Alexander re-election campaign unfazed by poll slip

timesfreepress.com ^ | 12/16/13 | Andy Sher

[cotton1706]

NASHVILLE — A longtime pollster for U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander says the Tennessean's campaign isn't worried about two new surveys showing his job-approval rating has dipped below 50 percent among state voters.

"It's not a re-elect number; it's a job-approval number," pollster Whit Ayres said of the surveys. "In a general election electorate in an era where politicians, particularly politicians who serve in Washington, are not particularly popular, I would not make too much of that."

The independent Vanderbilt University poll and the Public Policy Polling survey, which was commissioned by Senate Democratic hopeful Terry Adams, respectively put Alexander's job approval rating at 49 percent and 37 percent.

Both were conducted before Alexander's chief of staff, Ryan Loskarn, was arrested last week on federal charges of possession and distribution of child pornography. Alexander fired the 35-year-old, saying that although Loskarn's guilt or innocence will be determined in court, the charges are "repugnant and disturbing."

The Vanderbilt poll's co-director, political science professor John Geer, indicated it's too early to gauge the impact of the arrest.

"It's a serious, serious thing and the process has to work out," Geer said.

Alexander faces a tea party-backed primary challenge in August from Republican state Rep. Joe Carr, of Lascassas.

Vanderbilt's survey of 860 registered voters, found just 49 percent overall approved the two-term Republican's job performance, but 57 percent of Republicans approved.

The poll's margin of error was 4.1 percent. A Vanderbilt survey in May put Alexander's job approval at 52 percent. Both figures are within the margin of error.

The Public Policy Polling (PPP) survey of 531 "likely" voters was conducted for Adams, a Knoxville attorney. PPP's polling memo described Alexander as "looking weakened." The memo said the poll found 37 percent approved Alexander's performance and 43 percent disapproved.

[cotton1706]

Remove conservative support from moderate "republicans" and they are toast.

Alexander is weak against a democrat, as all moderate republicans are.

Joe Carr for Senate!!

[Mr. K]

How can Congress approval always be 13% but individual senators ALL be above 50%

those two don’t make sense

His opponents need to say one thing over and over and over... he’s been there for decades, and look what we have

[Paine in the Neck]

Politics takes money. The Republic is in peril. The Founders pledged "our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor". What can we do?

Support Joe Carr to oust Lamar Alexander in TN

[Viennacon]

CARR FOR SENATE!

[Din Maker]

How can Congress approval always be 13% but individual senators ALL be above 50%.....those two don’t make sense.

It goes back to the old adage: "Throw all the rascals out....except our rascal."

[hattend]

How can Congress approval always be 13% but individual senators ALL be above 50% those two don’t make sense

Simple, the Senate as a whole sucks but MY Senator is not as bad as the others.

It's how the electorate thinks.