New poll in Governor's race (Rassmussen)

[Debi]

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/January%202006/Iowa%20Governor%20January%209.htm

Culver 40%
Nussle 40%

Blouin 34%
Nussle 39%

Judge 36%
Nussle 40%

Fallon 27%
Nussle 42%

<snip>

Currently, Culver wins the most support from fellow Democrats (76%) when the alternative is Nussle. Sixty-eight percent (68%) would vote for Blouin, 66% for Fallon, 68% for Judge.

<snip>

More at the link. D.

[rurallib]

1. Just saw this

1) this doesn't make Fallon look like the dog some seem to say he is. A 15% deficit is far from insurmountable.
2) Surprised that VPlaats isn't even considered. I think he will shock Nuslleites with his showing in June. As more crap and corruption comes from Washington I think Nussle will get rolled up in something.
3) Plus I think Nussle's performance as THE W water carrier especially on the budget will haunt him.

[Debi]

2. I hope you are right on Nussle vs. Vander Plaats

I agree that Nussle is going to have much to answer for with Abramoff/Delay/Bush - I wish Vander Plaats would start asking the questions!! I do want to see a strong primary out of those two and wouldn't mind a wounded republican heading into the general.

As for the Democrats, I'm obviously happy to see Culver's numbers. However, I'll agree, the Democratic primary is far from over.

[rurallib]

3. Right now I am leaning Fallon

Just like Dean in 2004, Fallonkeeps getting this "unelectable' label. I do not agree with that. I believe Dean was very electable (hard to win when the other guy cheats) and I believe Fallon is also very electable. I believe when his message is heard, many people find it to be very reasonable and sound.
I am kind of wondering when VPlaats will be cranking it up? I believe he has a better base in western Iowa and Nussle not as well liked out that way. Hope VPlaats brings up all the corruption and deficit and the family value failings that are Nussle.

[Debi]

4. I don't think I've ever said Fallon was unelectable

The fact that he's serving in office right now proves that he is electable.

My fear with Fallon isn't where he stands on issues either, if he is the nominee I will gladly vote for him, give him money and work for him.

My fear with Fallon is money, and ignoring money in this race is foolish. The idea that Fallon is going to be rolling in it after the primary is silly since he refuses to take PAC money or large contributions. Yes, grass roots can defeat money, but why should we hobble ourselves? What happens when the UAW or IBEW or AFSCME offers to help Fallon? Since he won't take their PAC money will he take their feet on the street? What happens when the air-waves are full of Nussle/Vander Plaats ads? Do we just ignore them and hope our volunteer phone-banks will counter them? How much of the IDP's help will Fallon allow since he eschews PAC/large contributions? Will he bend his own rules to allow the Party to assist him?

Those things scare me. I don't want to lose but feel good about myself the next day. I do believe in election reform, I hate that people don't have enough to eat or don't have health insurance but we have multi-million dollar political campaigns. But, we HAVE to be the party in control (with a majority in the statehouse) to enact change. We have to get there first.

As for Dean and the other guy cheating, John Kerry didn't cheat. Maybe some over zealous Kerry supporters took it too far, but Dean lost in Iowa (and I am a Dean supporter) Don't blame anyone other than the Dean campaign for that.

[rurallib]

5. I didn't mean you, Debi

I am talking about certain members of my central committee and other friends. They keep saying he's 'too far left' and he 'will scare people'. I think Fallon is very common sense and a real fiscal conservative. But of course few Iowans will actually listen to what he has to say. They will be listening to Sinclair broadcasting and ClearChannel who most certainly will portray Fallon as marginal. They have a stake in getting a Nussle or VPlatts elected.

[Debi]

6. Well, tonight's the night. Let us know if you break into preference group

and if you become a delegate to the County Convention. I can't wait to see these candidates in a debate. Like I said, if Fallon is the nominee I will have no trouble voting and working for him or giving him money.

:hi:

[rurallib]

9. We broke into preference groups

2 delegates for Fallon, 4 for someone named uncommitted. We're close to Iowa City so we get an overflow of leftys in town.
Things went pretty smoothly, didn't take very long. Damn chairman had his head up his rear (that would be me). I will be moving upward as a Fallon delegate.
Our resolutions sucked. I entered the ones from working families last week that you had posted, but I had missed the ones from Rapid Response today and forgot all about the voting machine issue.
Well Debi, if you move up to state maybe I will meet you there.

[Debi]

10. congrats on going on to County Convention

My husband and I were the only attendees from our township, so we will both be heading to convention - we wrote down that we were Culver delegates, but obviously we didn't break into preference groups (the math alone...sheesh x() I hope to meet several DUers from Iowa at State Convention - hopefully THEN we will FINALLY have our meet-up that we so often speak of and do nothing about.

No resolutions in our township, but we helped other precincts with theirs, so we know they will head on to convention.

Mike Blouin spoke at our caucus, which I thought odd that he would travel so far from home - wonder if he spoke anywhere else.


============================

Bit of controversy at our caucus - my husband nominated me as Chair and I nominated him.....it was resolved when we realized that I had the only pen and elected myself Secretary making him by default Chair...I have the power:P!

[4dsc]

7. Hard voting for Culver

I used to be a big Culver fan and wanted to see him run in the worse way until I found out he was for the death penalty.. He lost my vote!!

[Debi]

8. I'm not going to jump on you - you have the right to support who you want

But I'm willing to support a person who believes in the death penalty in VERY limited circumstances (and remember that a death penalty bill would have to end up on his desk by passing through both chambers in the state legislature), over others who believe that women are unable to make their own reproductive health care decisions. Both Blouin and Judge have voted in the past to take this decision out of women's hands, the measure has made it to the Governor's desk before (and thank God Vilsack didn't sign it).

We all have choices to make. We'll all end up supporting the Democrat in the end. I hope.