Today is, in large part, the political wrap-up, since there is only one poll that makes our radar today. Let's get through this rather brief edition of the midweek Wrap-Up.
MO-Sen: Dems With Solid Pickup Opportunity, According to PPP
Despite what has been a tumultuous 2009 in the political arena, there has been remarkable stability in the polling that the team over at PPP has done in the Show Me State. Several months after polling the Missouri Senate race and finding Democrat Robin Carnahan leading by a single point, the PPP crew polls Missouri again. And finds Democrat Robin Carnahan leading by a single point. This time around, Carnahan leads Republican Roy Blunt by a 43-42 margin. PPP also polled the GOP primary, and while Blunt holds a big lead, he is only at 53%, which is quite a bit less than a nationally-known political figure like Roy Blunt might be expected to poll. Should Purgason shock the world and emerge from the GOP primary victorious, Carnahan has a larger seven-point lead (42-35).
IN POLITICAL NEWS....
- NH-Sen: NRSC Chair John Cornyn may have said the NRSC's endorsement in contested primaries would be worthless, if they even gave it, but the Senate GOP establishment is making no bones about preferring Kelly Ayotte in New Hampshire's primary. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will be holding a fundraiser for Ayotte (and Kentucky's Trey Grayson) next month. Meanwhile, even if no one is being Scozzafavaed yet, Ayotte is clearly concerned about the possibility. After refusing to take any positions early on, she's gone on to establish that she:
is pro-life, pro-gun rights, against same-sex marriage; she endorsed Doug Hoffman in New York's 23rd Congressional district; she opposes cap-and-trade, the public option and the Democratic health care reform in general. When asked if she's a Jim DeMint Republican or a Susan Collins Republican (and clearly there's a right answer if you're looking to get elected in New Hampshire), Ayotte won't even answer, which is one suggestion that conservative Republicans are dominating the primary process in New Hampshire.
It's going to be a fun primary to watch. -- Laura Clawson
- IA-Sen: Chuck Grassley (in translation): Due to our flawed system of allowing jurors to decide verdicts, scary black man OJ Simpson was acquitted. Shouldn't we be scared that scary brown man Khalid Shaikh Mohammed will also be acquitted? -- Laura Clawson
- OR-Gov: He may well be considered the underdog in the Democratic primary to former Governor John Kitzhaber, but former Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury has a pretty awesome surrogate in his corner--Al Gore is in the state for a Bradbury fundraiser, which is closed to the media and is expected to give the Bradbury a much-appreciated shot in the arm.
- KUDOS TO... Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, who has now set the Congressional record for longevity, with over 56 years of service in either the House of the Senate. First elected to the House in 1952, he moved to the Senate six years later. Byrd turns 92 years of age this Friday.
- NY-23: First he conceded, then he un-conceded, and then he un-un-conceded. Now, with the mathematical odds of his earning a victory nearly nil, right-wing de facto GOP nominee Doug Hoffman is crying foul, claiming that a motley crew comprising of labor unions, the Democratic Party, and...yes...ACORN tampered with the election to ensure his defeat. He is now also claiming, in a bizarre coda to this whole episode, that he was forced to issue a concession on the evening of the election.
Go ahead, Republicans. Make this guy your symbol for the future. The Democratic Party thanks you in advance.