Poll: McKinney closing the gap, up 13 points in less than a week.

[LincolnMcGrath]

snip;

McKinney’s totals moved up from the last poll late last week...

The tracking survey of 300 likely voters was conducted the evening of July 31, and has a margin of error of plus or minus six percent.


Link

snip;

In their first face-to-face televised debate, U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney and Hank Johnson, the local politician who forced her into Democratic runoff, traded verbal jabs Monday on her voting record and his past financial problems.

McKinney pounced on Johnson's past debts, including a bankruptcy and overdue taxes, which the inumbent highlights in a new 60-second radio ad. The spot also accuses Johnson of ethical violations while he was a DeKalb County commissioner, claiming he accepted a $1,000 campaign contribution from landfill developers.

The congresswoman appeared at ease throughout the debate, often telling the panelists she was happy they asked a particular question and flashing her wide smile.



'nuther link

[DemFromMem]

1. Doubt it.

I highly doubt she jumped that much in a week. People just don't shift opinions that rapidly absent a major scandal breaking. I suspect the polls are inaccurate in one direction or the other. Either the new numbers are off or she was never that far behind to begin with.

[LincolnMcGrath]

4. It does have a wide margin of error.

The 1st poll queried about 500, and the 2nd about 300 I believe.

:shrug:

[Awsi Dooger]

8. Thanks for that accurate analysis

I appreciate it when poll numbers are questioned and not blindly followed. Too often around here we accept poll numbers as gospel, unless it's a pollster we don't like due to supposed slant.

Primaries are extremely difficult to poll but I agree with DemFromMen there is no way this dramatic of a switch occurred for no apparent reason. It belongs in the "yeah sure" category the same as the simultaneous polls in 2004 showing Kerry leading Ohio by 8 and trailing Florida by 6. Those states are very close to each other in partisanship, yet somehow the pollsters wanted us to believe a remarkable moment-in-time 14 point divergence.

[rinsd]

14. It is a large shift with a pretty hefty margin of error

"Either the new numbers are off or she was never that far behind to begin with."

I never thought she was that far behind. That just doesn't happen with incumbents.

[BushOut06]

2. Making an issue of a 20-yr old bankruptcy is a bad move, IMHO

I think many of us have been in that situation, either filing for bankruptcy or considering it. To use something like that as a campaign issue, especially when it happened twenty years ago, seems like a cheap shot to me. As far as Johnson taking money from developers, I don't really know enough about that to make a judgement call. I do know that it's fairly common practice for local officials from both parties to take money from developers - after all, local officials make decisions that affect developers. Right or wrong, it happens - just like all the lobbying & donations that occur on the national level. Now if Johnson sat on the board of directors for one of these developers, and was making decisions as a local official affecting that developer, that would be a clear ethical violation.

[LincolnMcGrath]

6. Part of the ethics complaint involves illegal use of campaign funds

[rinsd]

13. Illegal use of campaign funds did you say?

Isaac Hayes ring any bells?

[mom cat]

Hers is a winning smile if there ever was one!

[Reckon]

3. I sure hope we don't lose Cynthia McKinney for that crook Johnson

"Johnson has built momentum going into the runoff, reporting an increase in contributions. His financial supporters include former Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes, former GOP state Rep. Emory Morsberger, Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus and Barnes' former GOP gubernatorial rival, Guy Millner. Earlier Monday, Johnson received the endorsement of each of the district's three sheriffs: DeKalb's Thomas Brown, Gwinnett's R.L. "Butch" Conway and Rockdale's Jeff Wigington.

McKinney criticized Johnson for receiving $16,000 in contributions from Republicans during the primary. She charged that some of those people were "against the Voting Rights Act." She also charged that Johnson took money from developers and special interest groups."

We need to help her all we can.

[LincolnMcGrath]

5. Thanks Reckon!

[rinsd]

15. McKinney didn't even show up for that vote.

The hypocrisy is staggering.

[Reckon]

16. What were they voting on?

[rinsd]

17. The extension of the Voting Rights Act. The 1st amendment to it

The one that would remove the Justive Dept review of several Southern states changes in election issues (ie: the id act, districts changes, etc)

http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/072606/mckinney.html

McKinney did vote on the final bill that was passed though I believe. That was one was a re-affirmation of the orig with virtually no changes.

[onehandle]

7. She's toast.

She's gone beyond the edge here in my district.

She's lost.

It's time.

[LincolnMcGrath]

9. I've have heard rumors of some 'coo coo for cocoa puffs' nut job running

around the internets screaming something about slap a cop or some such nonsense. :shrug:

In all seriousness, I do appreciate your ATL insider knowledge. :hi:


P.S. Is the freakin road construction in and around ATL done yet ? Damn!

[onehandle]

18. The major highways are not in a major construction phase.

They are pretty open.

West Peachtree Road has been #@%$@! in a state of construction for three #@%$@! years.

Bush's America has been in Recession for over five years. Atlanta NEVER stops building.

Which is why I'm stuck here. Damn flush job market.

[Celica Toyota]

12. Bush's man Johnson hasn't won yet. McKinney can beat him.

[newsguyatl]

10. i'm gonna vote for her

just to piss off the repubes and the rightwing "dems" here.

hope she wins.

[Celica Toyota]

11. Both polls has small samples. I'm hoping McKinney beats the Republicans

I hope every Democrat in Georgia watched that debate.