Rasmussen (6/25, likely voters, 5/22 in parens):
Bruce Lunsford (D): 41 (49)
Mitch McConnell (R-inc): 48 (44)
(MoE: ±4.5)
So Lunsford comes back down to earth — or rather, it becomes even more clear that Rasmussen’s May poll was an outlier. However, the numbers are still pretty good, with McConnell failing to crack the 50% mark.
On another, but related note: One thing I didn’t realize yesterday about the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Millionaire’s Amendment, was that the ruling only applies to House campaigns:
The ruling pertained only to House campaigns, but the Senate has a very similar rule that experts say will likely be struck down as soon as it is challenged.
In Kentucky, such a ruling could have large-scale implications for the Senate race. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who like Gillibrand is one of his chamber’s most prolific fundraisers, is facing a wealthy self-funder in businessman Bruce Lunsford (D).
Lunsford’s campaign could ostensibly challenge the Senate’s version of the rule, preventing McConnell from tapping his donors for contributions several times the normal limits.
Lunsford’s campaign was noncommittal Thursday but didn’t discount its legal options.
Sure, Lunsford would be given a boost if he could spend freely and not raise Mitch’s contribution limits, but the optics of some rich dude going to court in order to re-write campaign finance law to his advantage are not so good — and it still might take months for his case to get anywhere.
The option is on the table, though.
Lunsford should lay back and wait. I’m sure one of the Repub self-funders will go to court and do the dirty work on this one.
McConnell’s last internal only had him up 9 and SUSA had him up by something like 4-5. Lunsford is in good shape. This one could be a tossup by election day.