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Andy Ostroy

Andy Ostroy

Posted: September 29, 2010 03:08 PM

If you listen to leading Republican voices like Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and Dick Morris you'd hear how the GOP this November is going to pick up anywhere from 39 to 85 House seats and take control of the Senate. That there's gonna be a conservative landslide that'll dwarf Gingrich's 1994 "Republican Revolution." That America is shifting way to the right, with enthusiasm for a power change the highest it's ever been. Unfortunately for these Tea Party hopefuls the polls just don't support their wild predictions. In fact, if the polls are any true indication of what may happen, momentum appears to be shifting back to the Democrats.

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In a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll. when it comes to who voters prefer to control Congress, Republicans area ahead 46%-43%, but down from a 9-point lead a month ago. On the critical "enthusiasm" front, a new Zogby poll shows Democrats up by just one point, 44%-43%, but it was the first time since mid-May that Democrats were ahead. Zogby also shows President Obama's popularity climbing as well.

"President Obama's attempts to draw contrasts with the Republicans and raise fears about a Republican takeover of Congress appear to have been successful, especially among Democratic voters," said John Zogby.



The WSJ/NBC poll also showed that 59% of independents do not support the Tea Party, which could be a troubling sign for hard-line conservatives as they seek to move beyond their tiny radical fringe base and appeal to these all-important undecideds.

Also of note is the narrowing gap in the Kentucky Senate race. According to a new Survey USA poll Tea Bagger Rand Paul's lead over Democrat Jack Conway is down to just two points after leading by as much as 15%.

To be sure, the electorate is frustrated, angry and disenchanted with politicians on both sides of the aisle. The economy still faces myriad challenges, and unemployment remains unacceptably high. But the polls still show voters' preference for Democrats when the question is who can better handle the economy and the nation's main problems. With 34 days still to go before the midterm elections, Republicans would be wise not to uncork the champagne just yet.

 

Follow Andy Ostroy on Twitter: www.twitter.com/AndyOstroy

 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
PackyJ
01:28 PM on 10/01/2010
Alaska US Senate candidate Joe Miller has actually tweeted a brag about "measuring the drapes:" http://www.themudflats.net/2010/09/30/the-arrogance-of-joe-miller/

Thanks to Senator Lisa Murkowski's write-in campaign, Miller's pretty sure he's got it in the bag.
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HUFFPOST PUNDIT
Chris1962
NYC
05:02 PM on 09/29/2010
>>>In a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll. when it comes to who voters prefer to control Congress, Republicans area ahead 46%-43%, but down from a 9-point lead a month ago.>>>

That's a "national adults" poll, which includes respondents who aren't even registered to vote; plus, of those who are registered, about half never make it off their couches, and that percentage gets worse when it's a midterm.

:>>>On the critical "enthusiasm" front, a new Zogby poll shows Democrats up by just one point, 44%-43%

There's a new one: Republicans, 46%; Dems, 41% http://www.zogby.com/features/featuredtables.cfm?ID=187 And it's statistically consistent with Rasmussen's latest LV poll: Republicans, 46%; Dems, 40%.

:>>>According to a new Survey USA poll Tea Bagger Rand Paul's lead over Democrat Jack Conway is down to just two points after leading by as much as 15%.

That same poll shows NY's Sen. Gillibrand leading her Tea Party opponent by one point. That seems a bit odd. So I'd wait until the next round of polls come out before hanging my hat on those Survey USA results.
04:56 PM on 09/29/2010
Democrats are going to do even worse than they think due to the deadly combination of anger and groupthink--the same sort that put Democrats in control of two branches of government. Fortunately, we won't have to endure that much longer. Check out the highly accurate Intrade.com predictions: The House floor is going to get waxed with Democrats' hineys.
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04:49 PM on 09/29/2010
no, they should go ahead and uncork the champaign, then use to cork to plug all the nonsense they are blowing out of their @sses.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
kleighhoff
Relief is the order of business...
04:35 PM on 09/29/2010
I think the Dems will do better than expected. I can't wait to see Kentucky with a Dem Senator!!! Ha!
HUFFPOST PUNDIT
lightningbolt
04:19 PM on 09/29/2010
The teabaggers are going to lose by a landslide.  Their insane candidates make most Americans recoil in horror at the thought of teabaggers in power.
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HUFFPOST PUNDIT
Chris1962
NYC
05:03 PM on 09/29/2010
Not in Nevada, evidently.
HUFFPOST PUNDIT
lightningbolt
08:23 PM on 09/29/2010
Evidently?  According to what evidence?  You really think that clown Angle has a chance?
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janie@atthelake
Keep Austin Weird
03:51 PM on 09/29/2010
Wow! Think the Health Care Bill for the 911 workers just came through.......holy cow!
No, don't go measuring the drapes..
03:24 PM on 09/29/2010
Why, are the democrats not through shredding papers yet or something?
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willandjansdad
over-moderated and under-medicated
04:48 PM on 09/29/2010
They're gonna outsource it to Ollie North. They've hired Rove to coordinate the cleansing of WH emails...He has experience.
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04:49 PM on 09/29/2010
better take a rest, that must have been exhausting for you.