New polling on the Irey-Murtha race [It's a Horserace]

Redstate ^ | Oct 3, 2006 | Redstate

[RobFromGa]

New polling on the Irey-Murtha race

PA-12 is shaping up to be something of a horserace.

When the Irey campaign did preliminary polling last spring, the results were not encouraging. The 30-year incumbant in the PA-12 seat, John Murtha, led the little-known Diana Irey by thirty points. Mr. Murtha was emerging as the liberal conscience of the Iraq war, and promised to gain ever more power and influence as part of the House Democratic leadership. He has high-profile influential friends and a bully pulpit provided by a compliant national media that gives him a regular spot on the Sunday shows.

If I were Commissioner Irey I might have considered throwing in the towel and going to the beach for the summer. Fortunately, she did no such thing.

Graphic courtesy of Vets4Irey

Read on...

Ms. Irey rolled up her sleeves and got to work. She has gained some recognition on her own as a staunch supporter of the armed forces, the mission in Iraq, an advocate for rigorous immigration policies and a fiscal conservative. She has also been drawing attention to Mr. Murtha's many failings. And she's producing results. The campaign has just commissioned another poll by Public Opinion Strategies and Ms. Irey has closed the gap to ten points as the race now stands at 55%-45%. She gained ten points and brought Mr. Murtha down ten--and the momentum is all in her favor.

Commissioner Irey's mission over the next five weeks is to keep shining a bright light on Mr. Murtha's disgraceful record while articulating her own platform. The POS poll included some interesting numbers on eleven issues that make voters less likely to vote for Mr. Murtha by as much as 57% (a list is appended below)--and when voters read about these issues, Mr. Murtha's numbers drop into the low 40s. It's incumbant on all of us who want to see Ms. Irey in Mr. Murtha's chair come January to help her spread the word that Mr. Murtha is self-interested and venal, and willingly steps on the backs of his former fellow service members to hoist his substantial bulk up the political ladder. And fortunately, the Irey campaign is no longer a lone voice in the media wilderness. She's getting some assistance from a rather unlikely source--no less than the New York Times, which has in the past held Mr. Murtha up as a moral authority on Iraq, yesterday headlined his political "horsetrading" motivated by the desire to increase his personal prestige and bring more pork (from whatever source) to his district rather than by principle or fiscal responsibility. Major television outlets, such as Fox's Hannity and Colmes show, have picked up the story.

The momentum in this race is with Diana Irey. She is poised to win if we all help, and here are eleven excellent reasons to go to her website and donate some time and money:

[RobFromGa]

Thanks for the bump. Ms. Irey deserves our support.

[RobFromGa]

Bump for Diana Irey!

[RobFromGa]

I hope the voters in PA-12 are up to the challenge. Murtha is a disgrace to our country. And the troops want him gone. Redeploy this man. He served, and now it is time for him to leave Washington.

[RedRover]

Justa spent some time helping out the Irey campaign before the rally. Whenever she shows up, she can fill us in on voter awareness. It sounded to me like Irey has a base that is VERY fired up!

[Txsleuth]

I have no idea...I am a fan from afar...Texas..

I sent some money when Irey first started running and caught on here on FR...and I have been following anything and everything that I can...

But, anything specific to that district, I know nothing about.

[RobFromGa]

Thanks for stopping by IJ- hope you can kick Cantwell to the curb out in WA!

[IslandJeff]

hope you can kick Cantwell to the curb

Mike's picked up his advertising this week. While he's no Jeff Sessions, he's running a somewhat hybrid anti-incumbent/"new tone" message that reaches the apolitical, particularly in Wet-stern Wa.

Keep looking up!

[RobFromGa]

Over 2075 views now!

[RobFromGa]

That's good news about McGavick, I hope he beats Cantwell. As always turnout will be the key (and unfortunately in WA, fraud will likely play a role)

[RedRover]

Coop's been laying low.

[jazusamo]

I hope Mike can send her packing, we need to start changing the make up here. How has this story about Cantwell and her boy friend played out up around Seattle, think it will help at all?

[Ciexyz]

Good news bump.

[RobFromGa]

Freepers will save the world!"

[jan in Colorado]

Thanks for the GREAT news!

[Ciexyz]

Mark Steyn rules!

[RobFromGa]

Aint that the truth, he should be permanent guest host for Rush Limbaugh.

[IslandJeff]

(crickets - I swear she pays Protection Money to the Seattle dailies. But how would I know? If Patty Murray can get elected with an intellect lower than Barbara Boxer, RealPlayer Maria with her money should have, in theory, an easier time of it - but there's a cultural discomfort here, so we'll see.)

[smoothsailing]

Just keep those checks coming, we who live in SW PA will do the rest, unless you want to come on up here!

Great thread, Rob, you must have 2000+ views by now!

Thanks again!

[IslandJeff]

Steyn gets a great segment on Hugh Hewitt every week. Hopefully you get him down there.

[RedRover]

Steyn bump! I just got my copy from Amazon. Interesting that he knows about FR! Maybe he lurks here?