The University of Minnesota/Humphrey Institute for Minnesota Public Radio (8/7-17, likely voters, 1/20-27 in parens):
Al Franken (D): 41 (43)
Norm Coleman (R-inc): 40 (40)
Dean Barkley (I): 8 (-)
(MoE: ±3.6%)
The “trend line” presented here is stretched over such a long period, that it’s almost not worth including. Lest you think that the Humphrey Institute’s methodology is giving Franken a boost, keep in mind that Franken was running very close in other surveys from SurveyUSA, Rasmussen, and even the GOP firm McLaughlin & Associates in the early part of the year.
Is Franken pulling this one out of the fire?
SSP currently rates this race as Lean Republican.
I thought the interesting aspect was also predictable, that Barkley is pulling votes away from Franken. It seems the Independence Party exists primarily to split the non-Republican vote and let Republicans win. They have every right to run and to attack the two big parties, but they seem to have no awareness of how they mostly protect Republicans. Their stated policies are so much closer to the Democrats than Republicans, that I don’t know why they can’t see it.
so where are all the Franken doom-and-gloomers now?
i think it’s tough race we could win and al is doing a lot of good things.
and i’m hoping for bayh myself.