A new poll conducted by the Capital Survey Research Center shows state Sen. Parker Griffith, an oncologist from Huntsville, with an early lead over the presumptive GOP nominee, advertising executive Wayner Parker (4/1, likely voters, no trendlines):
Parker Griffith (D): 48%
Wayne Parker (R): 32%
Undecided: 21%
(MoE: ±4%)
(Source: House Race Hotline)
On top of Griffith’s $115,000 fundraising haul in his first week of the race, this is encouraging news for Democrats as they seek to hold this open seat that Bush carried by 54-44 and 60-40 margins in 2000 and 2004, respectively.
Wayne Parker twice tried to win this seat against incumbent Democrat Bud Cramer; he nearly won in 1994, but lost decisively in ’96. With the GOP failing to attract a stronger challenger (such as potential turncoat Democratic state Sen. Tom Butler), it appears that Griffith is starting with a clear edge here.
SSP will try to obtain a copy of the polling memo and post it when we can.
Better ones.
We forced retirement on Al Wynn, and replaced him with Donna Edwards. Bud Cramer chose to leave his seat, and we’re replacing him with a guy who sounds like a step in the right direction. The guy from New Jersey challenging Lautenberg sounds rather ill-fated, so we can fill his district with someone better. And we have Ed Fallon(pretty sure I got the name right) challenging Leonard Boswell in Iowa.
Anywhere else people can think of where we are getting (or presumably going to get) better Democrats?
I really want to go another full election cycle without a single seat, god that would HURT! Now all I have to worry about is OR-5 and Boyda.
the guy is just kinda lazy. he doesnt do nearly enough fundraising — and he pulled the same thing in 2004 with the redistricting. I think the dccc will get to a point where they have to decide if they want to spend $2-3m to defend him and MAYBE hold on — or to spend that money on 6 other races we can pick up. I’m hoping they go with the latter…