Tuesday’s political round-up

October 17, 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 Ohio, a new Quinnipiac poll shows Rep. Sherrod Brown (D) surging past incumbent Sen. Mike DeWine (R), 53% to 41%. It’s the biggest lead either candidate has seen all year. The key is Brown’s big lea among Ohio’s independent voters, which is now 24 points.

* In Maryland’s Senate race, which Republicans consider a possible pick-up opportunity, Rep. Ben Cardin (D) maintains a modest lead over Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R) in the latest Rasmussen poll, 50% to 43%. When undecided voters leaning toward a major-party candidate are added to the tallies, the Democrat’s advantage grows to nine points, 53% to 44%. A month ago, Cardin also led by seven.

* Michigan’s gubernatorial race is looking more and more encouraging all the time. The latest poll from the Detroit Free Press shows incumbent Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) with an eight-point lead over Amway heir Dick DeVos (R), 49% to 41%. In the Free Press’ last poll, conducted in August, Granholm led by two.

* Progress in California’s gubernatorial race is hard to find. A new Rasmussen poll shows Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) leading challenger Phil Angelides (D), 49% to 40%. Though the incumbent has not yet reached the 50% mark in any poll this year, his nine-point lead is the biggest margin to date.

* Alaska’s gubernatorial race appears to be getting far more competitive. A month ago, Republican Sarah Palin led former Gov. Tony Knowles (D) by 14 points. Now, her lead has been cut in half in a new Rasmussen poll, in which Palin leads, 47% to 40%. There is increasing grumbling in Alaska that Palin may not be up to the job.

* And in 2008 news, philanthropist George Soros donated $75,000 in the last quarter to Wesley Clark’s political action committee. The New York Sun reported that it is the largest known gift from Soros this year to a political organization affiliated with a contender for the presidency in 2008, and it follows a fundraiser Soros held for the PAC in his home in April.

AP (10.16.06):

“Democrat Patty Wetterling is apparently leading Republican Michele Bachmann in the 6th District congressional race, according to a Star Tribune Minnesota Poll released Monday night.

Wetterling had the support of 48 percent of those polled, compared with 40 percent for Bachmann.”

Poll: Wetterling Has 8 Point Lead On Bachmann

  • *** In Ohio, a new Quinnipiac poll shows Rep. Sherrod Brown (D) surging past incumbent Sen. Mike DeWine (R), 53% to 41%.***

    Unlike all the “old polls” that Republicans rolled out yesterday to insist that they’re getting ready to throw big bucks into D’Whine’s campaign—above which I note the existence of “vultures circling, in anticipation of the coming feast.” They blew their complete account fund too soon, gave Brown some maneuvering room, and now they have to play “catch-up” with only three weeks to go. If Brown holds to the attack, then Mikey gets himself a VERY embarrassing, one-way ticket on the first GreyDog back to Ohio….

  • Phil Angelides, Schwarzenegger’s opponent has run the most stupid campaign ever. The Governator went negative early and Angelides said nothing. Now he has finally responded with a black and white poster of Richard Nixon. What’s that mean? Schwarzenegger’s political record is so bad and his personal life is so sleazy and scandal ridden that he could be vulnerable if someone would mention thise things. Angelides was so vicious to his opponent in the primary, it is hard to understand why he is such a whimp now.

  • Phil Angelides, Schwarzenegger’s opponent has run the most stupid campaign ever. The Governator went negative early and Angelides said nothing. Now he has finally responded with a black and white poster of Richard Nixon. What’s that mean? Schwarzenegger’s political record is so bad and his personal life is so sleazy and scandal ridden that he could be vulnerable if someone would mention thise things. Angelides was so vicious to his opponent in the primary, it is hard to understand why he is such a whimp now.

  • The news from this morning that the RNC is starting to withdraw from OH (although they are denying it) seems to indicate it’s about over for DeWine.

    In MI, the three debates gave voters a chance to see the real Dick DeVos and thus Governor Granholm is up by 8 and 9% in the latest two polls. DeVos wouldn’t give direct answers to the questions and overall didn’t give undecided voters any reason to vote for him. You would think after selling soap at Amway for all those years, he would be a better public speaker. Yet, DeVos couldn’t explain how to replace the lost revenue from the SBT, an issue he has talked up the entire campaign, and under his plan, the likely funding would be pulled from education, healthcare and social services. I truly hope Governor Granholm is re-elected.

  • From the N.Y. Sun article:

    General Clark, a Rhodes scholar, began his military career as an Army Ranger in Vietnam, where he was wounded four times. He retired after commanding NATO forces in Kosovo as supreme allied commander-Europe.

    Shruby isn’t fit to shine Clark’s shoes.

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