It’s Saturday, the weather is gorgeous and I have a date with a grill and some steaks so rather than spend my afternoon in front of the computer I thought put together a political blotter of sorts.
First up, Chris Dodd trails likely Republican challenger Rob Simmons by 9 points in the latest the latest Quinnipiac poll:
Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd trails former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, a likely Republican challenger 48 – 39 percent in the 2010 Senate race, but he is inching up in his job approval to a negative 42 – 52 percent approval rating, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
The matchup compares to a 45 – 39 percent Simmons lead in a May 27 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.
In this latest survey, Simmons leads 87 – 7 percent among Republicans and 56 – 27 percent among independent voters, while Sen. Dodd takes Democrats 74 – 16 percent. The incumbent has gained among Democrats, but lost independent support since May 27.
Dodd’s negative 42 – 52 percent approval compares to 38 – 53 percent May 27 and this was up from a negative 33 – 58 percent April 2.
Second, the latest Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll show Pres. Obama’s poll numbers have slipped again:
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Saturday shows that 30% of the nation’s voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-nine percent (39%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -9. (see trends).
The number who Strongly Disapprove of the President has increased slightly following the prime time press conference on Wednesday night. That figure—39%–is now at the highest level yet recorded. As a result, the overall Approval Index has fallen to the lowest level yet recorded for this President.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens over the next few days as the full impact of his last prime time press conference starts to show up in the polls.
Third, Polling shows California Senator Barbara Boxer has narrow 4 point lead over likely Republican challenger Carly Fiorina:
Democratic incumbent Barbara Boxer leads former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina in an early look at California’s 2010 race for the U.S. Senate.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that Boxer attracts 45% of the statewide vote while Fiorina, her best-known possible Republican challenger, earns 41%. Seven percent (7%) say they’d vote for some other candidate, and seven percent (7%) are undecided.
In March, Boxer led Fiorina by nine, 47% to 38%.
Any incumbent who polls below 50% early in a campaign is considered potentially vulnerable. However, a Democrat running in a heavily Democratic state like California is often able to overcome weak poll numbers.
As Rasmussen notes the conventional wisdom says any incumbent who falls below 50% this early is potentially vulnerable but that Democrats running in heavily Democratic state like California should be to overcome weak poll numbers… I’m not convince the conventional wisdom applies in California these days. California is an economic basket case, the voters there are frustrated by high taxes, high unemployment, hugh deficits… If Sen Boxer is perceived as being part of California’s economic problems she’s vulnerable regardless of how Democratic California leans.
Lastly, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, suggested Thursday that he would consider invoking the States’ 10th Amendment rights to resist the president’s healthcare plan, which he said would be “disastrous” for Texas:
Gov. Rick Perry, raising the specter of a showdown with the Obama administration, suggested Thursday that he would consider invoking states’ rights protections under the 10th Amendment to resist the president’s healthcare plan, which he said would be “disastrous” for Texas.
Interviewed by conservative talk show host Mark Davis of Dallas’ WBAP/820 AM, Perry said his first hope is that Congress will defeat the plan, which both Perry and Davis described as “Obama Care.” But should it pass, Perry predicted that Texas and a “number” of states might resist the federal health mandate.
“I think you’ll hear states and governors standing up and saying ‘no’ to this type of encroachment on the states with their healthcare,” Perry said. “So my hope is that we never have to have that stand-up. But I’m certainly willing and ready for the fight if this administration continues to try to force their very expansive government philosophy down our collective throats.”
I suspect Gov. Perry is right, Texas won’t be the only State to challenge ObamaCare. A number of states have already passed “sovereignty resolutions” asserting their 10th amendment rights.
That’s it for now, have great weekend folks.