Trends not in GOP favor

[Jennicut]

It hasn’t been a good month for Senate Republicans.

In Connecticut, Republicans thought Democratic Attorney General Dick Blumenthal’s misstatement of his Vietnam record would give them a shot at picking up the seat. They proceeded to boot their own Vietnam hero candidate out of the primary, and settled on WWE baron Linda McMahon. New polling by Quinnipiac University (Blumenthal 56-31) and Research 2000 for Daily Kos (Blumenthal 52-33) shows this contest is still a Republican lost cause.

Illinois GOP Senate nominee Rep. Mark Kirk found himself in his own Blumenthal-like scandal, having spent the last decade claiming to have won “Navy Intelligence Officer of the Year” — an award that doesn’t even exist. In addition, he exaggerated his service, erroneously claiming to be a combat vet. Called out on the misstatements, Kirk scrubbed his website of the false claims and blamed them on a CV error, but he’d made those claims previously in a House committee hearing. Kirk wanted this race to be about Democrat Alexi Giannoulias’ bank, but now his own character is under examination.

Kentucky Republicans muzzled newly minted nominee Rand Paul, afraid his extremist views on the Civil Rights Act and other topics were costing him support. Research 2000 polling for Daily Kos showed little slippage in his support the week after his nomination. That’s the good news for the GOP. The bad news is the latest polling shows the race statistically tied. Had Republicans nominated Paul’s opponent, Trey Grayson, this race would be off the table. They’re stuck with a candidate who can’t open his mouth without sticking his (very principled!) foot in it.

In Nevada, the impossible appears to be happening — new polling shows Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid statistically tied with potential Republican opponents after previously trailing them all by double digits. The GOP is facing the prospect of nominating either Sue Lowden — national laughingstock for proposing the bartering of chickens for healthcare — or Sharron Angle, an extremist teabagger who wants to build nuclear power plants inside Yucca Mountain and was named “Worst Member” of the Nevada Assembly in 1999 and 2005 by the right-wing Las Vegas Review-Journal. Apparently, Nevada voters flirted with the idea of firing Reid — until they took a look at the opposition.http://thehill.com/opinion/columnists/markos-moulitas/100909-trends-not-in-gop-favor

The media jumping to conclusions too fast again? What else is new.

[DrToast]

1. "Nevada voters flirted with the idea of firing Reid — until they took a look at the opposition."

So true. It's happening around the country.

[zipplewrath]

3. It makes it hard to "call" the race right now

This spring I was fairly sure that the GOP would gain seats, although not take control of either house. But who'da figured they could be this stupid. Fox News, Rush, and the baggers are leading them right off a cliff. Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch-o-folks now could it?

[niceypoo]

2. Like Sarah Palin in the last presidential election, the tea party is a ball and chain

[Arugula Latte]

4. Ball and chain on the Republicans -- Couldn't happen to a nastier political party.

*glub*

[Robbins]

5. Senate 2010

Here Is how I rate these races.

Washington State,California-Safe Democrat
Nevada-Tossup(a big change from what many thought.Harry Reid may win reelection)
Arizona-With Mccain as Republican nominee-safe. With hayworth as nominee Leans Republican
Colorado-Tossup(Bennent could very well win)
ND-Safe Republican Pickup
Wisconsion-Leans Democrat(I can't see Feingold losing)
Missouri-Tossup(I need to see a non RAS Poll here)
Illinois-Tossup(apart from his lying ons ervice record Kirk needs to be attacked for voting no on everything Obama wants In the House)
Indiana-Leans Republican Pickup
Ohio-Tossup(although things look good for Democratic Pickup)
PA-Leans Democrat
New York-Safe Democrat
Delaware-Leans Republican Pickup(Democrats need to hit Castle on voting no on everything Obama wants)
Ct-Safe Democrat
NH-Leans Republican(not a lost case yet)
NC-Tossup
Arkansas-with Lincoln Safe Republican pickup.With Halter leans Republican(and with Halter as LT Governor and not Incmbent he should
not be written off)
Kentuckey-Tossup
Florida-Leans Independent

So hardly the Bloodbath for Democrats some pundits have been saying.

[Robbins]

6. Senate

Proof I am not delssional.RAS just came out with a new Missouri Senate poll.Blunt leads Carnahan by 1.A Dead heat.I called it a
tossup.Remember RAS In previous polls gave Blunt 7/8 point lead.