Cantwell's lead over McGavick nearly gone Latest poll shows senator losing ground to challenger

Seattle Post Intelligencer ^ | June 22, 2006 | NEIL MODIE

[mak5]

Dwindling voter support for U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell's re-election bid has put her in a statistical toss-up with her Republican opponent, according to a new poll announced Wednesday.

Rasmussen Reports, an independent national polling firm, said a survey of 500 likely Washington voters June 13 showed the Democratic incumbent leading challenger Mike McGavick 44 percent to 40 percent. The margin of error was plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.

[Wolfstar]

Thank you for taking my question seriously and providing an answer. This is a sincere thank you, BTW.

I agree in part with what you wrote, although some of it describes any politician of any persuasion.

Here's my definition: Someone who registers and runs for election as a Republican, but who actually does not believe in the core principles of the Republican Party. Such person does not have to lean to the liberal side of the political spectrum. Such people who are really Libertarians, Buchananite/Perotista/Natural Law types, etc., also qualify as Republican in Name Only

[Pride in the USA]

Don't you just wish he would unseat Cantwell? If Mr. McGavick does win, it will have to be by a large percentage or the dims will keep finding unopened ballots and demand multiple recounts until Cantwell is the winner.

[Maynerd]

Your bashing of alledged rinos is off base because the "rinos" are loyal republicans, while you are not.

You sound like a Harriet Miers amnesty loving Bushbot. I believe in conservative principles not slavish obdience to a political party that at times is conservative and at other times is an absolute disgrace.

[stands2reason]

"Moonbat" is a word for liberals.
You have a problem with conservatism in general?

[pollyannaish]

Common sense rarely commands the attention it deserves, so I just wanted to say Thanks.

[stands2reason]

Some people don't want the party to become more conservative. They sneer at us troglodytes over their martini glasses.

[pollyannaish]

I think you underestimate the argument.

Most—if not all—of us want the party to become more conservative. The argument is not the goal we are striving towards, but how we propose to get there.

Some believe that we need to solidify the majority of Republicans in the senate before we start switching out the weaker players.

Others just want to dump the weaker players regardless and play with a pure-talent team because they believe the weaker players are holding them back.

Both sides have positive aspects and negative ones. Your choice, as a member of the voting public, is to try to assess the best way to reach the goal. Many of us disagree on that point, but it is important to remember that in the end, most of this is not about philosophy.

[stands2reason]

You started the insults.

[BillyBoy]

>> Your bashing of alledged rinos is off base because the "rinos" are loyal republicans <<

LMAO!!!! First you claim there is no Dem Senator to the left of the Chafee when I can easily cite a dozen Dem Senators who vote to his left, now you claim RINOs are "loyal Republicans". Man you make this tooooo easy. Remember these "loyal" Republican RINOs?

Barbara Hafer
RINO turned Democrat

Jim Jeffords
RINO turned Democrat

So your delusions about Chafee being to the right of all Dem Senators was wrong, your delusions about RINOs staying "loyal" to the party is total B.S., what pro-RINO statement would you like to debunk next? How about the goofy "RINO governors DELIVER their states to the GOP" myth? That's always a personal fav.

Or you could stop digging yourself in this hole. If you're so fond of pro-abortion, gun-grabbing, gay marriage loving liberals because they can "win", you should just register Dem. It makes it a lot easier.

[Columbusborn]

DeWine is bad, but Democrat Sherrod Brown is far worse -- for Ohio and our nation.

[BillyBoy]

>> In post 75 I notice the lifetime acu rating is 53 for nelson who is being dragged kicking and screaming to the right by a red state constituency while chaffee has a lifetime acu of 37 while representing a blue state. Put chaffee in NB and nelson in RI and you would get a result where nelson would be worse than chaffee, probably much much worse. <<

Gee, you're a glutton for punishment today, aren't you? Alright, let's go with your little scenario.

Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) reprsents a solidly "red state" that ALWAYS votes GOP in presidetial elections and has a hardcore GOP electorate giving every statewide constitutional office to the GOP. His conservative rating last year was 13%, about the same as your hero Chafee. So much for being dragged kickcing and screaming to the right by his continents.

Governor Don Calerci (R-RI) governors is a solidly blue state that gave Gore/Kerry the second highest vote totals in the nation. It has a hardcore Dem constinency that gives the Dems a monopoly over the state's entire congressional delegation. Unlike your hero Chafee, Calerci has governed as a pro-life, pro-family, staunchly fiscal conservative in a blue state.

Checkmate, you lose.

P.S. You could just be honest and admit you like Chafee because his "values" are closer to yours than say, that "moonbat" Tom Delay.

[sefarkas]

Libertarianism is often at odds with both Republicanism and modern-day conservatism.

And that is EXACTLY the problem with the country-club Republicans and one-issue conservatives you so eloquently defend. Smaller government by less spending and less unwarranted regulation should be the mantra of all of those to the right-of-center, what ever label you put on them.

[calcowgirl]

... his "values" are closer to yours than say, that "moonbat" Tom Delay.

I think you hit that, dead on.

[staytrue]

I'd rather have a smaller but more cohesive majority.

Okay, how much smaller than 55-45 and 230-205 do you want. The margin now is 5 in the senate and 13 in the house.

[staytrue]

read post 35 which says "Chafee and DeWine are pond scum. They're worst than Dems."

to me, that is barking moonbat territory.

chaffee seems honest, not my values but honest. dewine seems like an empty suit but still better than any dem.

[staytrue]

I checked the lifetime acu ratings of all senators and among the 55 r's chaffee had the lowest but that was still higher than every democrat except nelson.

That should tell you that you should basically support every R and throw out every D without exception.

[Republican Wildcat]

If we're going to win this race it can't be a close one, otherwise they will simply keep "finding" more votes tucked away here and there until Cantwell wins. McGavick must win by 3 full percentage points or more to prevent this.

[Republican Wildcat]

RI isn't one that would help if the Senate becomes narrow - Chaffee would probably flip. But, if we actually make gains or hold for the same number that would be fine to keep him tagging along, I guess...wouldn't really matter.

[JCEccles]

PA Democrats have scored a recruiting triumph and there's no getting around it.

At the cost of a reliable pro-abortion vote.

It's an interesting tradeoff, and one that grates on the nerves of a LOT of liberals.

[Cato Uticensis]

well, we couldnt get rid of "Osama Mama" Patty Murray, I'll take dropping Cantwell as a consolation prize!