State by State

Florida

Former Democratic nominee Jan Schneider has qualified to run as an Independent for freshman Rep. Vern Buchanan’s (R) seat, throwing a wrench in Democrats’ efforts to take the district.

Schneider was the 2002 and 2004 nominee against then-Rep. Katherine Harris (R). But in 2006 party leaders helped banker Christine Jennings win the nomination for the seat left open by Harris’s Senate run.

{mosads}Jennings lost to Buchanan by just 369 votes and unsuccessfully contested the result, alleging voting machine malfunctions.

This cycle Schneider chose to run as an Independent instead of challenging Jennings in the August primary. And she could be a significant vote-stealer in a three-way general election. Schneider took 38 percent against Jennings in the 2006 primary and won the nod with 44 and 47 percent in 2002 and 2004, respectively.

Schneider said the 2008 election is about the middle class and responsible withdrawal from Iraq.

“This election is also about integrity in government and clean campaigning,” she said in a statement.

Schneider criticized Jennings in 2007 after The Hill reported Jennings’s campaign failed to pay years’ worth of payroll taxes. Jennings had attacked Schneider for her own tax issues during their campaign.

Jennings spokeswoman Melissa Smith said: “Only 369 votes separated Christine Jennings from Vern Buchanan in 2006, and that’s the race that we’re going to focus on this time. We think it’s clear that Christine provides a clear contrast from her opponent on the issues that really matter to voters down here.”

— Aaron Blake

Georgia

Democratic Senate candidate Josh Lanier wants revenge for Sen. Saxby Chambliss’s (R) 2002 advertisement that sought to link then-Sen. Max Cleland (D) to Osama bin Laden.

Lanier posted an ad on YouTube and his website that is a near-replica of Chambliss’s famous anti-Cleland ad, right down to the wording and photos of bin Laden and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

The ad was part of Chambliss’s attempt to depict Cleland, who lost both legs and an arm in combat in Vietnam, as soft on national security. Now Lanier hopes that turning the tables will generate some buzz and tap into Democratic anger.

To drive the point home, the supporter who forwarded the Web link to the ad even signed off by writing “Honor Cleland. Support Lanier.”

Lanier’s ad uses the photo of bin Laden to highlight Chambliss’s vote against Sen. Jim Webb’s (D-Va.) “dwell time” amendment, which required more training and time at home between deployments for U.S. troops.

But it might be difficult to get the ad on the air. Lanier isn’t taking contributions of more than $100. He is one of five Democrats lining up for the chance to take on Chambliss.

— Mike Soraghan

Kentucky

Businessman Greg Fischer sneaked a little closer to former gubernatorial candidate Bruce Lunsford in the latest SurveyUSA poll of the Democratic Senate primary, but he’ll have to close faster if he wants to pull off an upset with just two weeks to go.

Lunsford led Fischer 41-22 in the latest poll, released Tuesday, which was six points closer than the same poll from one week ago. In that poll, Lunsford led 43-18.

Fischer, a well-funded political unknown, is running against a two-time statewide candidate. He recently began running ads critical of Lunsford’s time as CEO of a nursing home company.

Lunsford’s support appeared firm, though, with only about 25 percent of his backers saying they might change their mind.

Only 4 percent were undecided, while a field of candidates divvied up another 32 percent.

The winner of the May 20 primary will face Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R).

— A.B.

Louisiana

Newly sworn-in Rep. Don Cazayoux (D) will be named to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s (DCCC) Frontline program for vulnerable incumbents.

Cazayoux, who was sworn in Tuesday after his Saturday special-election victory, will attempt to hold the seat in November’s general election. It’s one of the most conservative districts occupied by a Democrat.

He defeated former state Rep. Woody Jenkins (R) 49-46 in what was the Democrats’ second takeover of this election cycle.

The winner of the other seat, Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.), has also been named to the Frontline list, as was Indiana special-election winner Andre Carson (D).

— A.B.