Posted on 02/28/2008 12:37:54 PM PST by jmc813
While Ron Paul's presidential campaign is sputtering to an unimpressive close, his congressional campaign is beginning to look more and more like a slam dunk.
A recent Public Policy Polling poll shows Ron Paul clobbering Chris Peden in the race for the Texas 14th District at 63 to 30. That may be surprising to some, but it really shouldn't be. Paul has faced a Republican challenger just about every election cycle. A challenger that has received at least implicit support from the national Republican Party. And Paul continues to clean up.
Peden is making a big deal out of the two local papers who have given him the endorsement, and is trying to paint Paul as an anti-family and anti-war radical. Since Paul voted no to a proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage as an institution for one man and one woman, and failed to support a ban on gay marriage, Peden has seen this as an opportunity to claim that Paul--who has been married to the same woman for 51 years, has 18 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild--opposes traditional family values. And as everybody knows, Paul does not support war in Iraq, which Peden sees as an unwillingness on Paul's part to defend the nation against terrorists.
The voters in the district, however, are having none of it. Amongst voters who consider morality and family their central issues, Paul's lead is 65 to 28. Young people, meanwhile, are the largest voting bloc for Paul. Amongst them, Paul leads Peden at a staggering rate of 75 to 11.
In terms of fundraising, Peden has managed to raise in the vicinity of U.S. $150,000. That's impressive. Or, it would be, if it wasn't for something like 5/6ths of that money coming from Chris Peden himself. But 150 grand for a Congressional run is no pittance, regardless of the source. How does Paul compare? He's raised a meager 1.053 million.
While Peden's fundraising is styled after Mitt Romney, his visuals and logo are inspired by McCain.
Here's Peden's logo:
And here's McCain's:
Oops, wrong McCain. Here's McCain's:
Does Peden have a hope? I don't think so. Not when District 14 constituents say things like, "I have an immense amount of respect for Ron Paul. Politics has a way of forcing people to go against their core principles for political gain. That has never been the case with Ron Paul."
Quotes like that are easily had in the disctrict, although this has an interesting source--it was Chris Peden himself who said that about Paul on January 17, 2007. The same guy who, just one year later, thinks Paul needs to be booted out of his seat.
But he won't be. So even though Paul might not become the next President of the United States, he will still be making gold standard, anti-war in Iraq, and pro-gun rights speeches in Congress for a long while still.
pingster
Close watch on this one book marker
Personally I never believed Peden to be any kind of threat to Paul. Frankly the only reason he’s getting any attention is not because he stands any kind of real chance, but because Paul ran (is running) for president. Otherwise Peden would get the same press coverage as Cynthia Sinatra (if you don’t know who she is, I don’t blame you. She was Paul’s 2006 republican primary opponent).
Considering Paul’s history when it comes to actual votes versus polls, maybe Peden will surprise us.
After all, if Paul’s supporters can stick with his Presidential bid even though he is running about 5% and hasn’t won one yet, those of us who support Chris have no reason to abandon him either.
DUMP THE NUT !
At one point the polls showed Peden ahead and widening the gap - just before the time Paul suspended campaigning for president.
That's a hell of a consolation prize.
I know who she is. I love that "Boots Are Made For Walking" tune she does.
That poll never actually existed outside of Pajama Media's "sources".
Your freeper home page rulez.
As opposed to Chris Peden, who gets all his money from himself and his immediate family?
Take the quiz and see what they define as a neo Conservative. What they define as a Neo Conservative seems to fit the Goldwater model versus the paleo con model of Paul or the real Neo Con model of Bush/McCain. It is nice though that you call me an enemy of the Constitution. Real big of you. Maybe when paul wins, you'll put everyone who you consider enemies of the Constitution into camps to help us learn to concentrate.
McCain must be alright to you though.
Nope, they all suck.
There was no such poll taken.
Pajamas Media was complicitly hoodwinked by “sources”.
Faith-Based Fighters, also known as religious conservatives—believe in Judeo-Christian values, restoring God’s rightful place in the public square, and in showing all the unwashed and unsaved liberal sinners the path to salvation, or at least to the GOP.
Flag-Waving Everymen, also known as patriots—believe in freedom, apple pie, rooting for America at all times, and that God gave us a two-day weekend so we could enjoy football and NASCAR.
Free Marketeers, also known as a fiscal conservative—believe in free-market capitalism, tax cuts, and protecting your hard-earned cash from pick-pocketing liberal socialists.
Values Guardians, also known as social conservatives—believe in serving on the front lines of the culture wars to restore traditional values and protecting America against condom-dispensing, stem cell-sucking sodomites from Hollyweird.
Anti-government Gunslingers, also known as libertarian conservatives—believe in smaller government, states’ rights, gun rights, and that, as Reagan once said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”
Freedom Crusaders, also known as neoconservatives—believe in taking the fight directly to the enemy, whether it’s terrorists abroad or the liberal terrorist appeasers at home who give them aid and comfort.
Again, that was just Pajamas Media and their "source". Peden himself said in the interview, when asked about that poll, that it was probably just made to make Paul's followers feel it's desperate and increase campaign donations. Also Mark Elam, Paul's congressional campaign manager, very firmly disputed any kind of Peden lead both here and here. The internal numbers he cites are pretty close to what this poll shows (Paul ahead of Peden by 30+ percentage points).
Peden seems to have a clinch on NASA employees while Paul has the college students.
Paul seems to have a clinch on every group except people who say education is their biggest issue. Paul leads in every age groups (the worst one he does in is among people 30-45, where he beats Peden by 19 points), every race and among every issue; again except education.
Re the latter, I was talking about personal observations, not this poll. Let’s see how this plays out. We know Paul’s history of polls versus votes. Let’s see if the trend continues.
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