SSP Daily Digest: 8/6

  • CO-Sen: In yet another example of the perils of Citizens United, Americans United for Life, a non-profit anti-abortion group, is endorsing GOPer Jane Norton. Worry not, circular firing squad enthusiasts, as other pro-life groups endorsing Norton’s more conservative rival Ken Buck are already hitting back promoting Buck as the pro-lifest option.
  • FL-Sen: Kendrick Meek, seeking to stanch the bleeding of support to Jeff Greene in the Democratic primary, has released an internal poll showing him leading by the slimmest of margins, 36-35, with 8% going to Maurice Ferre and 20% undecided. Meek has three events planned with the Big Dog in the coming weeks – which isn’t surprising given Meek did endorse Hillary Clinton for President in 2008.
  • KY-Sen: Braun Research (8/2-4, likely voters):

    Jack Conway (D): 31

    Rand Paul (R): 41

    Undecided: 28

    (MoE: ±3.46%)

    Braun Research is out with another poll in Kentucky, showing a result consistent with other pollsters of a slight lead for mountain-hater Rand Paul.

  • NV-Sen: Sharron Angle’s Tour de Crazy continues, as she’s now bandying about criticizing gay adoption (which is legal in Nevada) and advocating for the right of religious officials to endorse political candidates – which flies squarely in the face of Section 501(c)(3) of the tax code.
  • CO-Gov: Former state legislator Tom Wiens – last seen briefly running for the Senate seat currently held by Michael Bennet – may have set his sights on the Governor’s race as a post-primary option given the utter fail of both GOPers on the ballot, Scott “plagiarist” McInnis and Dan “lien collector” Maes. Wiens claims to have already voted for Scott McInnis, but his follow-up statement that “I voted for Scott McInnis and let’s hope things work out” is hardly a ringing endorsement.
  • MN-Gov: Target’s CEO, Gregg Steinhafel, is apologizing for the company’s recent $150,000 to the shadowy right-wing group Minnesota Forward, which was last seen airing ads in support of the waitstaff-hating, gay-bashing, Christian conservative-cozy GOP nominee, Tom Emmer. The irony in all of this, of course, is that Target is the successor to the Dayton-Hudson Corporation…to which Democratic gube-hopeful Mark Dayton is an heir.
  • AL-05: With many of their members at risk in November, the Blue Dog Coalition senses an opportunity to add to their ranks here, endorsing Dem nominee Steve Raby. The Blue Dog Coalition goes way back in this northern Alabama district, as Bud Cramer – who held this seat until 2008 – was a co-founder of the coalition.
  • ID-01: It’s hard to to tell who’s campaign’s been more amusing, Bill Sali’s or Raul Labrador’s. The normally GOP-leaning Idaho Associated General Contractors – who even endorsed Bill Sali in 2008 – are opting for Dem Walt Minnick, even citing Minnick’s opposition to the stimulus as a point of reservation for the group.
  • TN-08: The dust’s hardly settled from last night’s bloody GOP three-way…primary, which has fortunately allowed Democratic nominee state Sen. Roy Herron to build up a huge financial advantage. Outside groups are stepping in though, with the conservative-leaning 60 Plus Association dropping $240k in ad buys against Herron in the Memphis, Jackson, and Nashville markets.
  • VA-05: To the disappointment of cat fud lovers everywhere, the teabaggish Jim McKelvey – despite his earlier reluctance – is endorsing the man who beat him in the primary, “moderate” state Sen. Robert Hurt. Fortunately, there’s still the teabagging independent in this race, Jeff Clark.
  • WA-08: In a major surprise, the Seattle Times has decided not to endorse incumbent GOPer Dave Reichert, criticizing his constant nay-saying. The Times – which has endorsed Reichert in the past – is instead opting for Microsoft exec Suzan DelBene (D) and Expedia senior manager Tim Dillon (R) in Washington’s unusual top two primary.
  • Polling: Daily Kos, after having fired their pollster Research 2000, is back in the polling game, to the delight of Swingnuts everywhere. While Daily Kos has yet to decide on a national pollster, they’ve settled on the always reliable Public Policy Polling for state-level horserace polling.

  • Rasmussen:

  • CA-Gov: Brown (D) 43%, Whitman (R) 41%

  • MI-Gov: Bernero (D) 37%, Snyder (R) 49%

  • NC-Sen: Marshall (D) 40%, Burr (R) 49%

    • 42 thoughts on “SSP Daily Digest: 8/6”

    1. reprint from yesterday’s digest

      http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo…

      The new survey, conducted August 2-4, is in agreement with an internal poll  released Thursday by the Meek campaign, which also showed Meek and Greene in a statistical dead heat. Both polls are at odds with a July 27 Quinnipiac survey, which put Greene ahead by 10 points.

      The M-D datapoint suggests that at least that the Meek internal poll has some credibility.

    6. CO Senate- I HATE Citizens united.

      FL Senate- I supported Obama in the primary but I went to a Bill Clinton rally in Corydon and I seem to remember Meek being there. Bill is very loyal.

      KY Senate- I can believe the final result although some SSPers smarter than me pointed out some errors with the poll so IDK.

      NV Senate- Gotta Love Angle. I do not usually watch countdown but Keith’s “interview” was recommended to me and I found it hilarious.

      CO Gov- Sounds like Wiens regrets not running.

      MN Gov- I do not shop at Target a lot anyway but I will avoid them until after November. I am not going to say that I am officially boycotting but rather I will just try and go elsewhere.

      AL-05- Do we have a shot here? It is historically Democrat after all. I would kind of like to see a poll. Wouldn’t it be something if we ended up winning this? Ha, I bet Griffith regrets his stupidity. At least Griffith is going to be a one termer. I honestly think he may have won had he stayed D. No use crying over spilt milk though.

      ID-01- It is hard to believe but I think we will actually keep this seat. I think pretty much everyone wrote this off when it was clear we were facing a tough year. Yet it looks like Minnick is well on his way to a second term while some of the people we never expected to face competitive elections may lose. Funny how that works.

      TN-08- Yikes, that’s not good. We have a good chance in the general though.

      VA-05- Oh well I doubt his endorsement matters much anyway.

      WA-08- That’s good news. If only this was a better year we might beat him. Sigh, he is probably going to be around awhile.

      Polling- That is a fair choice, I was hoping for live caller but I like PPP. Does anyone know if PPP is going to mainly just poll for kos like R2K did or will they poll just as much independently?

      Rasmussen

      CA is believable. I doubt Michigan is that close, just another Rass primary bump, he will be out with a poll fixing it soon. I can buy the NC numbers although I think they are a bit to the right.

      Also is this your first Daily Digest Jeff? Congrats.  

    9. Thanks to a lot of you for your suggestions.

      I think I’m going to go with Conway.  Conlin was on my short-list but this year I’m inclined to focus on playing defense, and I see greater danger in letting Rand open his hole on the Senate floor than in not shutting Grassley’s.

    10. Looks like Machin’s office confrimed they have been contacted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office this week regarding an ongoing investigation. The target may be Manchin himself, according to a source who asked to remain anonymous.

      Here is the link:

      http://watchdog.org/6117/sourc…

      According to the government source, Manchin was subpoenaed as part of a federal grand jury investigation. The subpoenas asked for contracts and records for businesses that have done work at the governor’s mansion as well as provided services for parties there. The investigation is into whether Manchin has complied with bidding and state contract requirements.

    11. The thing that gave me the most hope for Marshall was not PPP but that Survey USA poll in Heath Shuler’s district, showing Burr barely beating her in that district. There may be some truth to what some of our North Carolina commentators have been saying – that Burr is so unpopular in North Carolina it doesn’t matter this will be a Democratic year.

      Actually, it occurs to me that Burr has the same problems as Democrats nationally. His base just isn’t very excited about him.  

    12. I’m surprised Rand Paul is doing as well as he is doing. Kentucky is much like Tennessee and a candidate like Rand Paul (see Zelenick, Wamp) don’t tend to do well state wide. Somebody that knows more about Kentucky why do you believe he is doing as well as he is after making those outrageous statements.

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