Posted on 10/13/2004 4:56:33 PM PDT by Theodore R.
Poll shows Vitter in lead, Dems launch attack
By ADAM NOSSITER Associated Press writer
With a new poll commissioned by Republican U.S. Senate candidate David Vitter showing him maintaining a substantial lead over Democratic rivals, the Democrats' national Senate elections committee launched a two-front, television-and-manpower attack on him Tuesday.
The poll, by Public Opinion Strategies, gives Vitter 43 percent, more than the three Democratic candidates combined. In an independent poll in September, the Republican congressman from Metairie had 42 percent -- a result that already had analysts speculating that he could win the race outright on Nov. 2, and avoid a December runoff.
The latest poll, of 600 registered voters, was conducted Oct. 6, 7 and 10th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent. Public Opinion Strategies is run by one of the Republicans' leading pollsters, Bill McInturff.
His poll gives U.S. Rep. Chris John, the Democrats' officially anointed candidate, 17 percent, and state treasurer John Kennedy 14 percent. State Rep. Arthur Morrell has 2 percent.
The Democrats Tuesday dismissed the idea that Vitter would be elected to the Senate without a runoff.
"There is going to be a runoff," said Brad Woodhouse, a spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). "Vitter has gotten a free ride in this race because he doesn't have a Republican opponent in the primary," the Democrat said, even as several colleagues from the DSCC were on their way to Louisiana from Washington to spearhead the anti-Vitter campaign.
Vitter's campaign, meanwhile, was not ceding any ground Tuesday. The poll "basically shows why the DSCC is investing all this money to send their top staffers down here," said Vitter spokesman Mac Abrams.
Meanwhile, a new anti-Vitter ad paid for by the DSCC began airing in Louisiana Tuesday, the beginning of a $1.5 million television campaign the Democrats are planning between now and Election Day. The ad scores Vitter for what it deems his inconsistency on importing drugs from Canada, and on protecting Social Security.
"The invasion from the liberal Washington Democrats has begun," Vitter responded Tuesday. "They started running attack ads against me this morning which completely distort my record. They are also sending major high level staff as part of this assault against Louisiana," said Vitter. "I just think it's a shame."
Vitter criticized the new ad as inaccurate, noting that he voted for a drug re-importation bill opposed by John, and slamming what he called the Democrats' "wild stretch" of saying, in essence, that at a time of budget deficits, "any new spending, or a tax cut, it's a raid on Social Security."
The Democrats made clear Tuesday that the rhetorical attack level is ratcheting up.
"He's trying to remake his image in a way that's totally inconsistent with his record," DSCC spokesman Woodhouse said. "I feel certain we'll continue to expose Vitter for the fraud he is, coming off like a moderate," Woodhouse said, noting Vitter's record of consistently voting with President Bush. The independent National Journal ranks Vitter as one of the more conservative House members, though not the most conservative.
"I don't really care what the Washington establishment thinks that's trying to control this campaign," Vitter said.
It will be hard for Vitter to win a run off,,once they get down to one dem, all the corpses will come out to vote.
Strong coat tails from GWB could put Vitter over the top. But, we remember the revenge of Hurricane Mary.
I don't get it: his opponents put together only gather 31%. So what is the great fear?
the fear is that seemingly EVERY time there is a runoff the R loses - period
I've noticed a *lot* of Chris John television ads in the New Orleans television market, and he's using the same tactics as Mary Landrieu and Kathleen Blanco (especially the latter), showing his good-ole-boy brothers and blue-collar roots.
If Vitter doesn't win outright on Nov. 2, Chris John will be a big threat, no doubt.
Correction: It will be hard for Vitter to win on Dec. 4 unless his opponent is fourth-place candidate Arthur Morrell. Maybe Vitter voters should flock to Morrell, just enough, to give Morrell the second spot. But that would be tricky raiding and could backfire, even produce a Kennedy-John runoff general election, as they are called in LA.
Theo, is that your tricky way of finally letting some optimism peek through? ;-)
The local black democrat newspaper endorsed Chris John. It's funny how when the big races come out they post the same "this race is important" excuse. think blacks in New Orleans would learn by now that their interests are just not being properly considered.
BTTT
"The latest poll, of 600 registered voters, was conducted Oct. 6, 7 and 10th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent. Public Opinion Strategies is run by one of the Republicans' leading pollsters, Bill McInturff.
His poll gives U.S. Rep. Chris John, the Democrats' officially anointed candidate, 17 percent, and state treasurer John Kennedy 14 percent. State Rep. Arthur Morrell has 2 percent."
I wonder how blacks are going to vote for senator. It appears that most are not "wasting" their votes on Arthur Morrell, who would be an ideal opponent for David Vitter. I think most blacks will wind up with Christ John -- on orders from John Breaux!
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