Posted on 07/28/2004 3:31:41 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan
Ramsey, three others in tight race for state House, poll shows
By JOHN FLESHER
The Associated Press
7/28/2004, 5:23 p.m. ET
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — John Ramsey is running neck-and-neck with three other Republicans for the state House less than a week before the primary election, according to poll results released Wednesday.
The survey by Lansing-based EPIC/MRA shows that many people in Michigan's 105th House District have an unfavorable impression of Ramsey, father of slain child beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey. But it also suggests he is benefiting from the crowded field, pollster Ed Sarpolus said.
"It's your typical divide-and-conquer race," Sarpolus said. "Because the anti-Ramsey vote is so divided, it allows him a shot at actually winning" in next Tuesday's GOP primary.
Of 401 likely Republican voters surveyed July 22-26 by phone, 18 percent supported Ramsey.
Kevin Elsenheimer, an attorney from Bellaire, was supported by 20 percent, while 17 percent backed Jeff Garfield, an Otsego County commissioner. Sixteen percent favored Craig Ryan, former legislative aide to the incumbent, Rep. Ken Bradstreet, who cannot seek re-election because of term limits. An additional 18 percent were undecided.
Bonnie Nothoff was supported by 8 percent, while 3 percent favored Jack Apol.
With a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points, the four leaders were in a statistical dead heat.
Strikingly, only 5 percent of those surveyed did not recognize Ramsey — testimony to the extensive media coverage of what ordinarily would be a run-of-the-mill state legislative race, as well as the notoriety of the unsolved murder of JonBenet.
The 6-year-old girl was found beaten and strangled in the basement of the family's home in Boulder, Colo., on Dec. 26, 1996. No charges have been filed and the Ramseys have denied responsibility, saying an intruder killed their daughter.
Nearly four in 10 voters said they had an unfavorable impression of Ramsey, while about three in 10 viewed him favorably. In most races, such high negative ratings would doom a candidate, Sarpolus said.
"If the other candidates decided who they wanted to win and started dropping out and endorsing the other, the odds for John Ramsey would start to dim," he said.
Such discussions took place early on but came to nothing, and it's unlikely any of the leading hopefuls will back out now, Ryan said.
"I feel pretty good about where I'm at," he said.
Elsenheimer said he had suspected all along the race would be close.
"Even though it's nice to receive good poll results, I'm working twice as hard ... to make sure we're in a position to win," he said.
Despite what Ramsey acknowledges is lingering suspicion about the JonBenet case, his opponents say his biggest problem is a perception that he is a carpetbagger.
Ramsey, his wife and son became permanent residents of Charlevoix last fall after having a summer home there since the early 1990s.
"People are looking for some local leadership and that's a high hurdle for John to climb over," Elsenheimer said. Ramsey contends he knows the district well and would use his business experience to boost its economy.
Ramsey campaign manager John Yob attributed Ramsey's unfavorable rating to the opposition's negative campaigning. The deciding factor will be voter turnout, he said.
"We're tied for first and going to work on getting out the vote, making phone calls, rallying our supporters and getting people energized," Yob said.
A report filed with the secretary of state's office last week showed Ramsey had raised $111,951 — including a $60,000 loan from the candidate — and spent $87,984.
He had far outspent all his rivals except Garfield, who reported spending $88,378. Garfield reported loaning his campaign $55,000 and raising $14,515 in contributions.
I cannot believe the RNC has not torpedoed this asshole yet. We want to talk about Robert Byrd, this guy killed his kid. Yes, I said it HE KILLED HIS KID. We do not need him on our side. Too much baggage and we need to be the party to keep the dirt and the morally bankrupt away. I know some here may take me to task for questioning his innocence but, he is another OJ.
Even as it is, Elsenheimer may get enough from Charlevoix County as well as his home base of Bellaire to pull it off if the poll is accurate.
"Ramsey campaign manager John Yob "
I'm not sure. Chuck Yob ran against Stupak.
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