Via the Bluegrass Report comes a new DCCC/Kentucky Democratic Party poll on the 2nd district race between state legislator Mike Weaver and incumbent Republican Ron Lewis (Oct. 26-29; Sept. 22-25 in parens):
Mike Weaver (D): 46 (42)Ron Lewis (R-Inc.): 43 (50)
MoE: ±4.9%
I’ve always figured that this race was a questionable longshot given the district’s strong Republican lean (in federal votting patterns, not registration), but it appears that Weaver, a retired Lt. Colonel, has been able to gain traction in this district and is starting to bring registered Democrats home. The DCCC has put in nearly $200k into this district for stretch run attack ads against Lewis, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see that number expand considerably in tonight’s FEC filings. We might be able to steal one here.
Update: A few days ago, a Washington Post article quoted an anonymous Democratic “operative” calling the DCCC’s support of Weaver “guilt money” to cleanse their consciences after cajoling Weaver into the race. I didn’t buy it then (it’s hard to imagine Rahm spending time worrying about people’s hurt feelings when the same could be said about several other Democratic challengers this year), and I definitely don’t buy it now. It seems as if some anonymous “operative” was attempting to throw off the NRCC from taking Weaver seriously (and I doubt they bought it, either, although you never know with the leakariffic culture of DC Democrats).