NRSC

John Ensign

U.S. Sen. John Ensign (R-Las Vegas) isn't exactly making an endorsement in the race to succeed him as National Republican Senatorial Committee chair, but he does seem to think U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) would be a good fit.

In a conference call with reporters today, Ensign said Cornyn and U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), who are both said to be gunning for the post, "would be fantastic" in heading up the GOP's Senate campaign arm. But the Nevada Senator reserved particular praise for Cornyn, a first-term Senator who currently serves as the Republican Conference vice chairman.

Ensign explained that having a strong geographical fundraising base would was key for the job and Cornyn, "would bring a lot of people from Texas."

WASHINGTON—A month after issuing a public lashing of his Republican colleagues for not stepping to the plate and contributing to the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s coffers, NRSC chair John Ensign (R-Las Vegas) said today that checks were finally beginning to roll in.

At a press conference at NRSC headquarters, Ensign said that in the last month the committee had received transfers of $150,000 from U.S. Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.), $250,000 from U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), $250,000 from U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), and $200,000 from U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.). Ensign added that he had given $300,000, bringing his total for the cycle to $500,000.

Following the availability, the NRSC released data showing in-cycle transfers of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) for $260,000, U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) for $100,000, U.S. Sen. Orin Hatch (R-Utah) for $100,000 and U.S Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for $100,000.

U.S. Sen. John EnsignWASHINGTON – National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Ensign (R-Las Vegas) sounded something of a political alarm today, saying that he has warned top Republican officials about the mounting Democratic voter registration edge in Nevada, a crucial battleground state.

In a pen-and-pad briefing at the NRSC headquarters, Ensign said that in the last several weeks he had told Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan that the party had neglected voter registration efforts in the state and urged Duncan to turn the efforts around.

Ensign said he told Duncan: “I thought they neglected voter registration and I though they needed to put more resources in, especially now that they’re getting those resources.”

U.S. Sen. John Ensign (R-Las Vegas) has no interest in staying on for another tour of duty as chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. 

Politico has a pretty brutal account of the friendly fire that Ensign has taken this year, and even includes rumors that he may not run for re-election.

WASHINGTON -- National Republican Senatorial Committee chair John Ensign’s public lashing of his fellow Republicans for failing to fill the organization’s coffers hit the nation’s capitol like a thunderbolt.

“It’s the kind of rhetoric you would expect to see behind the scenes but not in a statement from a committee chairman,” remarked Nathan Gonzales, an analyst for the Rothenberg Political Report.

But what does Ensign’s move say about the committee’s fundraising efforts and the Senate playing field heading into the fall?

Jenniffer Duffy, an analyst for the Cook Political Report, said that while the statement was jolting it didn’t come as a complete surprise. Less than a month ago, Duffy noted, Ensign put out a similar public statement aimed to pressure his Republican colleagues.

U.S. Sen. John Ensign (R-Las Vegas) has thrown down the gauntlet to his counterparts, announcing 73 days before the election that if they don't find the cash, the GOP is toast in the Senate.

WASHINGTON -- National Republican Senatorial Committee chair John Ensign (R-Las Vegas) apparently believes his best strategy for goading money out of his Senate colleagues is by taking them to the woodshed – publicly.

In a scalding Friday morning statement, Ensign said the NRSC’s budget for airing of independent expenditure-paid advertisements for the fall’s elections would have to be reduced because of the committee’s lack of funding from Republican Members.

"I recently challenged my colleagues to step up to the plate and help me provide the resources our candidates need to compete in races across the country -- to match the DSCC expenditures in targeted races,” Ensign said. “It has become clear that my call has gone largely unanswered. I have no control over the timing or content of IE ads, but I have had no choice but to decrease the total budget of our IE Unit. It is still my hope that my Republican colleagues will engage in this election and help match what the Democrats are doing. If they do, I will adjust our budget accordingly."