Friday’s political round-up

October 13, 2006

Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn’t generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:

* In Tennessee’s closely-watched Senate race, a new Rasmussen poll shows Rep. Harold Ford (D) still leading former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker (R), 48% to 46%. Ford also has an edge with the most committed voters. Voters who say there’s little chance they will change their minds favor him 40% to 38%.

* Speaking of key Senate campaigns, a new Rasmussen poll also shows the Dem looking strong in Montana, where State Senate President and wheat farmer Jon Tester (D) now leads incumbent Sen. Conrad Burns (R), 49% to 42%. The seven-point margin is the same as a Rasmussen poll taken in mid-September.

* I’d heard through the rumor mill that the Republican establishment has effectively already decided to give up on Sen. Rick Santorum’s (R) re-election chances in Pennsylvania, and a new report from Harrisburg’s Patriot-News appears to confirm it. As of now, neither the RNC nor the NRSC has reserved any air time at Pennsylvania TV stations for independent expenditure ads for Santorum or against Bob Casey. (via Greg Sargent)

* In Nevada’s open gubernatorial race, state Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus (D) is trailing Rep. Jim Gibbons (R), but in recent weeks, she’s nevertheless gotten by with a little help from her new friends. Ever since Nevada was moved up to the #2 slot on the Dems’ presidential nominating calendar, presidential hopefuls have rushed to Nevada to help give Titus a hand. John Kerry, John Edwards, Bill Richardson, and Russ Feingold have all held fundraisers with Titus, while Hillary Clinton, Evan Bayh, and Tom Vilsack are on the way. “They raise money for me, and I get them face time,” Titus said.

* And in other 2008 news, a new Granite State poll in New Hampshire asked voters who they’re inclined to support in the state’s presidential primary. Among Republicans, John McCain led with 32% support, followed by Rudy Giuliani with 19%, and Mitt Romney with 15%. Among Dems, Hillary Clinton is the favorite with 30%, John Edwards was second with 16%, and Al Gore was third with 10%. John Kerry was a close fourth with 9%.

That Granite State poll, and every poll concerning 2008, means nothing at this stage in the game. People aren’t paying attention to the candidates yet. It’s purely name-recognition at this point.

I say we concentrate on what is immently, and eminently, important at this moment: the midterms!

  • Unfortunately, the Harry Reid land deal scandal is making hard times for Dina Titus and other Dems here in NV. (I’m just putting it out there so you know….don’t jump on my case as being a troll. I’m not.) I think it’s pretty ignorant not to look at the facts in a realistic way. I think we all want honesty in gov’t and that includes our own party, doesn’t it? Harry Reid has some explaining to do. Voters are in a very skeptical mood all around.

  • Oh, please let Harry Reid not end up as Senate Majority Leader. Let some other Dem be it. We really need to open Yucca Mountain to nuclear waste storage and it won’t happen as long has Reid has any power.

    No NRC ads for Ricky (Man on Dog) Santorum? He’s in the leadership for God’s sake. How damn amusing!

  • Hortense – screw the NV-Gov race. Let me explain how Reid is going to be Majority leader:

    The Senate toss-ups are Missouri, Tennessee and New Jersey. We are currently leading in the polls in all three.

    If we WIN all 3, (in addition to winning other “Leaning Dem” races like OH or MN), we win the Senate 51-49.

    If we win VA where Webb is trailing narrowly, that’s just a bonus (52-48).

    So you should donate money to the tossup races. AFTER Dems get the majority, and immediately after we impeach Bush, we’ll look into whatever land deal scandal you’re talking about.

  • I just saw a poll from KCTV5 out of Kansas City that shows Claire McCasill. ahead of Talent by 9 points. That’s the biggest lead anyone’s had in this race.

    Best of all she’s over 50%. The poll shows her leading Talent 51% to 42%.

  • There was a rumor floating around awhile back that Reid promised the Senate Majority Leader to Hillary Clinton if she would agree not to run in ’08….assuming the Dems do take back the Senate as we all hope they do.

    If that turns out to happen, it will make things really interesting, won’t it? 😉

  • I guess candidates can always use more money, but I wouldn’t read the RSCc decision on Sick Rick as a sign that they’ve “given up” on that race. Santorum, a K Street darling, already had a big cash edge on Casey, so I think it’s more likely that the relatively cash-strapped RSCC decided that their dollars were more needed in Ohio, Tennessee and Missouri.

  • Santorum has the wrong kind of mo’. He’s got all sort of money, but no momentum. And no amount of cash from the national party can change his karma.

    The suburbs–particularly women–of Philadelphia and, even, Pittsburgh have little time for Santorum. Suburban women work hard outside the home to support the raising of one to three kids; they don’t like being treated like second citizens–or lectured to by a pious father of six.

  • PS — I’m looking forward to the driving of a stake through his political heart. Pious SOB.

  • So the GOP has given up on Ricky in PA, looks like they might give up on Burns in MT, they have given up on Kennedy in MN (praise JESUS!). Who is going to get all this money?

    I wonder…might the GOP be bolting onthis election and saving thier money and effort for 2008 when they have Presidential and Congressional races? After all they could “give” back Congress and still have a “bush in the hole” for the next two years. They spend the next two years dragging their feet (and knuckles) so they can point to the Dems in 2008 and say “see – they suck too!

    This Harry Reid land deal (boy they love their land deals) is likely an indicator of what we can expect if teh GOP does lose control of the house. They are already taking shots at the as-yet unelected leaders.

    Does it ever feel like the GOP is playig chess and the Dems are playing checkers?

  • “Who is going to get all this money?” – MNP

    They’ll save it for their legal defense funds 😉

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