Thursday’s political round-up

October 26, 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:

* It looks like the California gubernatorial race has just about slipped away. With less than two weeks remaining, a new Public Policy Institute of California poll shows Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) leading challenger Phil Angelides (D) by 18 points, 48% to 30%.

* A new University of Arkansas poll shows state Attorney General Mike Beebe (D) pulling away in the state’s gubernatorial race. According to the poll released this morning, Beebe now leads former Rep. Asa Hutchison (R) by 13 points, 51% to 38%.

* And speaking of uncompetitive gubernatorial races, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) continues to look unstoppable in her re-election bid, leading GOP challenger Len Munsil by a whopping 43 points in the latest ASU poll, 67% to 24%.

* The president will appear in Michigan today to help campaign for GOP Senate hopeful Michael Bouchard (R), but it may not make much of a difference. The latest Rasmussen poll shows incumbent Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) leading Bouchard, 55% to 39%. That’s almost exactly where the race was a month ago.

* In Oregon, recent polls have shown the gubernatorial race largely up for grabs, but a new poll from Riley Research Associates shows Gov. Ted Kulongoski (D) gaining some momentum in the closing weeks. According to the poll released this morning, Kulongoski now leads Republican challenger Ron Saxton 47% to 36%. The incumbent’s biggest gains come at the hands of Oregon independents, 53% of whom plan to vote for him on Nov. 7.

The situation in California is unsurprising, and Angelides is likely to pull down Democrats across the board here. The guy always reminded me of our version of Michael Doo-doo-ca-ca. How we ended up with a choice between this guy and some EvilBay idiot is beyond me. But you look at the gaggle of stiffs (in the case of Gray Davis, literally) that Democrats nominate for Governor in California, and it’s not suprising the Republicans have held the governorship for all but 13 years since Pat Brown lost to Reagan in 1966. I don’t know what it is, but bozos like Deukmejian and Pete Wilson beat the socks off Democrats. (And don’t even get me started on that moronic idiot, Jerry Brown, who I had to deal with personally back when that halfwit was governor – and I won’t be voting for Attorney General this year, to keep my record of only being bamboozled by him once, 1974, I wouldn’t vote for his sister for Governor because she was related to him.)

  • In Oregon, recent polls have shown the gubernatorial race largely up for grabs, but a new poll from Riley Research Associates shows Gov. Ted Kulongoski (D) gaining some momentum in the closing weeks. According to the poll released this morning, Kulongoski now leads Republican challenger Ron Saxton 47% to 36%. The incumbent’s biggest gains come at the hands of Oregon independents, 53% of whom plan to vote for him on Nov. 7.

    No thanks to the Oregonian newspaper, who, in spite of the recommendation of the majority of the editorial board, endorsed Saxton against Kulongoski. Some left-wing media there.

  • I want to agree with Tom Cleaver. The Democrats in California keep putting up these brain dead people who are so lame no person in their right mind would vote for them. I had to hold my nose when I voted for Angelides (I vote absentee). In a state with as much talent and passion as California, why can’t we get some decent people to run? We have to chose between a shady land developer with millions and Arnold. Arnold went negative early and where was Angelides? His campaign consisted of ads showing his family members telling us how great he was, and an ad showing us a black and white poster telling us to “Dump Nixon.” I guess Angelides worked on the “72 McGovern Campaign.

    Schwarzenegger is a racist and a borderline sexual predator. He vetoed a universal health care bill, a decent medical marijuana bill, and several other progressive laws that could have been very helpful for the average citizen. Where’s Angelides? Talking about Nixon.

  • Hang in there, Californians– I have a feeling that, after the nightmare of Ahnuld is over, you’ll get a good Democratic governor in Antonio Villaraigosa. It’ll happen!

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