Inhofe Poll Shows A Big Advantage [OK] & Sanders Survey Sees Race in Single Digits [SC]

Roll Call ^ | 9/26/02 | Chris Cillizza

[BlackRazor]

Inhofe Poll Shows A Big Advantage

Sen. James Inhofe (R) holds a comfortable 24-point lead over former Gov.David Walters (D), according to a new poll done for the Republican.

Inhofe led 55 percent to 31 percent in the Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates survey, which was conducted Sept. 18-19.

Testing 500 registered voters, the poll has a 4.3 percent margin of error.

Perhaps more telling than the head-to-head matchup was that 35 percent of those polled were favorably inclined to Walters, while 48 percent thought of him unfavorably.

Walters pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in 1993 for accepting campaign contributions above the state's legal limit in his 1990 gubernatorial race. He chose not to run for a second term in 1994.

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Sanders Survey Sees Race in Single Digits

Seeking to vault the open-seat race into the top tier of Democratic takeover opportunities, the campaign of former College of Charleston President Alex Sanders (D) released a poll Tuesday which showed him making significant progress in his campaign against Rep.Lindsey Graham (R).

Graham led 46 percent to 38 percent, according to the Garin-Hart-Yang survey, which was conducted Sept. 18-19 of 600 likely voters. It had a 4 percent margin of error.

This is the first poll to show Graham with a single-digit lead overSanders; Graham led by 15 points in a similar poll in August.

The polling memo notes that Graham is known by 91 percent of those tested while Sanders is recognized by 80 percent, arguing that as Sanders becomes better known his showing in the horse race matchup will continue to improve.

The seat has been held by Sen.Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) since 1956. Thurmond will be 100 years old when he leaves office.

[BlackRazor]

Poll Ping!

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[KQQL]

@

[KQQL]

also from rollcall.comPennsylvania

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Gerlach, Wofford Run Neck-and-Neck in 6th

A new Democratic tracking poll in the 6th district race between attorney Dan Wofford (D) and state Sen. Jim Gerlach (R) found the distance between the two candidates to be a statistical dead heat.
The poll, conducted Sept. 18-19 by Global Strategy Group for Wofford's campaign, showed Gerlach leading 36 percent to 31 percent.

Wofford is the son of former Sen. Harris Wofford (D-Pa.), and the district was drawn with Gerlach in mind.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I don't think the Dems could've picked a worse nominee than the ethically-challenged Walters...

As for Sanders, if he thinks he's that close, he's just whistling 'Dixie.'

Gerlach definitely needs to work hard (as with Gekas) for that brand-new seat. Never underestimate a Wofford in PA, they can pull a surprise. Just look what pop did to the sitting U.S. Attorney-General for Heinz's Senate seat.

[Vis Numar]

"This is the first poll to show Graham with a single-digit lead overSanders"

There's a Survey USA poll in sept that has this nearly tied. like 48-46.

[BlackRazor]

There's a Survey USA poll in sept that has this nearly tied. like 48-46.

Yes, I've heard of those results (I heard it was a 49-47 lead for Graham), but have not been able to confirm them anyplace. If you have a link, I'd appreciate it.

[GraniteStateConservative]

The word is that the Sanders campaign and the state Democrat Party are pushing a "Graham is gay" campaign below the radar. Don't be surprised if this race really tightens because of it.

[fieldmarshaldj]

You've got to be kidding ?! Even if Sanders pulls off the impossible, I'd love to see how the national Dems deal with a candidate who won on a "homophobic" campaign... then again, they've never seemed to have a problem with ex-Klan members (Byrd) and vitriolic anti-Semites (Gus Savage, Kabul Cyndi McKinney). If it packs more Dem butts in Congress, what the hell...

[GraniteStateConservative]

It would be under the radar. Neither the state party nor Sanders would claim any part in it. They'd disavow it, which would just bring more publicity to it. It would mostly be done through GOP moles. They'd recruit Democrats to pretend to be Republicans and they'd appear at organizational events and such and blend in-- winning confidence from the group. Then they'd start spreading the rumor. That's the strategy-- depress GOP turnout or convince Republicans to support a straight Democrat over someone they say is a gay Republican. They have already got the moles planted and they are gaining the confidence of real Republicans as we speak.

Democrats are using Al Qaeda's handbook.

[Times-a-Wastin]

The problem is Graham's ties with McCain. He was on the wrong side then and the republican's in South Carolina have not forgoten. Also, Sanders is running a lot more TV ads than Graham. Sanders is claming that Graham's position on social security will raise taxes and ruin social security. Graham is hardly answering back. He may think that he has it locked up, just like he did when he was given the republican nomination. He had better get busy!

[Vis Numar]

You know what, I've heard it second-hand too, so maybe... I'll look around.