and is a friend gun owners can count on because he believes in the fundamental Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

They focus their energy on elections they can influence. Hard to fault them for that.

You would think they wouldn't need to influence anyone NOT to vote for the bad comedian-turned elitist Al Franken. Its nice there at least paying attention.

I love the new Franken ad running on the radio. "Keep working for us, keep fighting..."

Uh huh, you've done so much work for us already. Oh wait, you don't hold public office now? Well, let that not stand in the way of making claims on the radio.

I can't imagine that ANYONE thinks that clown holding an important public office is a good idea, but I guess the same 45% of the people that will be voting for Obama can vote for a liberal elitist at the state level.

One problem with electing Democrats - even strong pro-gun Democrats - is that the majority party gets leadership of the important committees. This is where legislation begins and ends. Without committee "ownership" you, as a party, are screwed.

Just because an individual is pro-gun, you still have to consider his party as a whole. Look, for example, at Collin Peterson; he's a damn good guy but still gives leverage to the Democrats as a whole. He doesn't vote along party lines, even, but still adds weight to the party.

jb

There is no reason to believe he wants our guns; they just say that because he's generally a liberal Dem. Actually, he plans to stay a mile away from the subject. And so does Norm, unfortunaterly. Neither will do anything positive for gunnies.

Well, sure. but the Dems are going to be the majority for awhile, and we've got to learn to work with them. The BEST we can hope for is that Congress soes not "do" guns for awhile.

But having the NRA act like a Republican Party puppet just invites Democratic attack. IMHO

Of course, on most other current non-gun issues, I don't agree with the Republicans, so I'm biased too. But I wouldn't try to misrepresent the Reps, as the NRA does with Dems.

Montana

Sen. Max Baucus, D, has become a valuable ally in the U.S. Senate, providing a pro-gun bridge to the Senate’s majority party. Senator Baucus has voted to support gun owners’ rights on key issues, such as emergency powers legislation, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, opposition to the Clinton gun ban and ammunition bans and protection of gun shows from excessive federal regulation. The re-election of Senator Max Baucus will greatly help to protect the pro-gun majority in the Senate.

Virginia

With the retirement of anti-gun Senator John Warner, R, there is another opportunity for gun owners to increase their support in the Senate.

Not only was former Governor Jim Gilmore, R, a strong supporter of gun owners’ rights while in office, he has continued his support by becoming a member of the NRA Board of Directors. As governor from 1998 to 2002, Gilmore supported NRA efforts to establish Project Exile and was a strong advocate in Richmond.

Also in the race is former Governor Mark Warner, D. As governor, Mark Warner signed over 20 pro-gun bills, and was a valuable ally for gun owners and sportsmen. However this race turns out, the good news is that Virginia gun owners will have a stronger voice in the U.S. Senate after John Warner retires.

The Remaining Races Many pro-gun incumbents are running for re-election in other states, and although their races are not considered tight now, they have earned our strong support: Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., Pat Roberts, R-Kans., Thad Cochran, R-Miss., James Inhofe, R-Okla., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Tim Johnson, D-S.D., Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., John Cornyn, R-Texas, Mike Enzi, R-Wyo. and John Barrasso, R-Wyo.

There are also two races for open seats where pro-gun candidates are expected to prevail, but gun-owner support is crucial. In Idaho, both Lt. Gov. Jim Risch, R, and former Congressman Larry LaRocco, D, have strong pro-gun credentials. And in Nebraska, former Governor Mike Johanns, R, is a strong advocate of Second Amendment rights and will be a valuable ally in the Senate.