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Udall Clan: Political Dynasty?

by: Colorado Pols

Fri Dec 07, 2007 at 12:36:06 PM MST

Democrat Mark Udall was part of a feature story in USA Today about his political family.

The baby-boomer generation of the West's quietly influential Udall family has reached a milestone: Three relatives are running for the U.S. Senate.
When Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., 59, entered the race on Nov. 29, he joined two cousins as candidates. His second cousin, Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., is seeking his third Senate term. Udall's first cousin, hiking companion and boyhood pal, Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., 57, is seeking his first.
Tom's and Mark's fathers, Stewart and Morris "Mo" Udall, were renowned in the rise of the modern conservation movement and key Democratic players in the Kennedy-Johnson years and beyond...
...From the Adamses, Clays and Claibornes to the Kennedys, Gores and Bushes, family political dynasties have existed since the nation's earliest days.
If the cousins all win next November, though, "It certainly would be an unusual circumstance," says assistant Senate historian Donald Ritchie, who has tracked congressional family trees.
Polls show both of the Udalls as early favorites for the open, swing-state seats of retiring Sens. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., and Wayne Allard, R-Colo. Smith, 55, a GOP moderate who broke ranks with the White House on Iraq a year ago, faces a strong Democratic challenge in Oregon, another swing state.

Colorado Pols :: Udall Clan: Political Dynasty?

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Udall Clan: Political Dynasty? | 25 comments

hopefully then the Udall's can unite,

drive the Kennedy's from political dominance (in terms of proliferative power) and establish western-based political hegemony in D.C.! Excellent.

by: colorado_dude @ Fri Dec 07, 2007 at 19:40:40 PM UTC

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I think Gordon Smith

and the Udalls, are direct descendants of Joseph Smith. I think I remember reading that from Under the Banner of Heaven.

" The webinar is free, however, there are only 250 spaces available "

Some douche

by: Fidel's dirt nap @ Fri Dec 07, 2007 at 19:58:30 PM UTC

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as it should be.

.
No mention of their religion.

So why is their religion an obstacle in the Presidential race ?
.

by: Barron X @ Fri Dec 07, 2007 at 20:07:40 PM UTC

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I think they are descendants of Smith

but they are not necessarily mormon. I don't know about the other two, but I don't think Mark Udall is.

I have no problem with one's religion in any political race, if you are asking me. If, however, it is a religion that discriminates on the basis of race I do have a problem with that.

" The webinar is free, however, there are only 250 spaces available "

Some douche

by: Fidel's dirt nap @ Fri Dec 07, 2007 at 20:52:24 PM UTC

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I just made an assumption

thanks for calling me on that.

by: Barron X @ Fri Dec 07, 2007 at 22:47:51 PM UTC

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Tom and Gordon

Are both LDS

They're both running in states where the percentage of LDS members are notably higher than the country as a whole

by: Haners @ Fri Dec 07, 2007 at 22:56:24 PM UTC

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Assumptions aren't bad

especially in Catholicism Barron ! ( I think I remember you saying you are Catholic).

" The webinar is free, however, there are only 250 spaces available "

Some douche

by: Fidel's dirt nap @ Fri Dec 07, 2007 at 22:57:54 PM UTC

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thanks for the reminder,

but Saint Rosa has already reminded me of what I'm doing tomorrow morning.

Do you have a Conception of what I'm talking about ?

by: Barron X @ Fri Dec 07, 2007 at 23:08:05 PM UTC

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Immaculately so

" The webinar is free, however, there are only 250 spaces available "

Some douche

by: Fidel's dirt nap @ Fri Dec 07, 2007 at 23:24:00 PM UTC

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Gordon Smith is definitely mormon...

Mark is not. Tom gives LDS as his religious affiliation but it is hard to say how involved he is (on the other hand I think he has like 6 kids).

That being said, the Mormon church has come a long way in their racial attitudes in more recent decades. There are certainly some very racist passages of their holy books, but I think official church doctrine has now recanted the racist tenets and teachings (along with that embarrassing matter of polygamy).

Sure, there are plenty of racist mormons out there, but I don't think it's fair to label someone racist simply because of their mormon faith. In fact I know several who aren't.

On the other hand, there is a pretty strong argument that Mormonism is blatantly sexist...but that is a totally different issue.

"And reality has a well known liberal bias"-Stephen Colbert

by: coloverde @ Fri Dec 07, 2007 at 23:21:44 PM UTC

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Mark Udall's page on

Government Guide site has his religion listed as "unaffiliated". I'm sure there are some who think being so casual about organized religion as to claim no particular affiliation is even worse than being Mormon. Romney claims you can't have freedom without religion and Huckabee is running as a Christian leader as if the Presidency is a Pastor in Chief position. Of course, fans of that type of candidate won't be voting for a Dem any time soon, regardless.

by: BlueCat @ Sun Dec 09, 2007 at 17:54:46 PM UTC

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Good question

Romney must be really worried or he wouldn't have addressed it. Perhaps he is seeing bad internal polls?

by: Emma Anne @ Fri Dec 07, 2007 at 23:12:16 PM UTC

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I don't think being a member of the LDS church is an obstacle in itself in a presidential race

I think the problem stems from the credibility problems which the particular LDS church member who is running this year is facing due to his flip flops.

by: One Queer Dude @ Fri Dec 07, 2007 at 23:35:48 PM UTC

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???

Political dysentery?

B'dump CH!

by: Laughing Boy @ Sat Dec 08, 2007 at 04:11:40 AM UTC

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Ladies and Gentleman

Here is intelligent and respectful dialogue.
Just so you recognize it when you see it again.

Exercise your right to peaceably assemble and reclaim the commons. Stop the militarization of America.

by: Sir Robin @ Sat Dec 08, 2007 at 05:37:01 AM UTC

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It was a joke, silly.

I even put in my own rimshot.

You, of all people are not the 'civility barometer'.

by: Laughing Boy @ Sat Dec 08, 2007 at 13:08:41 PM UTC

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martin chavez has dropped out of the NM race

looks like Udall should sail to the primary and general election!
http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmsp...

by: colorado_dude @ Sun Dec 09, 2007 at 22:20:08 PM UTC

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who is running for Heather Wilson's House seat?

That should be a Dem pick up, provided someone other than Patricia Madrid runs.
If things go as they should, the Land of Enchantment should flip from having a Congressional delegation which is 3-2 Repub to a delegation which is 4-1 Dem.

by: One Queer Dude @ Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 04:33:17 AM UTC

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I heard

That Dems are starting to downplay their chances for that seat. The county sheriff is a popular Republican who has lead in many polls-both primary and general election(over 50%)

I read something about him in the Washington Post

by: Haners @ Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 04:53:00 AM UTC

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Two candidates right now

The top-tier candidate for the Dems right now is Martin Heinrich, President of the City Council in Albuquerque. Michelle Lujan-Grisham is also mentioned along with a couple of lower-tier possibilities.

White is popular on the Republican side, but I'm not sure he can hold out in the long run in this Dem-leaning district.

"We're below sharks and contract killers." -- Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), speaking on Congress's 9% approval rating

by: Phoenix Rising @ Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 21:25:10 PM UTC

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I'm sure there are a lot of factors

That will be difficult for us to identify since we don't live there.

I think it's going to be competitive. None of the Dem candidates that you mentioned are as high profile as the 2006 candidate who obviously came up short

Isn't this a great cycle to be a political junkie?

by: Haners @ Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 22:09:44 PM UTC

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It's gonna be a fun year...

Let's face it, Madrid lost the race on her own poor campaigning last year. She was a great candidate until she screwed it up on her own. Also, Wilson isn't running this time - she's competing with Pearce for rights to get a butt-kicking by Udall.

Still, it will be an interesting season all around - a great time to be a political junkie indeed. (Witness the latest polling from Alaska which has Don Young and Ted Stevens both trailing their Democratic challengers. Who would think that Alaska would swing their Representative and one Senate seat over to the Democrats?)

"We're below sharks and contract killers." -- Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), speaking on Congress's 9% approval rating

by: Phoenix Rising @ Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 23:01:18 PM UTC

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Remind me

What did Madrid do? I didn't follow the race all that close so I don't have a clue.

by: Haners @ Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 23:05:49 PM UTC

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Former AG in NM

IIRC, she completely tanked in a debate with Wilson. I didn't follow the race that closely, either, so I can't provide the details.

"We're below sharks and contract killers." -- Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), speaking on Congress's 9% approval rating

by: Phoenix Rising @ Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 23:09:14 PM UTC

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