Redstate:

Governor Update

Colorado: Former Rep. Scott McInnis (R-CO-3), after several times turning down the opportunity to run statewide, is now publicly saying he will challenge Gov. Bill Ritter (D). McInnis is said to be the CO Republican establishment’s first choice. Ritter is weak, so this is a legitimate race.

Georgia: The reported comeback of defeated Gov. Roy Barnes (D) looks rather anemic according to an Insider Advantage poll (3/17; 550 registered GA voters). Barnes fails to break 40% against three potential GOP candidates: Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, state Insurance Commissioner Mark Oxendine, and Secretary of State Karen Handel. He actually trails Cagle 39-35%. Barnes is a one-term Governor who lost his seat in 2002 to current incumbent Sonny Perdue (R). Perdue is term-limited in 2010.

Massachusetts: Add Deval Patrick (D) to the growing list of vulnerable Governors. A new Suffolk University survey (3/17-20; 400 MA voters) reveals that state Treasurer Tim Cahill would lead Patrick 35-30% in a Democratic primary match-up. Cahill says he’s not running. Patrick’s job approval is an upside down 40:49, meaning the Governor can expect a tough re-election campaign next year. Don’t forget, until Patrick’s victory in 2006, Republicans won the Massachusetts Governor’s chair four consecutive times.

New York: The Siena College poll referred to in our Senate column above, again confirms that Gov. David Paterson (D) is hemorrhaging politically. He loses 67-17% to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo in a proposed Democratic primary, and 56-33% to Rudy Giuliani in the general election. The Cuomo-Giuliani match-up is a surprisingly close 51-41%, in favor of the Democrat.

Atlanta Journal Constitution:

The report on the alleged tax dodgers, with names and Social Security numbers redacted, has been forwarded to Republican and Democratic leaders of the state House of Representatives and Senate.

“Leaders of both parties have made it clear this will not be tolerated,” state Rep. Joe Wilkinson (R-Sandy Springs), chairman of the House Ethics Committee, said in an interview late Thursday night.

Wilkinson said House and Senate leaders are now discussing what should happen to the 16 House members and 3 senators in wake of the disclosure.

Wilkinson said he requested the report from the Department of Revenue after another House member was found delinquent on his tax returns.

There apparently is no provision in state law to keep the Legislature from seating members who are behind on their taxes, Wilkinson said. But he said both chambers do have the right to expel members who fail to hand over taxes to the government.

HT Ben Cunningham.