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:

[RedRover]

Big bump! And the Boot Murtha Rally story is on tonight on Hannity & Colmes!

[dubie]

will there be any debates???

[RedRover]

Hey, lookee here!

[jazusamo]

Thanks Red

PING...BootMurtha Rally on H&C directly.

[RobFromGa]

Hopefully H&C sill mention the poll doen before the rally showing Irey within striking distance!

[okstate]

I noticed that too. What a bizarre result. I don't think I've ever seen a poll -- even one taken the day before an election -- with no undecideds.

[RedRover]

Hey, Dolly, join the party!

[Txsleuth]

I THINK Hannity and Colmes is going to show some footage from last weekends Boot Murtha rally.

[smoothsailing]

will there be any debates?

ROFLOL! I can't help it, that is just too funny!!!!

[Radix]

Looks as if Murtha is in again.

[RobFromGa]

Maybe, but he's in a fight he never expected. And he could very well lose it. Anything can happen, he could very well stick his foot in his mouth a few more times in the next five weeks.

[PleaDeal]

Thanks for the pings and all your hard work!!!!! It's paying off!

[JFC]

I sent Irey more money today!

[smoothsailing]

Well, let's just quit, Radix has spoken.

[RobFromGa]

I got a fancy mailer with a questionaire/ballot inside and all from Irey today. I've been donating on-line and I'll send more on Friday. I hope that she will get some national party money, this seat is winnable.

[JFC]

I sent Ivey money twice already, but have my check made out to mail one more time.

She sent me a thank you and a hand written letter. Sending money from Texans!

[BobS]

Intelligent and smart Republican women will always beat old democrat douche-bags.

[stephenjohnbanker]

C'mon Diana! Tough it out!

[McGavin999]

YAHOOO! I hope she can get out there and turn those numbers upside down. I'd love to see her at 55%

[Chode]

Who am I... and WHY am I HERE???


For that matter, where the hell's here... and what's up with this basket???