GOPSurvey Puts Ganske Within Six

Roll Call ^ | Sometime around 6-22 | Chris Cillizza

[rmmcdaniell]

Rep. Greg Ganske (R) has closed the gap in his race against Sen.TomHarkin(D), according to a new Republican poll. Harkin led Ganske 49 percent to 43 percent in the survey done byDavid Hill, a Republican pollster not affiliated with the Ganske campaign. The poll tested 500 likely voters from June 12 to 15 with a 4.38 percent margin of error.

Harkin was known by 98 percent of those polled; Ganske was recognized by 82 percent. Both men had solid favorable to unfavorable scores. Sixty-one percent viewed Harkin favorably, 32 percent unfavorably. Ganske had a 53 percent favorable to 20 percent unfavorable rating.

This is the first poll released since Ganske’s June 4 primary victory over conservative farmer Bill Salier (R). Ganske defeated Salier 59 percent to 41 percent while heavily outspending the first time candidate.

Polling prior to the primary showed Ganske trailing the three-term Senator by 20 points or more.

[rmmcdaniell]

Don't vote libertarian, this is gonna be a close one.

[Coop]

Hmmmm. I'll need to see another poll before I believe that Ganske just suddenly closed the gap like this. He was seriously trailing early on. I wouldn't mind seeing him knock off Harkin, mind you, but I certainly wish the conservative Salier was running instead.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Attended our party's state convention yesterday in Cedar Rapids. Many conversations I had were ones where there is great concern to get real Republicans to vote for the phony Republican, Ganske.

I guess I'm getting a little resentful that anyone would view the rift as anyone's fault except Ganske, himself.

Chuck Grassley, (whom I admire) made a big mistake (in my opinion) in supporting Ganske before the primary. Likewise for George Bush and the RNSC.

They all got behind the phony Republican and then expect real Republicans to rally behind the phony.

Bill Salier is a REAL Republican. He's also being a gentleman about this.

I'm not advocating anyone do anything about it. It's an individual decision. We can go along and be good little foot soldiers and allow the powers-that-be to continue to think that there will never be consequences for their interference or there's also a valid argument for sitting out this election, letting the chips fall where they may and further risk allowing the commie Harkin get reelected. I don't have the answer.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Ultimately it was the decision of the voters in the IA GOP primaries. They chose Ganske over Salier. Did Salier offer his complete support in his concession speech? If so, is he following through on working hard to get Ganske elected?

[The Old Hoosier]

I invite all the conservatives on this board to consider the following: an all-GOP government is an enticing prospect, and will also be a revelation for all of us. Until now, Republicans have had excuses for their ineffectiveness in advancing conservative legislation. If they win the Senate with 51 or 52 pubbies and keep the House in November (which could very well happen), then there will finally be no excuse for failure, for the first time since the birth of modern Conservatism. We will have the chance to demand what we want in the judiciary, for example.

If we abandon them this year, we won't accomplish anything. But if we give them control, then threaten to abandon them, and back up our threat if necessary in 2004, then we have a chance to make a real difference.

If you're thinking about third party, my advice is to wait till next time, and vote for Ganske this time aroud as the better alternative.

If we put them in power and they screw us, then we take some serious revenge.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

They chose Ganske over Salier after Bush came to the state to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Ganske and the RNSC supported RINO Ganske with their dollars. Grassley early on endorsed Ganske thinking he was the only viable candidate.

Grassley was wrong.

Salier has the message: vows to uphold the Republican platform. Ganske couldn't care less.

Salier has said he will work to defeat all Democrats. He has stopped short of endorsing Ganske and I don't think he should. He would be a hypocrite to do so.

I'm not advocating to anyone that they do anything. I have until Nov. to decide. My personal attitude now is indifference and anger at those who created this mess. We would not be in this mess if Salier were the nominee.

The party had better learn to not get involved in primaries. This was not a fair fight.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

No way would I consider a third party. What third party? The Republican party is the party with the platform I want to support.

[Brandon]

I guess I'm getting a little resentful that anyone would view the rift as anyone's fault except Ganske, himself.

With Salier's supporters posting messages calling Ganske a "phony Republican" and claiming Ganske "couldn't care less" about the Party platform, it's hard to understand why the rift is Ganske's fault. Salier may be conducting himself like a gentleman, but at least some of his supporters clearly are not.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Ganske was the recipient of the Club for Growth's RINO award. If you think McCain cares about the Republican platform, then you'll think Ganske does.

[BlackRazor]

"Hmmmm. I'll need to see another poll before I believe that Ganske just suddenly closed the gap like this."

I agree. Considering that this is a Republican poll, it's probably shaded about 3 points in Gankse's favor. He's most likely really about 9 points down.

[Coop]

Oh yeah, I always give a couple of points depending on who conducted the poll. But even 8-9 points would be a significant improvement over the previous couple of polls I saw.

[Brandon]

Ganske was the recipient of the Club for Growth's RINO award. If you think McCain cares about the Republican platform, then you'll think Ganske does.

And making accusations like this helps to heel the rift in what way?

In any case, I try to form my own opinions, rather than allowing outsiders with an axe to grind to form them for me.

[ssantomaur]

THe bottom line is the first vote Ganske would make is for either Lott or Nickles as majority leader. As we've seen this past year Bush does not veto anything. By controlling both houses the conservative agenda will go through.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Ganske will do whatever McCain does.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

And making accusations like this helps to heel the rift in what way?

What accusations? I was stating facts. Remember it is Ganske who has alienated Republicans. Ganske is the one who needs to try to fix this problem--if there is a problem.

[Temple Owl]

How much of a liberal is Ganske? Is he an out-and-out RINO? Do we need another Arlen Specter? Just asking. It is hard to get rid of them once they are in.

[rmmcdaniell]

How much of a liberal is Ganske? Is he an out-and-out RINO? Do we need another Arlen Specter? Just asking. It is hard to get rid of them once they are in.

Ganske is certainly no Chuck Grassley, but Ganske has a lifetime ACU rating of 68. This puts him ahead of Republican Senators: Lincoln Chaffe-RI, Arlen Spector-PA, Susan Collins-Maine, Olympia Snowe-Maine, Ted Stevens-Alaska, Ben Campbell-CO. Additionally Ganske has a better lifetime rating than Zell Miller. Tom Harkin has a miserable lifetime rating of 9%. Its your choice a 68 or a 9.

[Temple Owl]

Thanks. I hope he wins.

[rmmcdaniell]

Though to be fair, Ted Stevens and Ben Campbell have become much more consevative in the past few years.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

This is what the Club for Growth says about Ganske when giving him his RINO of the Year Award:

"Congressman Greg Ganske (R-Iowa) - U.S. House of Representatives RINO of the Year
Congressman Ganske wins for being the Republican sponsor of the Democratic bill to federalize airport workers and for sponsoring the Republican version of the so-called "Health Care Bill of Rights" legislation."

The award must have been given before CFR as he voted for it, too.