October 25, 2006
LATEST HOUSE SURVEY....Greenberg Quinlan Rosner just finished a survey of the 50 most competitive House seats currently held by Republicans. Respondents were asked about the candidates in their districts by name, and the results were pretty positive for Democrats:
In the top tier of the most competitive 16 seats, the Democrats have increased their lead to 8 points, 52 to 44 percent; in the second tier of 17 seats, the Democrats have kept their lead of exactly 6 points (50 to 44 percent). In both cases, the named Republican candidate is only getting 44 percent of the vote.
That's 33 seats. Republicans will probably close the gap in a few of those districts over the next couple of weeks, but it doesn't seem likely they're going to close the gap in all of them. At least, not if Democrats keep fighting.
—Kevin Drum 6:27 PM
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Americans are tired of incumbents in general. For a true picture, it would also be neccesary to check the competitive seats currently held by Democrats.
Posted by: American Hawk on October 25, 2006 at 6:29 PM | PERMALINK
If every incumbent was voted out in favor of the other party, we'd have a Democratic congress.
Posted by: scarshapedstar on October 25, 2006 at 6:33 PM | PERMALINK
I love it - now that it looks like the GOP may be going back to the dugout, we have to blame it on people being tired of the incumbents.
Man, it can't be easy living in this much denial...
Posted by: craigie on October 25, 2006 at 6:43 PM | PERMALINK
Democrats should use the Republican candidate for the governor in Florida, Charlie Crist, to remind everyone about the Republican homosexual and boy predator ex-Rep. Foley. That should galvanize the evangelical vote.
Posted by: Hostile on October 25, 2006 at 6:44 PM | PERMALINK
LATEST HOUSE SURVEY
This survey happened BEFORE the liberal judicial activism of the New Jersey Supreme Court in legalizing homosexual marriage. Watch for a Republican landslide in the 2006 elections as values voters, people of faith, Nascar Dads, and Security Moms flock to the GOP because they are repulsed by the sight of traditional American values being destroyed by liberals and the activist judges.
Posted by: Al on October 25, 2006 at 6:44 PM | PERMALINK
Many evangelical priests are into hot-dip galvanizing.
Posted by: Hostile on October 25, 2006 at 6:45 PM | PERMALINK
in the second tier of 17 seats, the Democrats have kept their lead of exactly 6 points (50 to 44 percent).
Is a 6 point lead enough to hold off the Diebold treatment? I'm absolutely serious.
Posted by: craigie on October 25, 2006 at 6:48 PM | PERMALINK
Wait till they paste the picture of Nancy Pelosi all over the 50 competitive Congressional districts and the voters flee in droves to the infinitely more physically attractive Dennis Hastert.
Posted by: gregor on October 25, 2006 at 6:51 PM | PERMALINK
Hawk, can you show us any independent polls showing that a Dem incumbent is running behind a GOP challenger? The reality is that there aren't any competitive Dem seats. This is a one way street, and the House will soon resemble the actual American electorate (with a Dem majority). The Senate of course unfairly favors the smaller, welfare oriented states in the South and portions of the West, so it will take some time to rectify that imbalance.
Posted by: Doug-E-Fresh on October 25, 2006 at 6:51 PM | PERMALINK
so it will take some time to rectify that imbalance.
I say we tear off that band-aid by just ejecting the Southern states from the Union. If they're so superior, let them go it alone.
If we can't do that, I'm happy for California (no relation to Cali) to secede.
Posted by: craigie on October 25, 2006 at 6:54 PM | PERMALINK
Dennis Moore, the Democratic rep from the KS-03, is a four-term incumbent in the most Republican district I have ever lived in. He is being opposed by some sacrificial lamb in an ill-fitting suit.
Emmanuel Cleaver in the MO-05 has a challenger, I think, but I haven't seen a single lawn sign or commercial. Likewise, Ike Skelton is cruisign toward victory. Those are the three districts I am in the middle of, and there is no competition to be seen, even in these extremely red states.
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 6:57 PM | PERMALINK
craigie, I hear you. Worst thing we ever did was win the Civil war. Second worst thing we ever did was letting the southern states re-enter the Union on an equal basis. We should have kept them as colonies.
Posted by: Doug-E-Fresh on October 25, 2006 at 6:59 PM | PERMALINK
I say we tear off that band-aid by just ejecting the Southern states from the Union. If they're so superior, let them go it alone.
Posted by: craigie on October 25, 2006 at 6:54 PM | PERMALINK
For years, I've advocated donating money to the Republic of Texas.
http://www.republic-of-texas.net/
Their motto is "the only chance for freedom" - and if Texas would secede, that would mean a very good chance for freedom. For the rest of us.
Posted by: Osama_Been_Forgotten on October 25, 2006 at 7:01 PM | PERMALINK
Plus it would free up a star for Puerto Rico.
Drunken cowboys and trail dust, tarantulas the size of dinner plates and fewer teeth per capita than the average meth recovery center - Or rum,awesome beaches, rum, cool island music, rum,
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 7:04 PM | PERMALINK
This survey happened BEFORE the homosexual Republican canditate for governor of Florida was outed. Watch for a Democratic landslide in the 2006 elections as values voters, people of faith, Nascar Dads, and Security Moms flock to the Democratic Party because they are repulsed by the sight of traditional Republican homosexual candidates sucking each others cock.
Posted by: Will on October 25, 2006 at 7:04 PM | PERMALINK
rum sounds nice
Posted by: troglodyte on October 25, 2006 at 7:07 PM | PERMALINK
Damn it troglodyte.
Every time I see your post, I've to go back to dictionary.com. I only remember that the word is good to know, but always forget the meaning.
Posted by: gregor on October 25, 2006 at 7:10 PM | PERMALINK
troglodyte-
A hominid species much more advanced than the neandercon, which suddenly and inexplicably disappeared from fossil records sometime during the early 2000's.
Posted by: klevenstein on October 25, 2006 at 7:16 PM | PERMALINK
Im still sticking to
7 in the Senate and 33 in the house.
The World Series Talent ad tonight will not be successful.
Posted by: patience on October 25, 2006 at 7:23 PM | PERMALINK
Ah, Kevin.
Love watching the looney libs patting themselves on the back BEFORE THE ELECTION IS EVEN HELD.
Polls are just that - polls.
Just remember the other times these last few years you jumped the gun: ie, Fitsmas, Iraqi elections, etc.
And I'm gonna be hear howlin'.
Posted by: egbert on October 25, 2006 at 7:32 PM | PERMALINK
70% of Missourians back the ballot initiative. Much pixel eye-rolling going on at KC Buzz Blog. Saint Jack (Danforth) issued a statement that he hasn't made up his mind on whether to vote for fellow Republican Jim Talent in the Missouri Senate race because of differences over stem cell research (his brother died of ALS in 2001).
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 7:40 PM | PERMALINK
Kevin wrote:
At least, not if Democrats keep fighting.
Should be:
At least, not if there's a Democrat on the ticket.
Posted by: slanted tom on October 25, 2006 at 7:41 PM | PERMALINK
The only competitive race where a Dem currently holds the seat that I know of is the Bean (D) v. McSweeney (R) race in IL-08. Melissa Bean is a conservative Dem running in a district that is deep red, ie, it went for GWB in 2004 while electing her.
Oh, and by competitive, I mean that Bean is only leading by 19%....
Posted by: Disputo on October 25, 2006 at 7:43 PM | PERMALINK
"Polls are just that - polls"
Yeah, and Karl just happened to trot out his wide up doll for a very hurried press conference this morning.
"We don't, all is well, believe, benchmarks in Iraq, in, no taxes, polls."
Posted by: thethirdPaul on October 25, 2006 at 7:46 PM | PERMALINK
Is a 6 point lead enough to hold off the Diebold treatment? I'm absolutely serious.
posted by craigie
This is not a democracy if we cannot have a verifiable voting system. We need a paper trail for every vote.
Are any of our representatives championing this cause???
Please guys let's not celebrate before the results are in.
I still get a headache when I think of November 2004 and feel disgust for Mr. Kerry who folded before all the votes were counted, hardly raising a question about all the irregularities in OHIO.
Posted by: ppk on October 25, 2006 at 7:59 PM | PERMALINK
ppk - Barbara Boxer has offered legislation to assure paper ballots in every precinct in America. It was shot down by the publicans who have no interest in free and fair elections.
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 8:01 PM | PERMALINK
The Democrats' new stay the course commercial. GotDAMN this rocks!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jq0j80UB_c&eurl=
Posted by: Tom Marney on October 25, 2006 at 8:04 PM | PERMALINK
I saw that! I love YouTube.
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 8:06 PM | PERMALINK
"Duke" Cunningham replacement Brian Bilbray may face criminal charges over disputed residency!!!
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 8:14 PM | PERMALINK
I hope the Greenberg assessment is correct, but you can get a more sobering picture from the front page of the Washington Post. Right now, they only see 35 competitive House races. Of those seats, they say 5 are leaning to the GOP, 9 are leaning to the Democrats, and 21 are toss-ups.
http://www.wpost.com/
With memories of Fitzmas, let's not start celebrating too soon.
Posted by: Oregonian on October 25, 2006 at 8:16 PM | PERMALINK
I saw that! I love YouTube.
Is this playing anywhere online other than You Tube? They just blocked it at my office!!
Posted by: enozinho (wetorture.com) on October 25, 2006 at 8:20 PM | PERMALINK
eno - send me an email and I will try to email it to you.
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 8:21 PM | PERMALINK
Sent it.
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 8:28 PM | PERMALINK
A technical question....if the margin in the first tier of 16 most competitive seats is 8 points and the margin in the second tier is 6....wouldn't that make the second tier the actual first tier in terms of competitiveness?
Posted by: chaboard on October 25, 2006 at 8:29 PM | PERMALINK
Thanks Global, I got it.
Posted by: enozinho (wetorture.com) on October 25, 2006 at 8:32 PM | PERMALINK
Why do they even bother trying to outsmart the likes of us?
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 8:34 PM | PERMALINK
I am beginning to appreciate how when a thread has run its course, the Chinese spambot caps it off with totally gibberish (to us non-Chinese readers, of course).
Very Zen.
Posted by: Disputo on October 25, 2006 at 9:14 PM | PERMALINK
Al: "This survey happened BEFORE the liberal judicial activism of the New Jersey Supreme Court in legalizing homosexual marriage. Watch for a Republican landslide in the 2006 elections as values voters, people of faith, Nascar Dads, and Security Moms flock to the GOP because they are repulsed by the sight of traditional American values being destroyed by liberals and the activist judges."
Posted by: Al on October 25, 2006 at 6:44 PM | PERMALINK
I've always been curious about this. Perhaps you can clarify for me what you mean by 'activism' in this instance. Clearly the judges thought they were being conservative in not recognizing complete marriage rights to homosexuals. What about this decision makes it 'activism'?
Posted by: MarkH on October 25, 2006 at 9:18 PM | PERMALINK
It means any judicial action that the RRR (Rabid Religious Right) does not think kisses their ass quite hard enough.
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 25, 2006 at 10:44 PM | PERMALINK
Worst thing we ever did was win the Civil war.....Doug-E-Fresh at 6:59 PM
If they had won, they would still use African-Americans as slaves.
...Polls are just that - polls....egbert at 7:32 PM
Yes, and Diebold is Diebold. That is why no one is becoming ecstatic before the election.
Speaking of YouTube, was Kevin been blogging all morning?
Posted by: Mike on October 25, 2006 at 11:02 PM | PERMALINK
Of course if the voting machines are rigged we may all be in for another rude surprise. Even a 99.9% disaproval rating would somehow translate to a 51/49 win for the Bush gang.
Posted by: Hmmm on October 25, 2006 at 11:51 PM | PERMALINK
You mean that perhaps the Diebold has been cast?
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 26, 2006 at 12:06 AM | PERMALINK
gregor:
> Wait till they paste the picture of Nancy Pelosi all over the 50
> competitive Congressional districts and the voters flee in droves
> to the infinitely more physically attractive Dennis Hastert.
ROTFL !
Hehe ... remember when the WaPo described Dennis the Moral Menace
as looking like a cross between Wilford Brimley and Jabba the Hutt?
Bob
Posted by: rmck1 on October 26, 2006 at 12:56 AM | PERMALINK
My summary of the political implications of the NJ Supreme Court ruling here:
Bob
Posted by: rmck1 on October 26, 2006 at 12:59 AM | PERMALINK
Is'nt there anything we can do about Diebold?
Being an Oregonian I've always voted by mail so it's just in the last 2-3 years that this issue has caught my attention!
It boggles the imagination that many states would have a system where there is no way to recount the votes. What does such a vote even mean?
I go and press a button on a machine and the next day a private corporation tells me who won??????
Posted by: ppk on October 26, 2006 at 4:52 AM | PERMALINK
a cross between Wilford Brimley and Jabba the Hutt?
Soon to be legal in NJ.
Posted by: Disputo on October 26, 2006 at 6:07 AM | PERMALINK
Gay scary brown Muslim illegal alien terrorist welfare queens!
MARRYING YOUR BROTHER !!!
-N-A-N-C-Y- -P-E-L-O-S-I-
-N-A-N-C-Y- -P-E-L-O-S-I-
-N-A-N-C-Y- -P-E-L-O-S-I-
Posted by: Al's Granny on October 26, 2006 at 7:42 AM | PERMALINK
What I fear is a political system so isolated by gerrymandering and Republican GOTV efficiency that the elections do not produce the results the polls seem so strongly to indicate. That will engender a real disenchantment with our politics, and suggest to some that it is time for more direct action.
Posted by: bob h on October 26, 2006 at 7:59 AM | PERMALINK
bob h:
I'm really watching the way the public is reacting to some of the over-the-top attacks ... it's going to be interesting to see what all the outrage in TN is going to do to Ford's poll numbers -- whether that will create sympathy or just apathy ...
We know negative attacks worked before. But I'm hoping the public has become so jaded by it that they'll reject it this time around -- since nothing else seems to be sticking for the GOP.
And I wonder what happens when Dems start calling Bush a flip-flopper on Iraq in earnest ...
Because clearly the GOP has the traditionally Democratic problem of having a message that's all over the map, so it's not resonating with people ...
Bob
Posted by: rmck1 on October 26, 2006 at 8:06 AM | PERMALINK
How is the Tennesee ad racist?
The left got it wrong on the Ford ad criticism.
Complaining about racism doesn't work in the south. Complain about campaign finance reform if you have a problem with attack ads.
Posted by: Michael Buchanan on October 26, 2006 at 9:54 AM | PERMALINK
Why don't the Democrats air commercials that have the North American Man Boy Love Association praise Hastert and the Repubs for their hands-off approach to a problem that is in fact a non-problem?
Done right, it could rival what LBJ did to Goldwater, the ad showing the little girl with the flower while the narrator counts down a nuclear explosion. It aired once but people still talk about it.
Having the Repubs explain being "endorsed" by NAMBLA ought to make for a fun stretch run into Election Day.
Posted by: Auto on October 26, 2006 at 11:50 AM | PERMALINK
their hands-off approach
Don't you mean "hands-on"?
Posted by: Disputo on October 26, 2006 at 1:27 PM | PERMALINK
I check this map that Slate links too.
It looks like as long as Diebold doesn't mess with the numbers or doesn't have access to votes, the House is already leaning to go Dem and it's going pretty good in that direction.
Posted by: Cheryl on October 26, 2006 at 5:56 PM | PERMALINK