Is the Deeds Campaign in Trouble?

by: Elaine in Roanoke

Thu Jul 30, 2009 at 19:26:07 PM EDT

Perhaps the problem is the hard feelings raised by the recent Democratic primary, but I doubt that. More likely is what I would term "electorate blahs," in part caused by the lack of action from the Deeds campaign.

Let's face it. Creigh Deeds is a most likable candidate, but he sure doesn't inspire an emotional response at this point. There hasn't been - so far - any fire in his campaign. That strategy worked in the primary because his opponents were busy destroying one another...or, perhaps more to the point, Brian Moran was busy destroying Terry McAuliffe, who just couldn't live down the "outsider" label.

Well, that won't work in the general election, Creigh. You cannot sit back and allow someone else to fire up your campaign. You will lose unless you take the initiative, be first on some issue. Let me be specific:

Where's the Change We Voted For?

by: Teddy Goodson

Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 15:50:23 PM EDT

Mass media, pundits, and Republicans are trumpeting a new Post-ABC poll which shows that the President's positive rating has slipped to 59 percent, down 6 points in just one month (negatives at 39 percent), approval of his handling of the economy is down from 72 percent in January to 56 percent today, and, analyzing the poll, Dan Baltz and Jon Cohen in The Washington Post (20 July 2009) write:

"55 percent now put a higher priority on holding the deficit in check than on spending to boost the economy, compared with 40 percent who advocate additional outlays even if it means a sharply greater budget shortfall,"

Beneath the Surface of a Recent Poll: Some Things We Learn About Ourselves

by: KathyinBlacksburg

Mon Jun 22, 2009 at 22:11:24 PM EDT

We tend to hear the main nuggets from polls on network and cable "news" shows.  For example, we've heard the fact that either 72% of 76% favor a public option.  Indeed almost that munch a percentage of the population favors single payer.  We know that President Obama's favorability ratings are 60% in the NBC poll and higher in others.  In some polls, when asked whether the respondent "likes" the President affirmatives are in the eighties.

But what else are people saying to pollsters?  Buried within the recent NBC poll were some gems.  According to NBC only 30% have positive feelings toward Sonia Sotomayor.  (The wrong-wing hit machine has done major damage.)  Given that, it is ironically good news that 30% don't know what their feelings are.  But that's a different question.  

45% view the Democratic Party favorably. 25% view the GOP favorably.  Rush Limbaugh garners 23%. Dick Cheney 26% and (sigh) Nancy Pelosi 24% (again the wrong-wing attack machine has done the damage). Only 1/3 think Ben Bernanke should be reappointed to the Fed.  

Of polls and straw polls - a brief reflection on the state of Virginia's politics

by: teacherken

Thu May 21, 2009 at 07:12:55 AM EDT

Each of the 3 gubernatorial campaigns and/or their supporters are trumpeting the results that make them look good while ignoring those that could be warning signs.  So perhaps there should be some reality checking going on.

I come to this not as a statistician, although I have a fair amount of statistical training from my doctoral work in education.  Also, since I teach government, I spend the better part of a week teaching my Advanced Placement students about the different types of polls, including how to look at cross-tabs where available.

And I add to that the words I heard last night at Brigades, where someone urging people to a Jeff-Jack dinner reminded the people present there would be a straw poll, so get your supporters out to do well.

And I note again I am supporting Creigh Deeds and Mike Signer in the contested races.

Notes on the state of Virginia - Governor's race

by: teacherken

Wed May 06, 2009 at 19:17:32 PM EDT

While I will offer a discussion of what the numbers means, and what the various camps are saying, it is my belief that the state of Virginia, the governor's race, is now that McAuliffe is in the clear lead, with the onus on the Moran campaign to change the dynamic.

Flailing and Failing: GOP Can't Handle Even 100 Days-Dick Cheney to the "Rescue"

by: KathyinBlacksburg

Thu Apr 23, 2009 at 11:59:16 AM EDT

Yesterday my daughter asked, "Why is Dick Cheney everywhere on TV?"  His behavior of late has been more than disappointing.  Appalling would be a better word.  He has all-time low favorability ratings for a VP.  He left in disgrace.  His "legacy" is that he repeatedly lied to Americans and used his office to promote war rather than defend America.  The fact is that the way he used his office was tantamount to terrorizing Americans with threats and intimidation.  He knowingly used false claims, tried to shape the intel, and fear-mongered to manipulate a citizenry.  And it had lethal consequences, not just for Americans, but also for Iraqis Afghanis unnecessarily dying because he neglected Afghanistan.  But there Cheney is, still pretending that the US must torture to get answers, despite research showing it doesn't work.  Check out the MSNBC video at the top of this thread.