New Poll Shows McConnell's Vulnerability Waning?

Politico has the story of a new poll out, conducted by Voter/Consumer Research in which McConnell's approval rating appears to be back in the favorable range at a comfortable 61% rating.

That alone should be disappointing enough, but the poll also shows that the man who has been considered by many in the Kentucky blogosphere to be the best candidate to knock Mitch off might not be the voters' favorite:

Almost two-thirds of the electorate were unaware or had no impression of Lunsford; significantly fewer voters knew of Fischer and Horne. Fischer was widely recognized, but most voters seemed to have no opinion of him.

Is this bad news for the Horne campaign?  Who knows.  But it's bad news for McConnell if he has to start a year before his re-election running ads, completely unopposed and with no Democratic nominee picked to take him on.  As I mentioned in my previous post, it will take a united Democratic party to knock off the Grim Reaper.  Now let's get down to the business of knocking those approval ratings back down to where they belong, below 50% by exposing the real Mitch McConnell.

Comments

[davidunn]

Given the inaccuracy of the New Hampshire polls, how reliable are these polls anyhow?

[KYProud]

The national and KY Dem Parties are not taking an aggressive enough stance in keeping Mitch's negatives before the public via media. Over a year ago, the Lex H-L ran a series on Mitch's political wheeling and dealing(was it by Cheves or Stamper?). Those details should be making their way into commercials already.

[Jake10]

This was a poll commissioned by Mitch and as such is immediately suspect. The part I find interesting is that a total unknown like Fischer had high name recognition and starts with 32% of the vote. Maybe the respondents think he is from the "Bacon Makin People" Fischers? Agree it's time for the DSCC to get off its butt and get some commercials up!

[Hudson]

Exactly...

The fact the McConnell needs to do this type of polling, with over a year before the election, sitting as the four-term minority leader of the US Senate, is evidence of damage control. Nothing else. It is simply posturing - trying to scare the DSCC from "throwing good money after bad money"

Let's conduct a McConnellesque poll right now:

Pollster: Are you a registered memeber of the Republican Party in Kentucky who has voted for the Republician Party straight ticket in at least 3 of the last 4 election cycles and has contributed to at least one Republician candiate for office in the past year ?

(If "no" ---> hang up)

GOP lemming: Yes, of course!!!

Pollster: Do you also approve of the job Mitch McConnell is doing in Washingotn?

(If "no" ---> hang up)

GOP lemming: Yes, of course!!!

Pollster: Great!!! Thanks for taking our poll and remember - blind faith previals.

Poll results: 100% approval rating.

The figure of 61% accounts for the estimated 39% of survey takers who thought it was a friend playing a joke on them.

[JeffNLou]

I agree with KYProud. Why is there so much documented, irrefutable information about McConnel's crap out there that can so easily be disseminated by national Dems, the KDP or Horne's campaign, but yet we are seeing nothing? I know TV & print are expensive, but how about mobilizing the blogosphere? I'm also very suspicious of this poll. That percentage 61 is much higher than the most recent polls I've read. I can't think of anything dramamtic happening here lately that would boost McConnell much. Smells fishy.

[LexDem]

Fischer's high name ID was a misprint. It's only 13% currently. In regards to McConnell's approval, 61% seems much too high and a recent SurveyUSA poll agrees as they list his approval at only 49%. I'm not sure if beating McConnell this year is realistic. Assuming SurveyUSA is accurate, though, we should already be working hard to give the democratic nominee a fighting chance.

[JeffNLou]

BluegrassRoots is reporting Mitch's approval rating dropping back under 50%. I wonder if Politico is promulgating propaganda. Always consider the source. Perhaps Mitch's approval rating is somewhere in-between 49% & 61%

[Ray C.]

OFF SUBJECT
Did any of you, in Jefferson County, participate in a telephone survey in the last couple of days matching Yarmuth with every conceivable Republican, especially Northup? If so, what part of the county do you live in?

[andy42302]

I'm forecasting another tsunami in November that will indeed damage the Republican Party. Regrettably, I don't see Mitch going down. With his deep pockets and being owned by coal, oil, pharma, insurance, et al., along with his manipulating talent, he'll be hard to unseat. I agree with Davdumm that we must be aggressive in reminding the public of his corruption.

[kentondem1]

So long as the desire of the electorate is for change, getting something done in Congress,and the Democratic enthusiasm continues at a high level. Mitch will remain vulnerable.

[meritman]

Well...our Governor Beshear just said nothing and it took him thirty minutes to do it. Joy.

[JeffNLou]

Bluegrassroots.org has some additional information this poll

[kentondem1]

meritman:

Exactly how long did it take for you to jump off the Fletcher bandwagon?

As I recall, it was a good deal longer than the first State of the State address.

[Speaking Truth To Idiots]

Hey Hannah Montana,

Where's that big national announcement? We're holding our breaths in anticipation....

[flokyrn]

a big part of building strength in Kentucky has to be building unions. the California Nurses Association has screwed up nursing unions in Kentucky and is at it again in Ohio. check this out http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/03/12/sns031308seiu.html