich.

Hoffbourn has won legislative races in the past, but he's never ran for a managerial position, such as the governorship.

But out of all the potential NAT gubernatorial candidates, Mr. Hoffbourn is polling the best.

Even a poll conducted recently by the conservative-leaning Ace & Watkins firm shows Hoffbourn tied with or leading the top two CNS candidates.

He ties Sen. Jared Lanman (C), with both men earning 50 percent.

He leads Sen. Curt Blaisek (C), the state's senior senator, 55 percent to 45 percent.

But before he goes head-to-head with either Lanman or Blaisek, Mr. Hoffbourn will have to get past his fellow NAT candidates, including Remmington City Mayor Graham Alton, who is expected to make a second run for governor after losing the 2012 race by a sliver of the vote.

Alton lost the 2012 race to Conservative incumbent Jen Stevens Taylor by 531 votes, the closest governor's election in Remmington history.

Lanman crushing Blaisek in hypothetical match up

Senior senator trails sophomore colleague in primary race

REMMINGTON CITY -- He's Remmington's senior senator, but Curt Blaisek (C) is trailing his younger, less experienced colleague Sen. Jared Lanman (C) in a hypothetical primary race for governor.

The two senators are eyeing the governor's race in 2016, when current Gov. Jen Stevens Taylor, also a Conservative, will be term-limited.

Stevens Taylor's lieutenant governor, Heather Scantino, is not expected to seek the governorship.

That leaves an open field on the CNS side, and Blaisek is the state's most senior Conservative.

Yet it's Lanman -- who at just 36 years old is less tenured -- that's leading the CNS race for governor.

To be fair, he may have served less time in the Senate and politics and general than Curt Blaisek. But Jared Lanman is no backbencher. He quickly climbed the Senate leadership ladder to briefly become interim Assistant Majority Leader for three months in 2009.

A new poll released Thursday by the Remmington-based conservative firm Ace & Watkins found Lanman leading Blaisek 60%-40% in a hypothetical head-to-head match up.

It's hypothetical because neither candidate has officially announced they are running, though Lanman has all but said he will run and Blaisek has openly mentioned his interest.

The Ace & Watkins survey found Lanman leading among the most conservative members of his party, including Evangelicals. The handsome senator also polled well among whites and younger voters.

Lanman's supporters are more likely to oppose social welfare programs and have a stronger distaste for President Brenton Menuhaeo. They're also more likely to oppose immigration and favor making English the official language of Grassadellia.

Blaisek appears to be drawing strong support from the party establishment, including business leaders. He also polls well with Mormons, as he is a Mormon himself.

But his more moderate voting record is hurting him with primary voters.

Hard-line Conservatives first soured on Blaisek in 2010, when he joined a bipartisan group of senators and voted for President Menuhaeo's economic stimulus bill, something the right-wing of the CNS opposed and deemed unnecessary.

Both Blaisek and Lanman score well among college-educated voters, but Lanman leads among men and women alike.

One advantage for Blaisek: older voters. He has strong support from voters aged 60 and up, as many view Lanman as too young and inexperienced.

There is a caveat, however. The poll only measured a head-to-head match up between the two. It did not factor other possible candidates.

No other major CNS candidates are thought to be considering a run. But Helona County Commissioner Mitch Kalliman, who is a political ally and friend of Gov. Jen Stevens Taylor, confirmed to the Dry Springs Outpost he is weighing a run.

Kalliman lacks the name recognition of Lanman and Blaisek, however, and is not expected to garner much support, especially as many party elites are anxious to get new blood in Jannappa.

The NAT side is wide open as well. Remmington City Mayor Graham Alton, who lost the 2012 election to Stevens Taylor by just 531 votes, is likely to make a comeback. But former centrist Sen. Matt Hoffbourn could be a formidable contender, if he decides to run.

Lawyer and political newcomer Dale Lucie of Shanogowee is also contemplating running.

Jill Lassick, who lost the 2014 Senate race to Curt Blaisek, may also run. She currently serves as CEO of Trans Corp. headquartered in Remmington City and has a strong managerial resume.

However, Remmington has never had a female governor, and female candidates have not historically fared well in the state (with the exception of Lt. Gov. Heather Scantino).

Political observers familiar with Remmington politics say it's still very early in the race, but political maneuvering is already happening behind the scenes.

A lot will depend on the state's kingmakers, including Stevens Taylor and Remmington's other federal senators, Conservatives Pete DeBoor and Mark Eisinger (neither are expected to run).

Former Sen. James Owen-Wilson (N) could play an instrumental role in the NAT race. He has yet to publicly endorse a candidate, but sources close to the aging senator say he likes Graham Alton and Jill Lassick.

Bill would prohibit stores from locking up condoms, pregnancy tests

PROVINCETOWN, Wilkonshire -- Consumers in Wilkonshire may soon be able to purchase condoms without having to awkwardly ask a store clerk to open a locked case.

Across the country, many grocery stores and mini-marts have condoms locked up in protective cases, often behind the counter, to prevent theft.

But a new bill being pushed through the Wilkonshire legislature would require markets to put condoms on the shelf like any other product, with no lock or theft protection devices.

Proponents of the law say locking condoms up deters people from using condoms, because they may be too shy or embarrassed to ask a store employee for access.

"Buying condoms or lubricant or other intimate products related to sex is a very personal, private matter," says Charlotte Gray, deputy media director with the Wilkonshire Sexual Health Project, a non-profit organization that supports the bill.

"When people go into the grocery store or a mini-market and condoms are locked up behind the counter, it's very awkward having to ask an employee to unlock the case for you. And then the employee is standing there watching while you decide what kind of condoms you want. It's very uncomfortable for a lot of people."

Many customers may be reluctant to purchase condoms due to embarrassment, Gray said. Some may not purchase them at all because they feel uncomfortable, and that is a public health problem.

"We want to encourage people to use condoms. They prevent sexually-transmitted infections and prevent unwanted pregnancies. We should be encouraging people, especially young people and teenagers, to practice safe sex. And locking condoms up does the opposite. It discourages people from using them. We should make it as simple and easy as possible to access and obtain condoms," Gray added.

The bill is being co-sponsored by a group of NAT lawmakers in the statehouse.

Gov. Caroline Jepsey (N) strongly supports the bill.

"Absolutely, I support this legislation. We need to encourage safe sexual practices for young people in our state. This is about protection; protecting individuals from sexually-transmitted diseases, protecting women from unplanned pregnancies, and it's about reproductive responsibility, and this bill strengthens that idea," Jepsey told the Provincetown Denizen newspaper.

The bill would require that condoms - including female condoms - be neither locked up, located behind a counter or placed in an "employees only" area. Lubricants and pregnancy tests must also be "openly accessible to all customers, without any devices, designs or methods inhibiting or reducing accessibility," according to the bill's proposed language.

Some retailers, however, are opposing the bill.

Supermarket chain Reynolds is lobbying against passage of the bill, saying it would lead to wide-scale theft.

A spokesman for the National Convenience Store Alliance (NCSA) said his group opposes the legislation as well.

"We believe this proposed law could open the door to shop lifting and a big loss of revenue for our members," spokesman Steve Sears said in a phone interview with the National Press Federation (NPF).

The legislation is officially called the "Open Access to Protection Act," and is expected to be voted on by the end of October.