Posted on 10/05/2005 8:43:55 PM PDT by MplsSteve
Gov. Tim Pawlenty and U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kennedy, the presumed Republican nominees for two major statewide races in 2006, are vulnerable to DFLers more than a year from Election Day, according to a recent Zogby/Wall Street Journal Poll.
The poll claims to show that if the election were held now, Pawlenty would finish slightly behind two prominent DFLers, Attorney General Mike Hatch and trial attorney Mike Ciresi. Ciresi actually has expressed interest in a U.S. Senate race, not the gubernatorial contest; he was an unsuccessful Senate candidate in the 2000 DFL primary election
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
I've heard that Zogby's poll was an on-line poll and if correct, it sounds like this isn't a properly conducted poll.
This poll asks how Gov Pawlenty would fair against Mike Ciresi, a wealthy Dem trial lawyer. Special memo to Zogby: Ciresi is running for Senate, not Governor.
The impression among Minnesota GOP'ers is that Kennedy is within striking distance of both Klobuchar and Kennedy. Considering that that the GOP has taken a beating in the polls lately, this is actually good news for Pawlenty and Kennedy.
Opinions or comments - anyone?
In my view from Ohio, I like Pawlenty and hope he can do it. I'd also like to see Kennedy win in the Senate. The election is still 13 months away.
I'm still excited that Blackwell looks promising in the OH Gov. race!
From what I know of him, Blackwell seems like a cool guy.
I wish him well too.
My only concern is whether Taft has damaged the Ohio GOP so badly, that Blackwell could lose in '06. I hope not.
You are correct about the Red Star - even though they didn't do the poll.
Their Minnesota Poll always seems to over-sample Democrats. They have been called on it frequently - but like the editorial board - they deny any pro-Dem bias.
He's several points ahead of the other 2 GOP contenders (Petro and Montgomery) and at a slight advantage in a head to head against both leading Dem candidates (Rep. Ted Strickland and Columbus mayor Michael Coleman) for the general election.
He's several points ahead of the other 2 GOP contenders (Petro and Montgomery) and at a slight advantage in a head to head against both leading Dem candidates (Rep. Ted Strickland and Columbus mayor Michael Coleman) for the general election.
Blackwell's genuinue conservatism will rally conservatives that are sick of Taft. My question is will the black vote stick with him, and how many rural counties is Strickland going to pull away?
I've looked at Blackwell's statewide races and so far they've all been big wins, though I wonder if he's had serious opposition before.
I don't think Strickland will be all that successful outside of his Congressional district aside from liberals and traditional Dem voters.
Blackwell will get at least a little more of the Black vote than a white Republican would. Which in a state that's about 12% black should tip the scales in Blackwell's favor rather handily.
Right now Pawlenty is not the flavor of the month with the (evil) rightwing, what with the "health impact fee" (Tax on tobbaco), coming out in favor of banning tobbaco statewide, and the whole sports stadium issue.
He'll probably get the nomination, and I'll hold my nose and vote for him, but......
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