rockin'robin
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These Hot Politicians Could Help Shape Country
Every election brings rising political stars who manage to capture the country's imagination. Some of them go on to bigger and better things while others burn out quickly.
The 2010 midterms are no different in offering up political stars who rose up from nowhere to share the limelight for at least a little while.
Rand Paul, son of former presidential candidate Ron Paul, became just such a rising star -- not to mention a tea party hero -- when he cruised to victory in the Kentucky Senate race.
But Paul was not alone this year. His time in the political spotlight will also be shared by several other rising stars, and not all of them 2010 winners, who will help shape the national debate over the next few years.
Christine O'Donnell
OK, so Christine O'Donnell didn't win. In fact, she ended up losing by 16 percent to Democrat Chris Coons.
But since upsetting Rep. Mike Castle in Delaware's Republican primary in September, she has managed to dominate the national conversation.
While it hasn't been all good -- gaffes over the First Amendment, threats to sue a radio station for videotaping an interview and unearthed quotes about once practicing witchcraft included -- she showed an ability to keep the limelight firmly on her.
So much so that reminds some political insiders of a certain former Alaska governor/vice presidential candidate. Will O'Donnell's career blossom after this high-profile defeat like Sarah Palin's did? Stay tuned.
Joe Manchin
In a year that saw Democrats across the country go down to defeat, popular West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin triumphed over Republican businessman, not to mention Palin favorite, John Raese to help Dems keep a key Senate seat.
The Senate seat in question was the unexpired term left vacant by the death of Sen. Robert Byrd, meaning that Manchin is likely to be sworn in to take part in Congress' "lame duck" session to close out the year.
Manchin won in part by running away from President Obama -- whom he never mentioned in his victory speech -- and campaigned to the right of even some Republicans. He continually stressed his own conservative credentials during his campaign and at one point ran an ad with him shooting a bullet through cap and trade legislation.
That position will give him even more power going forward as both Democrats and Republicans will be wooing his vote in a closely divided Senate.
Mark Kirk
This one had to especially sting for Democrats and Obama: U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk won the Senate once occupied by President Obama, defeating Democrat -- and friend of Obama -- Alexi Giannoulias in a particularly close race.
The loss for Giannoulias came despite heavy campaigning for him on the part of Obama -- a move that given the president's approval ratings may have done more harm than good even in his home state of Illinois.
Like Manchin, Kirk, who technically is replacing former Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointee Roland Burris, will head to the Senate for the upcoming "lame duck" session.
Over his 10 years in the House, Kirk made a name for himself as a centrist who will cross party lines on issues like abortion, gun control and climate change. However, during his campaign he moved to the right on some of those issues, leaving open the question of how he will vote once he reaches the Senate.
John Hickenlooper
The midterm elections weren't just bad for Democrats when it came to congressional races. Republicans also captured a big majority of the gubernatorial races up for election.
One of the exceptions was Denver mayor John Hickenlooper, one of the few non-incumbent Democratic candidates for governor to win Tuesday night.
Now, Hickenlooper didn't exactly have a tough road to victory. The former brew pub owner benefited greatly from the collapse of GOP nominee Dan Maes, who dealt with several bizarre campaign-killing gaffes. Immigration hard-liner Tom Tancredo got in the race as a third-party candidate, but couldn't overcome Hickenlooper's widespread popularity.
Hickenlooper's campaign was a breath of fresh air in these times of partisan bickering. He refused to run attack ads against his opponents, saying Colorado's economic problems -- the state faces an estimated $715 million budget shortfall -- are much more serious than individual concerns.
If only others would follow his lead.
Marco Rubio
Like fellow tea party favorite Rand Paul in Kentucky, Marco Rubio captured his Florida Senate seat with a call for smaller government.
Since Rubio's upset primary victory over outgoing Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who lost again Tuesday as an independent candidate along with Democrat Kendrick Meek, political experts have tabbed the 39-year-old son of Cuban exiles as everything from a potential Republican vice presidential candidate in 2012 to the very future of his party.
It's hard not to see why: Rubio's story is an inspiring one and his optimism for the future of America also came through during his campaign.
There's also certain similarities -- namely his age and his uniquely American story -- to another other young politician who came out of seemingly nowhere to win a Senate seat and become a national leader that are impossible to ignore.
Of course, he's also actually five years younger than Obama was when he was elected to the Senate.
Rising Political Star No. 1 - Politics News Story - WJXT Jacksonville
Every election brings rising political stars who manage to capture the country's imagination. Some of them go on to bigger and better things while others burn out quickly.
The 2010 midterms are no different in offering up political stars who rose up from nowhere to share the limelight for at least a little while.
Rand Paul, son of former presidential candidate Ron Paul, became just such a rising star -- not to mention a tea party hero -- when he cruised to victory in the Kentucky Senate race.
But Paul was not alone this year. His time in the political spotlight will also be shared by several other rising stars, and not all of them 2010 winners, who will help shape the national debate over the next few years.
Christine O'Donnell
OK, so Christine O'Donnell didn't win. In fact, she ended up losing by 16 percent to Democrat Chris Coons.
But since upsetting Rep. Mike Castle in Delaware's Republican primary in September, she has managed to dominate the national conversation.
While it hasn't been all good -- gaffes over the First Amendment, threats to sue a radio station for videotaping an interview and unearthed quotes about once practicing witchcraft included -- she showed an ability to keep the limelight firmly on her.
So much so that reminds some political insiders of a certain former Alaska governor/vice presidential candidate. Will O'Donnell's career blossom after this high-profile defeat like Sarah Palin's did? Stay tuned.
Joe Manchin
In a year that saw Democrats across the country go down to defeat, popular West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin triumphed over Republican businessman, not to mention Palin favorite, John Raese to help Dems keep a key Senate seat.
The Senate seat in question was the unexpired term left vacant by the death of Sen. Robert Byrd, meaning that Manchin is likely to be sworn in to take part in Congress' "lame duck" session to close out the year.
Manchin won in part by running away from President Obama -- whom he never mentioned in his victory speech -- and campaigned to the right of even some Republicans. He continually stressed his own conservative credentials during his campaign and at one point ran an ad with him shooting a bullet through cap and trade legislation.
That position will give him even more power going forward as both Democrats and Republicans will be wooing his vote in a closely divided Senate.
Mark Kirk
This one had to especially sting for Democrats and Obama: U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk won the Senate once occupied by President Obama, defeating Democrat -- and friend of Obama -- Alexi Giannoulias in a particularly close race.
The loss for Giannoulias came despite heavy campaigning for him on the part of Obama -- a move that given the president's approval ratings may have done more harm than good even in his home state of Illinois.
Like Manchin, Kirk, who technically is replacing former Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointee Roland Burris, will head to the Senate for the upcoming "lame duck" session.
Over his 10 years in the House, Kirk made a name for himself as a centrist who will cross party lines on issues like abortion, gun control and climate change. However, during his campaign he moved to the right on some of those issues, leaving open the question of how he will vote once he reaches the Senate.
John Hickenlooper
The midterm elections weren't just bad for Democrats when it came to congressional races. Republicans also captured a big majority of the gubernatorial races up for election.
One of the exceptions was Denver mayor John Hickenlooper, one of the few non-incumbent Democratic candidates for governor to win Tuesday night.
Now, Hickenlooper didn't exactly have a tough road to victory. The former brew pub owner benefited greatly from the collapse of GOP nominee Dan Maes, who dealt with several bizarre campaign-killing gaffes. Immigration hard-liner Tom Tancredo got in the race as a third-party candidate, but couldn't overcome Hickenlooper's widespread popularity.
Hickenlooper's campaign was a breath of fresh air in these times of partisan bickering. He refused to run attack ads against his opponents, saying Colorado's economic problems -- the state faces an estimated $715 million budget shortfall -- are much more serious than individual concerns.
If only others would follow his lead.
Marco Rubio
Like fellow tea party favorite Rand Paul in Kentucky, Marco Rubio captured his Florida Senate seat with a call for smaller government.
Since Rubio's upset primary victory over outgoing Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who lost again Tuesday as an independent candidate along with Democrat Kendrick Meek, political experts have tabbed the 39-year-old son of Cuban exiles as everything from a potential Republican vice presidential candidate in 2012 to the very future of his party.
It's hard not to see why: Rubio's story is an inspiring one and his optimism for the future of America also came through during his campaign.
There's also certain similarities -- namely his age and his uniquely American story -- to another other young politician who came out of seemingly nowhere to win a Senate seat and become a national leader that are impossible to ignore.
Of course, he's also actually five years younger than Obama was when he was elected to the Senate.
Rising Political Star No. 1 - Politics News Story - WJXT Jacksonville
