Senate 2008

SUSA: Smith Tumbles W/ GOP, Indy Voters--Up W/ Dems? by: torridjoe Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 16:37:17 PM PDT With a hat tip to Senate2008Guru, who has been quite kind in links back to LO.net, the July Senate polling is in at SurveyUSA and as usual Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith had their job approvals rated by Oregon voters. To cut to the chase, Wyden's numbers continue to be very stable over the last couple of years, with approvals ranging only from 56-62 during that time, and mostly hanging between 59% and 61% for the last 9 months or so. That's why I don't refer to Wyden's results very often; they are categorically boring. Not so Gordon Smith's! Not only are they newsworthy in the sense of his pending re-election fight, but because of his rather chimeric profile as a Republican Senator the breakdowns among different constituencies always seem to yield some surprises. This month is no different... {more below!} There's More... :: (3 Comments, 720 words in story)

Merkley Team Forming Ahead of Imminent Announce by: torridjoe Wed Jul 25, 2007 at 14:33:38 PM PDT Update:[ 7/27,9:00AM--Welcome Kossacks!] According to an anonymous source, former FuturePAC guru Jon Isaacs appears to be heading at least the development of Merkley's initial team, if not the entire campaign. While the prospective candidate mulls the final decision over with his family this week, Isaacs was reportedly lining up folks to begin the campaign. The source said Isaacs had selected three people to join him in assisting Merkley: former Arnie Roblan (HD-9) aide Nick Batz to do field operations, former Bradbury 2002 operative John Valley in the policy shop, and former FuturePAC fundraiser Ivo Trummer to shake the trees for money. Not trusting anonymous sources, we went to THE source...Jon Isaacs. Isaacs confirmed that Merkley's announcement was "imminent," although it would not necessarily surprise him if the ultimate decision was not to run after talking with family. As far as political ambition, the timing and the decision to leave the Speaker's gavel behind however, Merkley is "highly motivated" to run. {more} There's More... :: (5 Comments, 235 words in story)

Novick Poll Confirms Low Smith Re-Elect; Name ID Greater Than Merkley by: torridjoe Wed Jul 25, 2007 at 11:14:53 AM PDT (dammit--keep forgetting to click "front page" on these...! - promoted by torridjoe) Cribbed and passed on from the sub-only Hotline website, part of National Journal: A Lake Research poll; conducted 7/7-7/11 for ex-DoJ enviro atty Steve Novick (D); surveyed 500 LVs; margin of error +/- 4.4% (Hotline sources, 7/24). Tested: Novick, Sen. Gordon Smith (R), state House Speaker Jeff Merkley (D), ex-public radio talk show host/ex-Jackson Co. Commis. Jeff Golden (D), and New Seasons markets co-founder Eileen Brady (D). Will You Vote To Reelect Smith?  Vote to re-elect  32%  Consider someone else  34  Vote to replace  19     Fav/Unfav  Name ID Smith  59%/25%  99% Golden  10 / 5  43 Novick  9 / 6  46 Merkley  8 / 5  39 Brady  5 / 3  43 Bush As Pres. Excel/good  21% Fair/poor  79 {emphs mine} {more on the jump} There's More... :: (3 Comments, 450 words in story)

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