Senate Balance of Power: Minnesota moves to "Leans Democrat"

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/rasmussen/20060901/pl_rasmussen/balanceofpower20060901

Senate Balance of Power: Minnesota moves to "Leans Democrat"

rasmussenreports.com Fri Sep 1, 10:50 AM ET

Updated September 1, 2006—On the first day of September, Rasmussen Reports is making our fourth shift in the Balance of Power ratings. All four have been in the same direction—towards a more competitive race. The latest change moves the Minnesota Senate race from "Democrat" to "Leans Democrat." Democrat Amy Klobuchar leads Mark Kennedy 47% to 40% in that race. In our previous poll, she held a 12-point advantage.


Earlier changes shifted Pennsylvania from "Democrat" to "Leans Democrat," Washington from "Democrat" to "Leans Democrat" and Virginia from "Republican" to "Leans Republican."

These changes do not affect the overall Balance of Power projection. our data shows the GOP is favored in enough races to hang on to 50 Senate seats at the moment. Forty-seven seats would be in Democratic hands while 3 are in the Toss-Up category. Those numbers have not budged.

However, beneath the surface, there is plenty of rumbling. Republicans are now clearly favored to win or retain 48 seats (this includes those not up for re-election this year). Another two seats are listed as "Leans Republican." On the Democratic side of the aisle, just 40 seats are solidly in their column while seven more are in the "Leans Democrat" category. Two weeks ago, just one Republican seat and four Democrats were in the "Leaners" category.

All three Toss-Up race are in states currently represented by Republicans running for re-election--DeWine in Ohio, Talent in Missouri, and Burns in Montana. Still, even if all three Toss-Up states went to the Democrats, the GOP would remain in nominal control of the Senate. In the case of a 50-50 tie, Vice-President
Dick Cheney would cast the deciding vote as the presiding officer of the Senate.

[BlueManDude]

1. Hopefully Minnesotans have learned a lesson from shitbag Coleman.n/t

[northernsoul]

4. We've learned that Norm's dad likes cheap hookers, too.

n/t

[rodeodance]

2. more are in the lean Dem now than just 2 weeks ago. not good

[City Lights]

5. And yet we see generic poll after poll indicating disgust with pukes.

:wtf: It make no sense. How could the race in PA have moved from Democrat to Leans Democrat? If PA sends Santorum back to Washington, I'll have to put the entire state "on notice" a la Stephen Colbert. ;-)

[sandnsea]

7. The Green

It moved the numbers between Casey & Santorum closer, even though I don't think Santorum's numbers moved up too terribly much.

[City Lights]

8. I forgot about the GOP-funded Green candidate.

:spank:

Thanks for the reminder! :-)

[northernsoul]

3. Amy Klobuchar cleaned Screech Kennedy's Clock Yesterday

In a live debate at the State Fair, which was also broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio (the 800 lb. gorilla of American public radio). Kennedy was in deep doo-doo before. I think that once some of his idiotic comments and Amy's thundering rebuttals of his B.S. get broader circulation, he's gonna regret the day he decided to stop selling cheesy Xmas ornaments and enter politics.

[Beausoir]

6. The Strib took some cheap shots at Amy re: her supporters at debate.

Apparently the Strib thought she had too many vocal supporters to be fair.
Boo-hoo.

Glad to hear she mopped the floor with Makeover Mark.

[CatholicEdHead]

9. Some of this is from Kennedy's flashy advertising

He is pulling many emotional strings as he is using his nuclear and extended family in most of his TV ads. That leads to distortion and can be considered a form of exploitation with his family, even if they signed on willingly.

Mark was royally roasted on MPR yesterday morning with the Minnesota State Fair crowd.