Civitas Institute: Hagan Opens Up Lead on Dole
PRESS RELEASE
Raleigh, N.C. – Democratic State Senator Kay Hagan has taken her first lead in her race against incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole according to a new poll released today by the Civitas Institute.
According to the live telephone survey of 600 likely General Election voters, Hagan leads Dole 43-38 among those who initially voiced support for a candidate. When undecided voters are asked which way they lean, Hagan’s lead narrows to 45-42. Libertarian candidate Chris Cole receives three percent of the vote. 10 percent of voters remained undecided.
“This is the first time our poll shows Kay Hagan with a lead,” said Francis De Luca, Executive Director of the Civitas Institute. “The millions spent on negative advertising by the Democratic Senatorial Committee and others attacking Senator Dole is finally paying dividends.”
Hagan’s ability to take the lead is coming from three areas: a decrease in the number of Democrats supporting Dole (-5% from last month), an increase in the Republicans supporting Hagan (+3% from last month), and a slight uptick in unaffiliated voters moving towards Hagan (+1 from last month).
“The intensity and harshness of the advertising is still increasing,” added De Luca. “Hagan and the groups supporting her candidacy have been very successful over the past couple of weeks in damaging Dole. The question now is, is there enough time for the Dole campaign to paint Hagan as an unacceptable alternative.”
Previous Civitas Poll results:
May – Dole 45, Hagan 43
June – Dole 48, Hagan 38, Cole 1
July – Dole 47, Hagan 38, Cole 2
August – Dole 44, Hagan 41, Cole 4
September – Dole 43, Hagan 41, Cole 6
Source: Civitas Institute (click here for full results)
Commentary
One thing I never hear (or have missed) from the Republican blogs, websites or conservative think tanks is the simple fact that the left have hit Senator Dole very hard on her absence from North Carolina, even during a re-election campaign.
I'm not afraid to ask that question, and I raised it early. It is too bad that Dole (more likely her Campaign Staff) were absolutely tone deaf to the need to have the Senator show the flag.
Senator Elizabeth Dole will be in Franklin Saturday, and I hope to have some photos and video from that event.
Winston Salem Journal Endorses Kay Hagan
The Winston Salem Journal is singing the praises of Kay Hagan, Democrat candidate for U.S. Senate, and they hit the current Senator, Elizabeth Dole, pretty hard on her absence from North Carolina since she was elected.
I support Senator Dole for re-election, but I do have to admit that Dole has handed them that issue on a platter. You wouldn't even know she was campaigning by her conspicuous absence.
Has she even put in an appearance in Western North Carolina? (Asheville does not count because it is a large city).
I support Senator Dole for re-election, but I do have to admit that Dole has handed them that issue on a platter. You wouldn't even know she was campaigning by her conspicuous absence.
Has she even put in an appearance in Western North Carolina? (Asheville does not count because it is a large city).
PRESS RELEASE
GREENSBORO, N.C. – State Senator and U.S. Senate Nominee Kay Hagan (D-Guilford) today released her first television commercial of the general election. “Voices” highlights Kay’s record in Raleigh working across party lines and investing in priorities to move North Carolina forward. “Voices” will begin airing Tuesday in several markets across the state.
Popout
“Kay has a decade of service in Raleigh working for North Carolinians and not for the special interests and their lobbyists in Washington. Kay worked across party lines to ban illegal immigrants from getting driver’s licenses and balanced five state budgets while investing in priorities to help working families in North Carolina get ahead,” said Hagan Campaign Press Secretary Dave Hoffman. “With all due respect, Elizabeth Dole’s experience is just a way of doing business that puts the special interests ahead of the best interests of North Carolinians. After 40 years in Washington, Dole hasn’t done anything to ease our dependence on foreign oil, stop the tide of illegal immigrants coming into our country, ensure our veterans the care and benefits they deserve, or control excessive George Bush-approved spending. Dole has voted with President Bush 92% of the time while ignoring the consequences on working families here in North Carolina. It’s about time they had someone looking out for them rather than herself and her special interest friends.”
“Voices” stresses the needs for an independent voice representing North Carolina, committed to getting gas prices under control, ending the $17 billion in tax incentives Liddy Dole voted to give away to Big Oil, and investing in clean energy that would create thousands of jobs here in North Carolina. That’s exactly the type of senator Kay has been in Raleigh and the type of senator she will be in the U.S. Senate.
The script of the ad is below, and can be viewed at http://www.kayhagan.com/pages/ad:
Narrator:
“An independent voice.
Kay Hagan.
Former vice-president at North Carolina’s largest bank…
Then a decade in the state Senate:
Reaching across party lines to ban driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants…
Balance five state budgets in a row.
Expand early childhood education …and raise teacher pay.
Now, the U.S. Senate needs a leader who’ll finally put independent thinking – and middle class families — before the Washington special interests.”
Kay Hagan: “I’m Kay Hagan and I approve this message.”
###
"Shuler a shoo-in for reelection" and Other Gripes
Here at Scorecard, we’ve interviewed many prospective candidates for Congress — some who have become politically savvy after years of elective experience, some who come out of nowhere to become credible candidates, and some who just simply have no chance of winning.
And while we’ve never met Asheville city councilman Carl Mumpower, who’s running against Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), we’re guessing that he is in a league all of his own.
A week after suspending his campaign because of his party’s insufficient commitment to conservatism, Mumpower said his own county party is disassociating themselves from him — a rare occurrence.
Source: Real Clear Politics
Commentary
Aside from the fact that Josh Kraushaar doesn't even know what county Mumpower is from (here's a hint...Asheville is in Buncombe County), it does seem that everyone on the national scene, and quite a few locally have given up on Mumpower. I just hope to God that he didn't make the colossal error of meeting with Ron Paul in Boone Friday night, as my operatives in the Ron Paul r3VOLution tell me he wanted to do.
I would like to see Mumpower get out and campaign, and see some advance notice of where is going to be and when.
Nearly all the Republican candidates seem to have this problem, Pat McCrory has been in the area several times without advance warning. Charles Taylor was the same way. He'd show up somewhere, then you'd read about it in the paper a few days later.
For example, Kay Hagan was in the area this weekend, and I was notified of her itinerary ahead of time. She was in Brevard and Sylva yesterday, and will be in Andrews and Bryon City today. [Kay Hagan Schedule] It was too bad that I couln't attend either of those events and get some video to post. [Elizabeth Dole Schedule]
In the NC Governor's race, compare the two calenders of Pat McCrory and Bev Perdue.
The Shuler people certainly get the word out when he is going to be in the area before he goes back to his home in Tennessee, where he is the second representative of the Second Congressional District. His Campaign Website is down at the moment, with the notice that a new website will be coming soon.
This is something I have been wanting Republicans to get involved in, the interactive nature of the Internet beyond mailing lists. The Mumpower Campaign is very good about using that tool. There isn't even a calender on the website, though.
I look forward to covering the NC-11 Campaign, but it is beginning to look like if I want to know ahead of time where a candidate is going to be...I'll be recording a lot more Democratic Events than I will be Republican Events.
Republicans are going to have to get away from this clique thinking, where only the inner circle and trusted supporters know where you are going to be and when. I would not have been able to record a lot of the events that I attended if I had not been "on the inside" to a certain point, and received notices from the various campaigns, or those carrying water for a certain campaign.
Republicans need to see the possibilities instead of the limitations.
I'll let you know if this post gets me thrown overboard.
Campaigning in secret will not get you elected.
Dole, McCain Lead NC Poll
Dole leads Hagan 51 to 37 percent, and McCain Leads Obama 45 to 41 with Barr in a distant third with a mere 5 percent.
More statewide results will be out next week from Public Policy Polling.
More statewide results will be out next week from Public Policy Polling.
Candidate Debate Forums in Atlantic Beach, NC
Candidates for NC Governor and US Senate participated in a forum in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina that was sponsored by the North Carolina Bar Association this past weekend.
Republican Candidate Pat McCrory faced Democrat Candidate Lt. Governor Bev Purdue in the Governor's race.
Here are the videos:
[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3]
In the second portion, Democrat Candidate Kay Hagan faced US Senator Liddy Dole in the US Senate race.
The videos:
[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3]
I thought that McCrory and Hagan seemed more poised and confident than their opponents, and was disappointed by the lack of coverage of the event.
Were their no bloggers at the event? I have downloaded the video, and will chop it up for the most interesting parts for later.
Republican Candidate Pat McCrory faced Democrat Candidate Lt. Governor Bev Purdue in the Governor's race.
Here are the videos:
[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3]
In the second portion, Democrat Candidate Kay Hagan faced US Senator Liddy Dole in the US Senate race.
The videos:
[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3]
I thought that McCrory and Hagan seemed more poised and confident than their opponents, and was disappointed by the lack of coverage of the event.
Were their no bloggers at the event? I have downloaded the video, and will chop it up for the most interesting parts for later.
Kay Hagan To Raise Money In California
According the the Under The Dome Blog, Kay Hagan, candidate for the US Senate seat in North Carolina, will be traveling to California to raise money to compete against Senator Elizabeth Dole.
I have friends out in California who will be watching this for me, and if any of you have additional details, get in contact with me in the comments.
I have friends out in California who will be watching this for me, and if any of you have additional details, get in contact with me in the comments.
