Posted on 07/29/2014 5:53:59 AM PDT by cotton1706
Sen. Lamar Alexander‘s polling shows him with a 30-percentage point lead over tea-party challenger Joe Carr in Tennessee’s Republican Senate primary, according to a polling memo prepared for the two-term incumbent’s campaign.
The poll, conducted by Republican pollster Whit Ayres from July 20-22 ahead of the state’s Aug. 7 primary, found Mr. Alexander leading Mr. Carr 53% to 21%. Mr. Ayres wrote that despite attacks against Mr. Alexander from Mr. Carr and longshot challenger George Flinn, Mr. Alexander’s stature among Tennessee GOP voters has remained stable.
“The fundamentals remain the same,” Mr. Ayres wrote in a memo for the campaign, obtained Monday by The Wall Street Journal. “60 percent or more of Republican primary voters like the job Alexander is doing and are likely to vote for him. About a quarter to a third don’t, and are not likely to vote for him. If that holds, it yields a very comfortable victory.”
Now for the caveats about internal polling released for public consumption: It is clear Mr. Alexander’s camp is trying to rebut a narrative that Mr. Carr is building momentum. The poll was conducted before two events last week that Mr. Carr’s camp touted as evidence of his momentum: Talk radio host Laura Ingraham traveled to Tennessee to host a rally for Mr. Carr and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin endorsed Mr. Carr via Facebook.
Internal polling has been justifiably viewed with much skepticism this primary season. It was only seven weeks ago that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor‘s (R., Va.) campaign leaked polling that showed Mr. Cantor leading unknown challenger David Brat by 30 points. Rep. Jack Kingston (R., Ga.) had polling before last week’s Georgia Senate runoff that showed him well ahead of David Perdue. Mr. Perdue is now Georgia Republicans’ Senate nominee.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.wsj.com ...
Laura Ingraham isn’t going to be happy.
But Cantor's defeat didn't spontaneously appear. It happened because Brat got on message, sayed on message and hammered it non-stop. That message was "No Amnesty!". Rickard needs to recognize that and make sure Carr follows that path.
Do you live to be a wet blanket??
Doesn’t matter if they don’t show up to vote. Carr needs to GOTV.
Lamar Alexander has been in Congress for decades now.
“Lamar Alexander has been in Congress for decades now.”
Actually only since 2002 but your point is well taken. He’s an elitist who wants to hold on to power.
“Lamar Alexander has been in Congress for decades now.”
That’s just wrong! Nobody should be in Congress that long.
Term Limits! Term Limits! Term Limits!
PING
My sense is that Carr hasn’t been able to make himself known, particularly in West Tennessee. I’ve talked to a number of people sick of Lamar who have followed-up with something like “I wish I knew more about that other guy. Who is he?” In other words, they can’t even remember Carr’s name days before the election.
For those other Republican voters who aren’t news junkies, Lamar is still viewed as an affable nice guy who took on the teacher’s unions in the 80’s when he was governor. Mature Tennesseans remember him fondly and give him credit for Tennessee’s prosperity during that time. They remember he did much to clean up Tennessee government after the scandal-plagued Democrat and felon, Governor Ray Blanton. They associate him with others who are remembered fondly such as GHW Bush, Howard Baker and Fred Thompson. They remember him running the beloved University of Tennessee. Unlike other incumbents, Lamar’s personal life has been scandal-free and he is considered a man of integrity. He’s not an easy man to defeat.
2 terms to be exact. 12 yrs. Before that TN Governor, and something to do with education. But he has always had gov’t paid jobs. And he promised 2 terms and OUT.
The only reason he got elected in the first place was name and Harold Ford JR was running for the US Senate, NO one in TN wanted another crooked FORD family member in office. Every one of them have turned out to be crooks.
Including the incumbent State Sen opehlia ford, who has been paid for 2 sessions of the legislature and attended 2 sessions in 2 yrs. That being this year. Last year she attended none, has to fly, to sick, THEN RESIGN. Her problem is the booze bottle.
That's right and the bus tour that Lamar! is currently doing seems to be attracting miniscule crowds. His sitereps on his facebook is filled with Joe Carr supporters.
My concern is the Memphis spoiler George Flinn who is a rich man and may pull enough anti-Lamar! support to spoil the election.
He can certainly outspend Carr, who has raised "only" one million dollars.
Flinn has had ads on FOXNEWS for a while..
lots of money spent for those...
I don’t think he is liked in this state 30% more votes worth. He’s got Liberal managed Tennessee newspapers giving him atta boys in the conservative end of the state. I look for him to have trouble carrying his own county. His EPA shillness is one of the reasons. An idle plant mainly due to EPA rules and a poor economy is another. ALCOA used to be the biggest employer in his county. Now Japan owned DENSO is.
Hey Lamar the whole darn state was heated with coal up until the 1940's and by golly the earth didn't melt. The Smoky Mountains didn't die either. Of course in 1940 the mountains were still on the mend from logging. The point is nature reclaimed the mountains even with coal plants boiling out a lot dirtier exhaust than now. There is no pleasing Enviro Nazis but Alexander sure will try too. The EPA should be closed down or at a minimal reigned into a realistic limits placed on it's powers. Al Exander reminds me of Al Gore in a lot of ways.
He still chugs the GOPE socialist kool-aid it causes blindness to 25 yrs. of betrayal and history. And induces the belief only the sacred Republican Party aka socialist lite party can save him!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.