Posted on 09/11/2006 3:42:21 PM PDT by okstate
After garnering support levels in the high 50s for the last several months, Democratic Senator Robert Byrd has pierced the 60% threshold in our polling to now lead Republican John Raese 63% to 30%.
That adds eight points to the spread. Our August survey showed the Senator over-flying his Republican opponent 56% to 31%, a mere twenty-five-point advantage.
Byrd, the longest-serving member of the U.S. Senate, is known for his oratory, unabashed vigor in bringing pork projects to his state, and opposition to the war in Iraq. Should he win, he will be 89 as he begins his new term.
A West Virginia paper noted in a recent editorial that the Republican challenger is still being sighted on the campaign trail, implying that Raese's efforts to replace Byrd, albeit foundering, are not yet dead.
Senator Byrd is viewed favorably by 74%, "very favorably" by 47%. Reese is viewed favorably by 42%, "very favorably" by only 12%; 23% view him "very unfavorably."
Another popular Democrat in the state is Governor Joe Manchin; his job performance wins 79% overall approval, 41% strong approval. The latter figure is close to the proportion, 42%, who "strongly disapprove" of the performance of President Bush.
The frequent discrepancy in how Republican voters and Democratic voters view the ideology of their candidates is quite marked in Byrd's case. Fifty-six percent (56%) of Republicans see the Senator as politically liberal, 21% as moderate. By contrast, 46% of Democrats see him as moderate, only 18% as liberal. And an even greater number of Democrats, 28%, see him as conservative.
Raese is seen as conservative by a plurality of each of these groups, and by 55% of liberals.
Yup in 1980 they voted for Carter.
Things are moving in the right direction but he's a legend, a pork dispensing legend.
Actually Senator Byrd is more conservative than we give him credit for and the people of West Virginia recognize that and vote for him. I believe that is the reason they reelect him time and again.
Been there. Dumbest state in the Union.
Byrd flying?
A little humor there Mr. Journalist?
Would that he'd fly into a big glass window as birds sometimes do around here.
At one time Byrd was a very conservative Senator, then he ran for Majority Leader and went over to the Dark Side.
If he's 89 when the new term begins, I suppose it's fair to ask how WV replaces a senator if they do not complete their term?
Appointment by Governor?
Unfortunately, it sounds like their rat governor is quite popular, so I would assume he will appoint himself to the seat when the time comes and then he can hold that seat for the rats for another half century.
I've heard about them on FR from time to time. I hope they vote him out soon.
Follow the $$$$$.
He brings home the bacon. Hard to beat that.
If the Republicans in the Senate were smart (?), they'd cut him off from the tax dollars and see what happens.
What could happen (according to WV Electoral Law) if he dies during his next term?
Thanks!
Federal law applies as it is a federal race. The WV governor would appoint someone who would serve until the next election year ('08 or '10). Then an election would be held to see who serves out the rest of the term that ends in 2012.
C'mon; don't single out the people of WVA. Most Congressmen and Senators are reelected because they bring home the bacon; not just in WVA.
I think I said that. Especially Massachusetts and Maryland.
The media and the people of West Virgina need to ask the question, just what activities the KKK and Robert Byrd were involved with ? It wasn't just a social club!..........their principal activities included Lynchings and killing of people.Why has no one ever bothered to ask Mr. Byrd If he ever participated in such events.....or maybe conspired to do so or if he knew people that did? And by the way, does anyone know what the statute of limitations would be on such crimes in West Virgina.......I think this is a question that should be aired and debated by the candidates.Maybe the media can also research exactly how many lynchings or acts of violence occured in the state of West Virgina during the reign of thier great Senator in the KKK.
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