Oregon Poll: Smith - 45%, Bradbury - 41%

Grove Quirk Insight Ltd. ^ | 8/22/02 | N/A

[Coop]

Smith - 45%
Bradbury - 41%
Undecided -16%

Poll taken of 600 likely voters (4% margin of error) between Aug 15-18 2002, conducted by Grove Quirk Insight for Dem Senatorial Committee.

[Coop]

This is a Dem poll, so take it with a grain of salt. Smith is still a bit vulnerable, but this poll's margin is significantly tighter than the last several polls showing Smith up by double digits (but still under 50% in most). Back in early May Smith had about $4 mil in the bank, compared to $700K for his opponent.

[Coop]

Flag

[Coop]

I flagged you guys up above with GSC, yet the names didn't take. A similar thing happened yesterday. Strange.

[frmrda]

I think Smith wins this one. He's sufficiently RINO to win a place like Oregon, and really got a boost when the Gov decided not to run.

Sad, but the realist in me is taking over for the ideologue. Smith is RINO, but I hope to hell he wins so we can get control of the Senate (mainly so we can at least get VOTES on some issues like judges, ANWR, permanent tax cut repeal, etc). Same with Ganske, Dole, and Coleman - RINO's all.

Still Coop, keep this in the back of your mind. If we net 1 seat and it is 50-49-1 (in essence a tie) watch for that little idiot Lincoln Chafee to follow in scumbag Jefford's steps and become Independent. That's why we at least need to have 51 Republican Senators. Also, if we do get 51 or more, I think old Zell Miller might jump to either a R or Ind. He doesn't want to do it now (coward) because he wants to play both sides against the other.

[Coop]

1) Zell Miller is hardly a coward. That's an unfair characterization, to put it lightly. He has stood up against his party's nonsense time and time again, but he's also said he has no intention of leaving the Dem party after xx years (he's in his 70s, I believe).

2) Lincoln Chaffee did make noises about leaving. Let him. But I also posted an article a couple of months ago where he was saying how disgusted he was with the Dems' treatment of Judge Pickering and the other nominees. Perhaps he's seen the light. Who knows?

[frmrda]

I consider Zell a coward for one reason. He sees what is happening in the Senate as a result of his party's control and it makes him furious. He has expressed his disdain on a number of occasions. Yet, in reality, he is the only one with the possibility of changing it and he's done nothing. I've got a hunch that he didn't switch sides right after Jeffords did in early 01 is because he thought Strom was going to die, which would put the Dems back in the majority b/c the SC gov. is a Dem.

So while Zell says all the right things. To me two quotes are applicable:

"Actions speak louder than words"

"Full of Sound and Fury Signifying Nothing"

[Coop]

He's done more than talk. You don't like him because he hasn't switched parties. Fair enough. But I don't blame the guy for not wanting to leave a party he loved all those years. But Zell has made it clear he does not and will not support the Dems' obstructionist activities. And he's backed it up with his votes.

I personally think if we have a Chaffee or McCain situation looming after Nov, Zell will make it clear he'll vote for the Pubbie as Majority Leader. He won't need to change parties for that. Simply a hunch.

[frmrda]

The reason I dislike him is not because he's still a Dem., that's his choice. Why I dislike him is because he's bitched and moaned about the obstructionist activities, but what's he done to change them. After all he had it in his power to do so and he didn't. If he's not going to do anything about it, his complaints ring hollow to me.

[Coop]

He blasted McKinney for her nonsense, he has said he would confirm Pickering if he could (he did confirm Ashcroft), he voted for our tax cut, and those are just off the top of my head.

[frmrda]

1. Blasting McKinney is easy, and it does nothing to get the Senate moving on things. I'd be much more impressed if he called Daschle "loony", but again, even that would be only words.

2. Voting for Pickering "if he could". Again, great sentiment, but it signifies nothing. He would have gotten his chance to vote for Pickering had there been Republican control, but he chose not to go that route, and all he can do is lament about a vote he never got a chance to make.

3. The tax cut was brought to the floor when the Repubs were in control, right before the Jeffords switch. Do you think that woudl have ever gotten to a vote if Daschle was in control. And hell, even Feinstein voted for the tax cut along with 11 other Dems. The only reason they all got a chance to vote at all was because we were still in control

[Coop]

You're probably right about the tax cut. But don't blame Zell for the problem. Lay it right square at Jeffords's feet where it belongs.

Say... have you noticed how quiet it is on this thread? :-) Not too many people seem interested in ol' Gordon's race.

[BlackRazor]

"Say... have you noticed how quiet it is on this thread? :-) Not too many people seem interested in ol' Gordon's race."

Probably because any hint of a looming fight to protect one of our own seats is eminently less interesting (or should I say comfortable!) than the idea of picking off a vulnerable Dem seat!

[CPT Clay]

An incumbant under 50%? you got any other polls.

[rmmcdaniell]

But Zell has made it clear he does not and will not support the Dems' obstructionist activities. And he's backed it up with his votes.

His support for obstructionist Daschle as senate leader is more important thant any other vote he makes. Its like all those people who say they're pro-life but then go vote for the Dems in every election.

[Troy J Mathews]

Let's be fair to Sen. Smith--he is no RINO. Ok, he is no Jesse Helms but he is no Jim Jeffords (Before the switch) either.

[Coop]

An incumbant under 50%? you got any other polls.

Yeah, he's always been vulnerable in the polls, but he dodged a bullet when Gov. Kitzhaber decided not to run against him. Five polls since March:
Smith - 45%, Bradbury - 36%, Dem poll
Smith - 57%, Bradbury - 39%, media poll
Smith - 49%, Bradbury - 33%, media poll
Smith - 48%, Bradbury - 36%, unknown
Smith - 45%, Bradbury - 41%, Dem poll

[CPT Clay]

Any dates w those polls? Isnt less than 50 bad for incumbant?

[Coop]

Yeah, I've got details for all of them. I just get tired of typing them in all the time. Send me an E-mail address and I'll be happy to send you my spreadsheet.

Under 55% is generally considered vulnerable territory for an incumbent. (I think to account for margin of error, voter turnout, and some swaying of voters.) Smith was considered very vulnerable until Kitzhaber bowed out. Now his seat is usually listed as "Leans Republican." He's not out of the woods by any stretch, but he does have quite the financial advantage.

[TontoKowalski]

I'm lurking, and interested. EVERY Senate Race is important, Senator Smith's included. I would expect that today's high-profile visit of the President (fundraiser, too, I hope) will help the Senator. I take it the State Fair is a big deal in Oregon...not being a smartass, just really don't know.

Does the President enjoy high approval ratings in Oregon? I've always sort or lumped Oregon in the liberal northwest grouping in my mental map of the nation...

I don't mind being educated on the issue if one of you in-state boys or girls can provide enlightenment.

[DM1]

I agree that Zell should bolt the Dems but I hesitate calling him a coward. I really respect the man after a few comments after 9/11 and his address to the NRA meeting.