Survey USA just released new numbers for Oregon
OR -- O 57 -- McC -- 40 (LV -- MoE 4.1%)
You may ask why I am calling attention to a poll that will not in the least surprise any followers of this site. Stay with me for a bit, while I give you some other numbers.
OR Senate - Pollster trend estimate
Merkley 44.6
Smith 39.8
WA Governor -- Pollster trend estimate
Rossi - 48.5
Gregoire -- 47.6
WA President -- Pollster trend estimate
Obama -- 49.7
McCain - 43.8
MN Senate -- Pollster trend estimate
Franken -- 40
Coleman -- 39.2
MN President -- Pollster trend estimate
Obama -- 49.5
McCain -- 44.8
CO Senate
Udall -- 45.3
Schaeffer - 38.7
CO President
Obama -- 50.9
McCain -- 44.6
In each of these states, Barack is polling better than the Senatorial or Gubernatorial Democratic candidate. Except for Colorado, they are states that Barack has not visited in a while.
So, the question is -- is it time for Barack to spead his coattails and try to pull some of these candidates in with him? Or is this a sign of overconfidence.
To my thinking, the most obvious place he could do some good is in the Pacific Northwest. He could easily take a day to hit Seattle and Portland and give a boost to Gregoire and Merkley. Gregoire especially could use a boost from the top of the ticket. And getting Gordon Smith out would be especially sweet in that ever more progressive corner of America.
I fully expect Barack to make at least one more foray into Colorado -- it is by no means nailed down and Udall could use a boost to get him across the 50% threshold.
Franken is the diciest of these possible hits given his negatives, but I sure wish Barack would give him some top of the ticket love.
Other possibilities include Shaheen, and even Jim Martin in Georgia (if he would even accept such an offer, does anyone know where he stands relative to Barack. If the Obama campaign is following the strategy they are in Virginia, they are probably trying to help down ticket races, but I just don't know.)