Look at these governor numbers:
COLORADO:
Hickenlooper (D) McInnis (R)
Rasmussen: 42 48
PPP: 50 39
OHIO:
Strickland (D) Kasich (R)
Rasmussen: 38 49
Quinnipiac: 44 39
ILLINOIS:
Quinn (D) Brady (R)
Rasmussen: 37 47
Reaserch 2000: 47 32
Those are radically different numbers, in three governors races that haven't been extensively polled. It'll be interesting to see, as more pollsters jump in the fray, whether Rasmussen will be validated or not, but it's clear that they're a new and important component in the right wing's ability to set the narratives on these races. We've already seen how dramatic Rasmussen's generic congressional ballot and Obama approval numbers differ from the rest of the polling crowd. Their horserace polling doesn't appear to be much different.
Rasmussen is particularly effective at it because is has flooded the zone with their heavily pro-GOP polling.
Rasmussen Reports has fielded far more polls so far this cycle, both in absolute terms (45 vs. 13) and as a percentage of the total (28% vs 18%). One likely explanation is the "major growth capital investment" from a private equity firm they announced this past August:
"This investment will enable Rasmussen Reports to expand and enhance all aspects of our business," said Scott Rasmussen, founder and president of Rasmussen Reports. "That includes expanding our Premium Membership service and subscription base, developing new index products and sponsorship opportunities, and exploring new research techniques."
The loss of SUSA as a frequent polling contributor is particularly painful, given their solid track record. Mason-Dixon is likely the best of the live-caller polling outfits, so it'd be nice to see more of them. PPP is the closest outfit to Rasmussen, in terms of prolificness, and their accuracy has been stellar.
But there's still nothing like Rasmussen, able to create the impression of vulnerability for Democrats in every corner of the country by pumping out sheer waves of numbers, with oftentimes no alternate polling to counter their results.