Dell and Hewlett-Packard got nods from Intel, but both of these companies face their own new competitive challengers from cheap producers of servers.
More importantly perhaps, polls have shown Mr. Franken (and, separately, Mr. Ciresi) as competitive challengers to Senator Norm Coleman, the first-term Republican whose seat is up next year and whom Democrats have identified as among the most vulnerable incumbents nationally.
But here again, there are caveats: The senatorial committee, run out of Washington, is most likely to spend first to protect its incumbents, second to help the most competitive challengers, and third in cheaper media markets where it can get the greatest bang for its buck.
Now, between streaming on Twitch and practicing to take on more competitive challengers, "I've been playing pretty much nonstop," Neubauer says.
Now, improbably, the former television executive has emerged as a nimble and competitive Republican challenger in the Sept. 13 special election to replace Mr. Weiner, in a campaign that has showcased Mr. Turner's eye for playful stagecraft and ear for his audience's tastes.
"If you look at just the politics this time, she has essentially no competitive primary challengers," Eric Boehlert, a senior fellow at Media Matters, told the Guardian.
At the time, I was struck by how well served the community was by a competitive race — challengers raised questions and forced issues not previously on the school board agenda.
