Readers will know that NC Rep. Walter B. Jones is not exactly my favorite guy. My problems with him really come down to bad votes on economic issues earlier this year, more than his position on the war (I disagree with Jones on his war position, but I'm not as gung-ho a war backer as, say, the guys on RedState-- basically, I'd just like to win and ideally not leave Iraq in a position where we have to go back to deal with a regional war in a year or something).

In any event, back in July, I ran a video interview with Joe McLaughlin, the guy who's going to primary Walter B Jones-- and it appears that Mr. McLaughlin is a man who's earning more attention by the minute. Today, Politico has a piece up about him, and his challenge to Jones. Choice excerpt:

Jones' politics have become increasingly at odds with a Republican party that he believes has lost its moorings. Although he voted to authorize the war in Iraq, he has since become one of its most vociferous opponents.

He was one of only two House Republicans to vote against expanding the scope of the administration's anti-terrorist surveillance program. And he thinks Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is downright incompetent, and believes vice-presidential aide Scooter Libby should have served some jail time - "at least for a day or two."

Those are fighting words in an unabashedly pro-Bush district that gave the president 68 percent of the vote in 2004. Supporting the troops here means supporting their mission, regardless of national approval rates for the war's handling.

This is Jones' biggest problem: ultimately, if you don't represent the views of the people who elected you, you probably shouldn't be serving them. That will be the issue in this race. Watch it closely-- it could get interesting.

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This is weird.

Udall, who represents Boulder and the 2nd Congressional District, is the only Democrat to have announced his Senate campaign thus far, while former Rep. Bob Schaffer, a Republican member of the Colorado Board of Education, is the only Republican raising money for a Senate race.

Schaffer, who is from Fort Collins, clearly did not want to step into the Pinon Canyon controversy Tuesday. Asked for his opinion on the proposed expansion, the former 4th District congressman declined to give one.

"Next year, when and if I announce my Senate candidacy, it will be a more appropriate time to speak out on this important subject," he said, choosing his words carefully in a telephone interview.

The Club for Growth has endorsed Schaffer, and as ColoradoPols points out, he has announced his candidacy at least twice (apparently). So one wonders what the heck is going on.

Is Schaffer feeling a little less than enthusiastic now about taking on Mark Udall (admittedly, I probably would be were I in his shoes)? Does he simply have the memory of an ant? Or is the Pueblo Chieftan up to no good, misquoting Schaffer?

Who the heck knows. What I do know is, the longer things go on, the more it looks like Republicans have nil chance of holding onto Wayne Allard's Senate seat. Not only is Schaffer (in my opinion) too conservative on social issues for a state that is looking more and more socially moderate by the day, but he's also become embroiled in a major ethics scandal (and we all know how much voters love those). Moreover, he's taking on a Udall-- a household name in the Southwest. And now it looks like he can't even figure out if he's doing that.

I'm on the verge of calling this race done and dusted...

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New Rasmussen data:

The Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 44% of Likely Voters would definitely vote against Romney if he’s on the ballot in 2008. That’s a point higher than the 43% who would definitely vote against Clinton.

[...]

In terms of partisan reaction, it’s interesting to note that 25% of Republicans say they would definitely vote against Romney while 22% of Democrats would vote against Edwards.

Jeez. I thought a lot of people didn't like the dude, but truly, this is extraordinary.

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