GOP pollster Chris Wilson, who recently worked on the Utah Senate primary for Republican nominee Mike Lee, said if proven true, the charges pose challenges to new media organizations who are desperate for fresh numbers about elections across the nation.

“The organizations that have been implicated in these scandals – the R2K and Strategic Visions of the world – have sprung up over the last decade to service the needs of these kinds of clients,� said Wilson.

But he also said it should serve as a warning to those scanning the plethora of pollsters out there, attempting to separate the cream of the crop from the illegitimate.

“You can’t forge a live operator survey. That’s why live operator is the gold standard. Any legitimate pollster will be happy to tell you where their call center is located, will let you listen in on interviews via telephone and will send you their raw data set. Anyone using a pollster who won’t do these things should be concerned,� he said.
Read full article here.

Congressional job approval remains in the basement according to a new Gallup Survey. Just 1 in 5 Americans (20%) approve of the job Congress is doing, which is only 4% higher than the historical low for a midterm election recorded in March.

As Election Day continues to get closer, Congress’s low approval rate bodes well for GOP pick-ups in the fall.

Congratulations to Mike Lee on his victory in yesterday’s GOP primary in for the Utah Senate nomination. With 99.2% of precincts reporting, Lee defeated Tim Bridgewater 51.1%-48.9%.

Lee will face restaurant owner Sam Granato, who ran uncontested for the Democratic nomination, in the general election. A Democrat hasn’t been elected to the Senate from Utah in 40 years.

From the Prism Information Network:

Another series of primary/run-off elections will be held today featuring action in Utah and the Carolinas. Mississippi also has run-off voting scheduled for tomorrow but not for a competitive federal office.

 

Turning to the Senate, Utah Republicans will go to the polls to choose a replacement nominee for Sen. Robert Bennett who was defeated in the May 8^th GOP nominating convention. In the Beehive State, if no candidate receives 60% of the vote in convention, a primary is scheduled between the top two finishers. Bennett placed third behind business consultant Tim Bridgewater and Salt Lake attorney and former gubernatorial staff member Mike Lee.

 
 

Considering the winner of tomorrow’s race will be the eventual Senator and serve at least until the beginning of 2017 and quite possibly beyond, the campaign has been rather anti-climatic. Fundraising has been light. Through the June 2^nd financial disclosure report, the pre-primary filing period for Utah, Bridgewater had raised just shy of $575,000 with Lee only at $416,000. Alcohol Beverage Control Board Chairman Sam Granato is the Democratic nominee, and he only managed to gather $85,000 before his party’s convention. Granato is not expected to be a viable opponent in the heavily Republican state.

 
 

A low turnout primary suggests that both Bridgewater and Lee are alive to win the GOP nomination and become Utah’s next Senator.

 
 

Across the country in South Carolina, another incumbent appears to be on the precipice of defeat. Attracting only 28% of the vote in the June 8^th primary, veteran Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC-4) is the decided underdog to Spartanburg County Solicitor (District Attorney) Trey Gowdy. The challenger is attacking from the right, armed with Tea Party support. The incumbent talks about “changing Washington” and the “mistakes” that he has made, which is normally not a winning formula for an office holder on the ropes. In one of Inglis’ video promotions, he mentions Rep. Joe Wilson’s (R-SC-2) famous “you lie” comment, but says his colleague should have directed the remark toward every member of Congress. Inglis fails to mention that he voted in favor of the official resolution the House passed disparaging Wilson, however. Expect Gowdy to unseat Inglis tomorrow and win easily in November.

 
 

In the Governor’s race, the battle between state Rep. Nikki Haley and GOP Congressman Gresham Barrett (R-SC-3) will also be decided. Haley just missed winning the nomination outright two weeks ago, and is viewed to be a heavy favorite tomorrow. State Sen. Vincent Sheheen is the Democratic nominee by virtue of his outright primary victory.

 
 

In Barrett’s open 3^rd district, two conservative candidates are battling over who will become the GOP nominee and next Congressman from the safely Republican western Palmetto State congressional district.

 
 

Evangelical pastor Richard Cash, a father of eight who supports term limits and won’t accept PAC money, placed first in the original primary election. He faces state Rep. Jeff Duncan, who enjoys the backing of the Club for Growth and Red State founder Erick Erickson, along with a preponderance of local Republican officials. The outcome of this race is difficult to peg and could be close. Duncan has a decided money advantage. Cash is strong with grassroots supporters.

 
 

In North Carolina, a congressional run-off occurs in the Charlotte area’s 8^th district, where a heated battle is occurring between businessman Tim D’Annunzio and former sportscaster Harold Johnson for the right to oppose freshman Rep. Larry Kissell (D) in November. The campaign has been marred with attacks about D’Annunzio and his past. Virtually the entire GOP establishment, including ex-Rep. Robin Hayes (R-NC-8), who represented the district for ten years, and the House GOP leadership along with many of the local county Tea Party organizations, have endorsed Johnson. This race has the potential to be close in the general election.

 
 

UPDATED:
Outlined below are arrangements intended to celebrate the life of our dear friend Lance Copsey. In lieu of flowers, contributions to a memorial fund for his children’s education will be greatly appreciated. Please make checks payable to CollegeAmerica, note the name Copsey on the check, mail to Hall Wealth Management Group, 1940 Duke Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22314

Viewing:
Wednesday 16 June, 2010
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm — 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Lee Funeral Home
8125 Southern Maryland Blvd.
Owings, MD 20736
Phone: 301 855 0888

Memorial Service:
Thursday 17 June 2010
11:00 am

Calvary Bible Church
8300 Nursery Road
Lusby, MD (Calvery County)
Phone: 410 586 1091

ORIGINAL POSTING:

Very sad to learn of the passing of our good friend Lance Copsey. Our hearts go out to his wife and daughters. Another reminder about how precious and fragile life is and that there are far more important things in life than politics and campaigns.

Following is the statement from RNC Chairman Steele on Lance:

WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today:

“All of us at the Republican National Committee are deeply saddened by the sudden death of our friend Lance Copsey. Lance was a dear friend and an integral part of my team. I valued his advice and counsel. Lance could always cut through the noise and provide well thought out insight.

“Those of us from Maryland had the pleasure of watching Lance grow from his days as Political Director and then Executive Director of the Maryland Republican Party to an international political consultant with clients around the world and an award winning film producer with Marsh-Copsey Associates.

“Nothing demonstrated Lance’s love of life more than his love for and his pride in his family. Our hearts and prayers are with Jenny, Molly and Bess. Lance has left us all too soon.�

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico continues to dominate news coverage, which is bad news for President Obama. According to a Pew Survey two-thirds (66%) of Americans cite the Gulf disaster as the story they followed most closely.

While Americans are closely following the story, they disapprove of the President’s handling of the situation. According to a PPP survey:

Do you approve or disapprove of how President Obama has handled the oil spill in the Gulf?

Approve…………….. 38%

Disapprove………… 47%

As a result, we are seeing a small uptick in President Obama’s disapproval numbers, which had flattened out in recent weeks:

When survey data is released about Michigan football, I have to comment. This is especially so when the local paper gets the headline wrong. Here is the key question from a recent Public Policy Polling survey of Michigan voters:

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Rich Rodriguez? (Asked only of Michigan fans)

Favorable……………………………………………….. 20%

Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 26%

Not sure …………………………………………………. 54%

Despite a majority of fans being undecided on Rich Rodriguez, the Ann Arbor News ran the following headline: “Polling website says Michigan fans have unfavorable opinion of football coach Rich Rodriguez“.

When one looks at the next question in the survey, it becomes clear that the headline really misses the mark:

Would you like to see Rich Rodriguez continue to be Michigan’s football coach this season or would you like to see him replaced? (Asked only of Michigan fans)

Would like to see Rodriguez continue…………. 51%

Would like to see him replaced ………………….. 20%

Not sure …………………………………………………. 29%

The bottom line here: after two tough seasons, Michigan fans aren’t thrilled, but are not ready to throw the bums out yet. RichRod’s numbers, while not close to what I imagine Bo Schembechler would get, are nothing an 8-4 or a 9-3 season can’t fix.

From Gallup:

Gallup tracking of 2010 congressional voting preferences shows Republicans moving back ahead of Democrats, 49% to 43%, by two points their largest lead of the campaign to date.

 

While the preferences of Republican and Democratic registered voters have largely been stable in recent weeks, the now-larger group of independent registered voters has shifted more toward Republicans in its voting preferences.

During the 2008 Presidential campaign, mixed in with all the talk of hope and change, Barack Obama promised to bring transparency and competence back to Washington. But recent events have begun to show those promises to be more campaign trail happy talk.

First, his administration refuses to answer questions about the job offered to Pennsylvania Senate candidate Joe Sestak. The charge, leveled by the Sestak himself, if true would violate “Section 18 USC 211 says you cannot accept anything of value in return for hiring somebody.”

 

On top of that, the Obama’s handling of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, is beginning to look less than stellar. According to a CBS News survey 45% of adults disapprove of the way Obama is handling the oil spill while only 35% approve.

The end result: Obama’s sky high approval ratings have now returned to earth, and his approval ratings remain mired below 50%. For a campaign that jealously guarded the “Obama Brand” during the 2008 campaign, the actions of the administration continue to undermine the brand and prove that Barack Obama is just another politician.