Posted on 04/23/2014 11:59:19 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Former Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon is surging in the Oklahoma Senate Republican primary and now leads the other frontrunner in the race, Rep. James Lankford, in a new survey out from a pro-Shannon group.
The survey, conducted by the GOP firm Public Opinion Strategies for Oklahomans for a Conservative Future, gives Shannon 42 percent support among likely Republican primary voters to Lankford’s 32 percent support.
That’s a gain of 19 points from another survey in mid-March, when Lankford led Shannon by nine points.
The third candidate in the race, former state Sen. Randy Brogdon, takes just seven percent support — but his share of the vote appears to be enough to send the primary to a runoff, which is mandated if no candidate tops 50 percent in the primary.
Still, the poll is the latest indication that Shannon has much of the momentum in the race behind him, after picking up a number of big-name conservative endorsements. Just this week, FreedomWorks became the latest national conservative group to back him, while Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) endorsed him last week.
The race to replace retiring Sen. Tom Coburn (R) has been a battle for the conservative mantle, and Lankford — though one of the most conservative members in the House — was panned by conservative groups from day one of his candidacy.
He recently told The Hill that he’s not worried about the suggestion that Shannon is surging, calling it “spin” from Shannon’s advisers.
“They are masters at spin, and they make me laugh at some of the things that they step out and say. Because they go out, and they try to create a perception that’s not actually reality, and I understand what they’re trying to accomplish. The political game says you don’t have to actually go for the facts; you have to actually go for the spin,” he said in the halls of the Capitol.
Lankford spokesman Tyler Harber said the new survey doesn’t match up with their internals, but declined to offer details.
“Any pollster will tell you that sampling a primary population is extremely tough. We’re not putting a lot of weight into a POS survey in such a volatile race. They don’t have the experience in Oklahoma that The Tarrance Group does, and our internal numbers tell a different story,” he said.
“But, we aren’t going to get distracted with releasing competing surveys. The Lankford campaign will continue to focus on Oklahoma voters while the Pro-Shannon groups continue to spend a lot of time and money trying to convince folks inside the beltway that T.W. Shannon has can be competitive against Congressman Lankford.”
Lankford is still seen positively by the GOP primary electorate, according to the new survey, which shows 53 percent of respondents viewing him favorably. But 63 percent view Shannon favorably, a 15-point increase from March and an indication the endorsements have been a boon for him, as voters appear to like what they see as they get to know him.
That could change, however, as the race kicks into high gear in the final two months.
The survey was conducted among 500 likely GOP primary voters from April 21-22 via landline and cell phone and has a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points.
FU Establishment! You may succeed in reelecting Cornyn, McConnell, Graham and Alexander but we’ll reinforce Ted Cruz with Ben Sasse TW Shannon and hopefully Greg Brannon and maybe others!
Yes!
I am starting to get worried about the senate prospects though. Sasse and Shannon seem like they’ll win pretty easily, but McDaniel is really being hammered by the Cochran campaign in Mississippi who are throwing everything at the wall. North Carolina is going well for Brannon, but why is Cotton struggling to maintain any kind of lead in deep red Arkansas?
At least Land in Michigan is continuing to clean Peters’ clock.
But Lankford has so much experience as a Baptist Camnp Program Director! How could anyone not think he is just wornderful?
“........The polls likely do not reflect what the electorate will look like this fall, however. In the Arkansas poll, for instance, fully 39 percent of those in the sample say they’re paying little or no attention to the 2014 campaign, despite heavy spending on ads from both sides in the race. One-third of the registered voters surveyed in Arkansas didn’t vote in 2012, a sign the poll’s sample isn’t reflective of what Election Day will look like. Similar problems plague the other polls......”
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/204141-polls-red-state-senate-dems-still-alive
Yeah, i just cant see Pryor winning. He is the most endangered incumbent by far.
Oklahoma is a great and thriving state. They Love Ted Cruz. I don’t have any other facts on these candidates but if Palin also endorses Shannon— this one is in the bag. People are becoming more and more independent and less republicrat.
Readf what Barone said abou thes polls they are worthless. http://washingtonexaminer.com/author/michael-barone
Shannon is a personal friend of mine.
He is the real deal. He is Ted Cruz.. just a shade darker. :)
Anyone know what, if anything, Inhofe has said about this race..
Cotton will win this by 10+pts, easy..
Brogdon will have to replace Inhofe next time around.
6 years out is a long time..lots can change..I actually thought that Inofe might decide to retire..given his medical issues and the sad death of his son..they just can’t seem to walk away..right or left..they become so self-centered...the idea that they don’t have to be carried out of Congress never penetrates..gotta be the something in the water supply that messes with their minds.
If and when Inhofe ever retires.. that seat will go to Jim Bridenstine!
That would be fine too.
Yep!!!
Awesome. Go Shannon.
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