Author: Rachel Rose Hartman

As the Democrat in the “tri-partisan” Graham-Lieberman-Kerry Senate climate bill, Kerry will be responsible for rallying Senate Democrats, especially liberals, to get behind the legislation. It’s expected that some liberals will protest the Senate bill and argue that it doesn’t go far enough to combat climate change. Though many of these opponents will end up voting for the bill anyway, regarding it as a step in the right direction but not the final word, Kerry is in danger of losing support from select lawmakers such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). If Kerry fails to get Sanders or other outliers on board, it will only lead to a more difficult, and louder, debate on the Democratic side. And ultimately, it’s Kerry who is the policy heavyweight in the Senate trio — and the entire nation will be looking to him to craft a bill that’s not only effective, but also politically palatable.

Next: 3. Barack Obama

Not only is Sen. Collins (R-Maine) one of the key swing senators Graham, Kerry and Lieberman will be looking to court, but Collins is the author of competing climate change legislation. Collins and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) in December introduced the Carbon Limits and Energy for American Renewal (CLEAR) Act, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by forcing companies to bid on carbon permits and directing that revenue back to consumers. Graham, Kerry and Liberman have vowed to roll elements of the CLEAR act into their bill, but if Collins isn’t satisfied with their wording, they could lose her support and potentially destroy the bill’s success in the Senate.

Next: 1. Lindsey Graham

As the head of the Chamber of Commerce’s Environment, Technology and Regulatory Affairs Division, Kovacs wields considerable power as a lead voice for the business community on environmental issues. And Kovacs makes his voice heard. Last year, he called for a public hearing on the scientific evidence for man-made climate change, saying: “It would be evolution versus creationism… It would be the science of climate change on trial.” He later rescinded the analogy, but said his basic point remained the same. But anyone spearheading climate change-related regulations has the business-community in mind. The question is, how much will they need to bend to the Chambers’ demands in order to receive wide public support?

Next: 8. Jack Gerard

Time magazine called Romm, editor of Climate Progress, “the Web’s most influential climate change blogger.” He has past served as a key force to rally progressives behind Democratic proposals. When the House last month approved a clean energy and climate bill, Romm offered readers a reason why to support the bill, even if they didn’t believe it did enough to address climate change: “Many people have asked me how I can reconcile my climate science realism, which demands far stronger action than the Waxman-Markey bill requires, and my climate politics realism, which has led me to strongly advocate passage of this flawed bill.” Legions of followers will soon be looking to Romm, a former assistant Secretary of Energy and a current Center for American Progress senior fellow, to parse the upcoming legislation as well as to make them comfortable with its flaws.

Next: 9. William Kovacs

Justice John Paul Stevens confirmed today that he will retire this summer from the Supreme Court, reports The Associated Press.

The timing of the announcement is welcome news to President Obama and Democrats who risk losing seats in Congress in November’s elections. The vacancy is unlikely to change the court’s ideological makeup, since the president is expected choose a left-leaning replacement for the longtime liberal Justice.

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) is scheduled to announce his retirement today, according to multiple media outlets. His decision complicates Democratic efforts to hold his competitive 1st District seat, which encompasses northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. Stupak is reportedly scheduled to make the official announcement during a 12:30 p.m. news conference at Northern Michigan University.

The anti-abortion Democrat had recently faced criticism for voting in support of the president’s health care reform plan.

I’m not sure Maine gubernatorial candidate Steve Abbott meant to couple his new campaign commercial, austerely titled “Prosperity,” with a video on streakers, but it appears he’s doing just that on his campaign website.

An episode of the “Streak to Win” web series, documenting a college varsity streaking team, appears on Abbott’s website under the video reader’s “staff picks.” Between the snarky dialogue, viewers will see a healthy dose of full frontal nudity.

No response yet from Abbott’s staff.

Update: Abbott Communications Director Felicia Knight said she first learned of the streaking video from TWI and said the campaign did not compile the video staff picks. “These are not our staff picks,” Knight said, adding that the campaign was “certainly not pleased” to find this content on its site.

Knight suspected that the “staff pick” was actually compiled by BlipTV, the video reader the Abbott campaign is using for their website. Knight’s suspicions were confirmed when she found the “Streak to Win” video listed as the number one video on BlipTV today.

“We are taking out the Blip embeds and adding YouTube,” Knight said, adding that this could serve as a warning to other people who are using BlipTV.

Screen shots after the jump:

After the director of the Republican National Committee’s Young Eagles program was fired last week following the bondage club spending scandal, some suggested that the RNC was moving on. Apparently not.

The committee’s chief of staff, Ken McKay, resigned last night and his departure apparently prompted senior adviser Curt Anderson to also call it quits. Now the focus turns back to chairman Michael Steele.

Steele maintains he’s not going anywhere, but the possibility of an exit is the talk of the blogs, the MSM and even some Republicans this morning. And Steele’s actions in the wake of the scandal haven’t exactly bolstered his standing. Since the scandal broke, Steele hired Neil Alpert to handle RNC finances (Alpert was charged with campaign finance improprieties when he chaired two D.C. baseball associations) and commented on national television that “he and President Obama have a slimmer margin of error because of their race,” a remark that drew a rebuke from the White House.

Perhaps Steele should re-read the email he circulated last night.

“Every minute spent on distractions is an unacceptable missed opportunity to do what you do best – taking back our country for the American people.”

In just the last seven days, third-party groups spent $153,000 on independent expenditures to buy commercials, make phone calls and fund other activities to pressure Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) to vote against the health care plan, according to the Federal Election Commission. $153,000 later, Titus says she’s voting for the bill.

Citizens United Political Victory Fund, the affiliated PAC of Citizens United, ponied up $125,000 on a television commercial that ran this week and an additional $15,000 on another commercial and phone calls. Americans for Responsible Health Care, which ran ads to aid Scott Brown in this year’s Massachusetts Senate race, kicked in another $10,000.

Though Titus may not vote the way these third-party groups had hoped, the money hasn’t necessarily gone to waste. Republicans are working to weaken Titus as she heads into a potentially difficult re-election race this November. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has already targeted Titus for additional campaign support.

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee on Monday announced the creation of a $20 million redistricting fund to assist 2010 races “that will have the greatest impact on reapportionment,” according to a DLCC memo.

The memo, authored by DLCC Executive Director Michael Sargeant, highlights the group’s concerns over maintaining power in state legislative chambers, many of which are tasked with redrawing congressional as well as state legislative districts following the 2010 census.

The DLCC is determined to run the largest Democratic redistricting mobilization in history this year to ensure that our state legislative candidates have the resources needed to win against well-­‐heeled Republican special interests.

Republicans and Democrats alike have been accused of gerrymandering. Each party hopes to hold legislative control following the 2010 elections in order to limit the opposition’s power to reshape districts.

The DLCC identified ten Democratic-controlled chambers at risk for GOP takeover this year:

• Alabama Senate (21D, 14R)

• Colorado Senate (21D, 14R)

• Indiana House (52D, 48R)

• Nevada Senate (12D, 9R)

• New Hampshire Senate (14D, 10R)

• New York Senate (31D, 30R, 1 vacancy)

• Ohio House (53D, 46R)

• Pennsylvania House (103D, 97R, 3 vacancies)

• Wisconsin Assembly (52D, 46R, 1I)

• Wisconsin Senate (18D, 15R)

Additionally, Sargeant wrote that they are closely watching Alabama House, Michigan House and North Carolina Senate and House for a risk of takeover.

The DLCC also hopes to gain majorities this year in the following chambers:

• Michigan Senate (16D, 22R)

• Missouri House (74D, 88R, 1 vacancy)

• Oklahoma Senate (22D, 26R)

• Tennessee House (48D, 51R)

• Texas House (73D, 77R)

Karl Rove, who is launching his new book today, by way of donations has already taken sides in several 2010 Senate races. Rove’s 2009 contributions below:

Arkansas Senate: Gilbert Baker ($2,400)

Florida Senate: Marco Rubio ($1,000)

Missouri Senate: Roy Blunt ($1,000)

Pennsylvania Senate: Pat Toomey ($1,000)

Today, Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) is arguing that Democrats are conspiring to force him out of Congress.

This isn’t the first time he’s used that line.

Back when Massa, a former Navy officer, identified as a Republican, he served as an aide to the GOP majority on the House Armed Services Committee. But, he claims now, things turned sour over his stance on the war in Iraq. From Massa’s House website:

When the planning for the Iraq War began, Congressman Massa opposed the flawed strategy being set forth by former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and his allies in Congress. For standing up against the failed pre-war planning, Mr. Massa was forced out in 2003.

That may be the way Massa casts the incident now, but it appears his story has changed over time.

In a 2003 Washington Monthly article, Massa seemed to validate a rumor that the GOP and Massa parted ways over Massa’s personal friendship and support for Gen. Wesley Clark, not because of Massa’s war stance. (Massa previously served as an aide to Clark.) He also said he held no “ill will” toward his Republican colleagues over his departure:

Sources tell “Who’s Who,” [committee chairman Duncan] Hunter and [staff director Robert] Rangel repeatedly told Massa that, given his friendship with Clark, he could no longer work at the committee, but when reporters from a few big-name newspapers heard the story and began calling around, Hunter claimed that Massa had never actually been fired. Fed-up, Massa resigned. No one from Hunter’s office was available for comment. Contacted by WW, Massa commented, “I don’t hold ill will for anybody. This is about issues, and Clark the man, and I’m going to do everything I can to get him elected.”

If he’s to be believed now, first the GOP forced him out. Now it’s the Democratic Party. I guess he can always go independent…

Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) (EPA/ZUMApress.com)

All eyes were on Webb in 2006 when the populist-preaching Democrat won the Virginia Senate race. His win was a real coup for the Democratic party, which was then just beginning to form a plan to make political inroads in the state. Webb, a former secretary of the Navy in the Reagan administration, is currently serving in the Senate and will be up for re-election in 2012.

Yeas: Webb takes a populist tack when it comes to the economy. “I was never comfortable with the Republican Party on issues of economic fairness and social justice,” Webb told US News & World Report in 2007. Webb often spoke on the campaign trail of his mother’s poor upbringing in Arkansas during the Depression and his Scot-Irish heritage, a subject on which he authored several books. Both of these aspects of his background serve to connect him to the “everyman.” He cites his family history as one of the reasons why he continues his fight against globalization and corporate excess from his seat in Congress.

Nays: Well, after you get past the populist family history, Webb holds a not-so-populist background, touting a J.D. from Georgetown University and a lucrative book-writing career. Webb continues to align with the GOP on some issues, including 2nd amendment rights, which helps him in his home state — but may not be so attractive to nationwide Democrats. Webb also drew some blowback during the 2006 campaign for an essay he wrote in the ’70’s about women in the military.

Next: 3. Sherrod Brown

Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D-Mont.) (EPA/ZUMAPRESS.com)

As governor of Montana, Schweitzer doesn’t represent one of the most highly populated, high-profile electoral states in the country. But this farmer/rancher may just be the president’s best option right now for a populist partner.

Yeas: Schweitzer, a self-proclaimed “pickup-driving, gun-loving” Democrat, possesses the appealing centrist profile that could strengthen Obama’s efforts to court moderate Democrats and independents. Additionally, as head of the Democratic Governors Association, giving speeches in bolo ties, jeans, and cowboy boots, Schweitzer has created a national profile for himself. Schweitzer is also term-limited in 2012 and will be formulating his next career move. Right now, he’s one of the most popular governors in the country, as far as approval ratings go.

Nays: Schweitzer and Obama have openly been at odds on several issues, including when the governor asked the administration to force GM to honor a contract in Montana. Schweitzer’s request was not heeded. And all quirkiness aside, Schweitzer’s more moderate positions on gun control and other issues is likely to displease some liberals.

Click here to replay slideshow.

Gov. Chet Culver (D-Iowa) (chetculver.com)

Culver is governor of a highly competitive state crucial to national politics. And Culver has already proven his loyalty to the president: the governor offered Obama an early presidential endorsement in February 2008.

Yeas: If Obama’s looking for a rural populist, Culver would seem to be a natural fit. Though he grew up the son of a senator in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., Culver worked as a high school teacher and as a football and basketball coach. Today he touts his efforts to increase the minimum wage, pressure government to rein in spending and assist families and small businesses in his state.

Nays: Before Culver can begin planning any part of his political future, he must first survive his 2010 re-election campaign. Culver suffers dangerously low approval ratings back home, and several heavy-hitting Republicans have lined up to wage a competitive fight against him in November. And if he was to be chosen to be the nation’s next major populist, critics would likely use his background as a lobbyist again him.

Next: 4. Jim Webb

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) (James Berglie/ZUMA Press)

Durbin wields considerable power in the Senate as majority whip, the second-highest leadership post in the Senate. And his ties to the president extend beyond that formal role. Obama and Durbin are linked by their home state connection, having both represented Illinois in the Senate.

Yeas: Durbin grew up in Missouri with a father who worked as a railroad night watchman and a mother who worked as a switchboard operator. His father died when Durbin was just 14 and Durbin helped support the family, in part, by working at a meatpacking plant while attending high school. Durbin is well-known on the Hill for his penchant for colloquialisms, a characteristic that contributes to his populist image. A leader on crafting the current jobs bill, his contempt for corporate power is well-documented in his public statements, including one that continues to be quoted during economic debates: “And the banks — hard to believe in a time when we’re facing a banking crisis that many of the banks created — are still the most powerful lobby on Capitol Hill. And they frankly own the place,” Durbin said last April.

Nays: Durbin may hold the power in the Senate, but he hardly possesses a strong national profile. In his home state, he’s been overshadowed by other political leaders, from the celebrity (Barack Obama) to the infamous (Rod Blagojevich.) Plus, despite the political power he does possess, Durbin has disappointed some progressives who believe the senator could be doing more to advance their causes.

Next: 1. Brian Schweitzer

President Obama rarely registers much more than 50 percent approval, he’s having trouble selling his message, and Americans continue to suffer under the weight of the nation’s economic problems. So what can the president do to help improve his standing among Democratic voters? Well, for one thing, he could hitch himself to a rising populist star. But like most politicians, no one is perfect and many of today’s best-known populists have a strike or two against them right now (and no, we’re not talking about John Edwards.)

At the start of our search, it quickly became obvious that after Obama picked several populists for his cabinet, white men dominated the remaining ranks of available politicians. Below is our list of the top five political figures who may fit this new populist role — and it just so happens that some of them could be available in 2012 when Obama may be searching for a new second-in-command.

Click here to begin slideshow.

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) (brown.senate.gov)

Brown has a long history of service in Ohio, beginning with an election to the state House in the mid-seventies when Brown was just 21 years of age. He’s since become a consistent vote for progressive principles in Congress and today is serving his first term in the Senate. But Brown isn’t well known among the masses and hardly carries the national profile possessed by some of the other political figures on this list.

Yeas: Brown is a populist at heart when it comes to economic and trade issues. As a House member, Brown represented Northeastern Ohio, where the economy suffered severely following the collapse of the steel industry. That’s one reason why Brown has been such a strong voice in trade debates. Brown stood up to President Clinton to oppose the North American Free Trade Agreement and voted against many other trade policies he believes harm the nation’s economy. Brown has long championed the fight for the middle class and receives consistent high scores from the AFL-CIO and other labor organizations. Brown also conveys an image as a “regular guy” with his plain-talking manner and his oft-mentioned love of America’s favorite pastime: baseball.

Nays: Brown doesn’t fit the populist mode when it comes to background. He grew up the son of a doctor in Mansfield, Ohio. He holds two master’s degrees, one of which he earned at Yale University. He also worked as a college instructor. But barring a non-populist image, Brown has no major strikes against him — only, perhaps that he’s not a national figure.

Next: 2. Dick Durbin

The New York Daily News reports Gov. David Paterson (D-N.Y.) will announce today his decision to end his re-election campaign amid new controversies.

News reports indicate Democrats have been encouraging the governor, appointed after Eliot Spitzer’s resignation, to retire or resign due to poor approval ratings and low poll numbers. But a new development appears to have pressed the governor even further: The New York Times reported this week on a domestic violence case involving Paterson’s top aide and questions arose regarding an alleged cover-up by Paterson’s office.

The Daily News reports Paterson does not intend to resign. His retirement paves the way for Democrat Andrew Cuomo’s candidacy. Cuomo just happens to be New York’s Attorney General, in charge of the office that is investigating Paterson.

It’s true. James Traficant, the former Ohio congressman-turned-convicted felon, is already garnering national attention for his planned congressional bid. The poufy-haired Democrat went on CNN today to talk about his 2010 plans, disclosing his desire to run as an independent but failing to indicate exactly where he’s going to run.

Let the theatrics begin.