Hagan Still Leads Dole in North Carolina Senate Showdown

[ccharles000]

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/north_carolina/election_2008_north_carolina_senate

Friday, October 10, 2008 Email to a Friend
Democrat Kay Hagan continues to hold on to a modest lead over incumbent United States Senator Elizabeth Dole according to the latest Rasmussen Reports poll in the Tar Heel State.

The new poll—conducted Wednesday night—finds Hagan with 49% of the vote and Dole with 44%. That’s little changed from a week ago when Hagan was on top 48% to 45%. Libertarian Christopher Cole is currently supported by 2% of North Carolina voters.

Dole’s favorably ratings have fallen just below the 50% mark—49% have a favorable opinion of her while 49% offer an unfavorable view. The comparable numbers for Hagan are 50% favorable and 45% unfavorable.

Dole led this race for much of the year, but has fallen behind ever since Lehman Brothers collapsed to start the economic crisis on Wall Street. This is the third Rasmussen Reports poll conducted since Lehman crashed and all three show Dole trailing Hagan. Among voters who view the economy as the top issue of Election 2008, Hagan leads by a two-to-one margin.

Hagan now leads by eight points among women while the two candidates are essentially even among men. Dole leads among those over 50 while trailing among those under 40 (see full demographic crosstabs).

Dole’s decline follows a national trend that has hurt Republicans across the country. McCain was slightly ahead of Obama just before the financial debacle began but has fallen behind over the past few weeks in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

Adding to Dole’s problems is the fact that John McCain finds himself in a very tight race with Barack Obama for North Carolina’s Electoral College votes. That means Dole can’t count on the lift from the top of the ticket usually enjoyed by the state’s GOP candidates.

Dole is far from the only endangered Republican Senator in Election 2008. Many Republican Senate seats are potentially in play for Democrats including seats in Alaska, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Oregon, New Mexico, Colorado, Mississippi, Minnesota and Virginia. Democrats also think they have a shot at seats in Georgia, Kentucky, and Texas.

[nc4bo]

1. Kay is looking very good right now. Dole's been blasting the airwaves with some nasty ads

and Kay's still doing well.

Very Encouraging. Can't wait to cast my vote for her in November.

[kick-ass-bob]

2. I think the negative ads

are boring people to death. They're basically the same damned ads they've been running since 1984, and people (I hope) are figuring out that they are completely full of shit.

I'm not a great fan of Hagan, but she is miles and miles better than our little carpetbagger pineapple lady.

[ccharles000]

3. I can't wait to see liddys ass kicked back to Kansas

[LostinVA]

4. Having lived there for 17 years, THIS is a bigger story to me than Obama winning

Amazing!

[Jennicut]

5. I have been disgusted with Liddy Dole since her husband ran for president in 1996

Time for her to pack her bags. I don't think anyone wants to see that overly plastic stretched face anymore.

[blueclown]

6. See you later, Liddy. n/t

[AtomTan]

7. I'm very excited about NC's progress

Election day is going to actually be exciting this year, instead of just sickening.

[ccharles000]

8. I agree

[supernova]

9. It promises to be on helluva party!

:D

[ccharles000]

10. ...

:party:

[MzNov]

11. This, IMHO, will be one of the more satisfying ass whoopings

right up there with Al Franken !! :woohoo: :woohoo: