Posted on 05/24/2005 10:21:13 PM PDT by RIght Wing Republican
State Rep. Tom Brinkman has been endorsed by Gun Owners of America, I believe. You can check out his positions at http://www.gobrinkman.com/ -- he sure looks solid to me.
There are two other major candidates: former US Rep and current lobbyist Bob McEwen and former rep. Jean Schmidt. Schmidt looks like a good option, McEwen less so. Ideally we would rally round one non-DeWine candidate, as the DeWine name gives Jr a name recognition advantage.
Brinkman's also a sitting state rep who has won before and can win this district.
I met Tom Brinkman at the Gun Rights Policy Conference. He talked the talk there. I later found that he also walked the walk on this issue. He's also pro-life, and has a long anti-tax record.
I sent his campaign a donation. I can't vote for him since I'm out of state, but I will be following the race since his vote in congress affects me as much as my own congressman's vote. Good luck.
http://www.jeanschmidt.com/Poll%20Results.htm
Schmidt 20.8%
DeWine 17.9%
Brinkman 6.4%
McEwen 3.7%
Minamyer 2.1%
Undecided ~43%
Zogby +/- 5%, 400 likely, April 18-19
DeWine 42
McEwen 10
Schmidt 7
Brinkman 6
Tarrance Group, 400 likely, publicized April 5th
DeWine 29
Schmidt 8
Brinkman 6
McEwen 6
Other Candidates (not running) ~ 25
American Viewpoint, taken in March, publicized late April sponsored by ????, +/- 5.8%
My state rep was polled 3rd or 4th, but he won the primary(by 2 votes). That was also in a race where all of the candidates ran as conservatives in a fairly clean campaign. It wasn't supposed to be close, but it was a low turnout GOP primary, since a lot of the voters went in the democrat primary(Michigan has open primaries) to vote in the governor's race. Then again, some polls are right on, as in the John Ramsey case.
In the Schwarz race, Gene DeRossett polled high for awhile, as did Brad Smith. Tim Walberg consistantly finished last in polling, but came in at 3rd because of momentum.
The biggest key in special elections is base motivation. That's how Garcia won his senate seat. Right to life wanted to destroy a pro-choicer, and while all are pro-2a, Garcia has lead the way before. Polls called this race too close to call, but it was a 2-1 win.
I think Brinkman's advantage is among gun owners and anti-tax advocates where he's lead. I think Schmidt's advantage is Right to Life where she's lead. McEwen is a candidate who is a former congressman. He lost to Ted Strickland for check bouncing.
It all depends on who shows up at the polls.
Schmidt is the worst of all of them. She voted to raise our state Sales Tax by 20%. She voted to raise our state's Gas Tax by 6 cents per gallon; apparently gas prices are too low for her. She sponsored legislation to allow Cincinnati and Hamilton County to raise it's hotel tax. She is a tax and spend Republican.
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