Rasmussen : N.Dakota Senate : Hoeven whallops Dorgan 58/36 or Dorgan bts Sands 52/37

Rasmussen ^

[sunmars]

Incumbent Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan may have a serious problem on his hands if Republicans recruit Governor John Hoeven to run for the U.S. Senate in North Dakota next year.

The first Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 telephone survey of likely voters in North Dakota finds the popular Republican governor leading Dorgan by 22 points – 58% to 36%. Just six percent (6%) are undecided in that senatorial contest.

Part of the challenge for Dorgan is the health care legislation working its way through Congress. Dorgan, along with every Democrat in the Senate, has voted to move the legislation forward and is expected to vote for final approval of the reform later this week. That’s not likely to be well received in North Dakota where just 30% favor the proposed health care reform plan and 64% are opposed.

Opposition to the health care plan is higher in North Dakota than it is nationally. Eighty-four percent (84%) of those who strongly favor the plan support Dorgan. Eighty-six percent (86%) of those who strongly oppose it back Hoeven.

[sunmars]

Along with Hoeven’s popularity in the state, Dorgan has to contend with President Obama’s unpopularity. John McCain carried North Dakota over Obama 53% to 45%, and now just 41% approve of how the president is doing his job. Fifty-eight percent (58%) disapprove. Those numbers include 18% who strongly approve of Obama’s job performance and 41% who strongly disapprove, considerably worse than the president’s overall job approval ratings nationally in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

[vigilo]

I’m truly mystified as to why so many Democrats are willing to fall on their swords for this. Do they see themselves as martyrs for the collectivist cause? Is that what’s driving them? Do they think that in their life after Congress they’ll get 72 virgins? Do they really believe we’ll forget by 2010? What’s going on?

[kempster]

North Dakotans. What are the chances the Governor will run? Or is it Sands turn to lose to Dorgan and the Republican Party of ND doesn’t want to make waves?

[Chattering Class of 58]

The Tea Party Express Snowball is rolling downhill and gaining momentum and is getting bigger and bigger!

[Vigilanteman]

The problem will be getting Hoeven to run. Successful governors in small ponds like North Dakota where they can really effect change are loathe to move to Washington where they become 1 of 100 members of a body which they so successfully end-ran as governors.

God bless him if he decides to run, but the history is against it.

OTOH, worthless governors see the U.S. Senate as a promotion. They don't really have to do anything and face voters only once every six years. Exhibit A is Tom Carper from Delaware. There are others.

[pallis]

It’s time for top Republicans who are going to run against weak Democrats to step up to the plate, and start early, putting pressure on these losers at home, enough pressure to threaten the Obamao Criminal organization. Conservatives, it’s time to loosen up the purse strings, if possible, time to get in line to monitor polling places, challenge corrupt community organizers, and demand a fair election. This battle needs to start now.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Well, the silver lining is we get to see Byron fade into the sunset with his golden parachute.

Of course, it won't be worth much for long.

[Presbyterian Reporter]

Have any of the North Dakota Newspapers run this story yet?

Or is North Dakota MSM running cover for Dorgan??

If MSM is running cover, then we need to ratchet up the bloggers and the email system to keep the pressure on Dorgan.

[sunmars]

Well if the man has any ambition, this is his chance to get out of ND and get into Nat’l Govt for republicans.

He’s a shoo in if he wants it, he’d be mad not to go for it.

I don’t know anything about him but we need every Senate win next Nov and take those muppets down.

[Vigilanteman]

FWIW, Duane Sand is a good man. Solid conservative and veteran U.S. Naval officer. To his credit, he is willing to work hard, keep at it and campaign hard. He has lost two statewide elections doing exactly that. The problem is that he's such a decent guy he isn't well versed in the pork barrel politics so damn important to the mushy middle of the electorate. The RINO wing of the state party has always been tepid in their support of solid conservatives, preferring to find some state legislator or rich rancher to play the role of sacrificial lamb every time Dorgan or Conrad is up for reelection. When I was involved with them years ago, it was actually easier to find sympathetic Democrats from the western part of the state than RINOs from the eastern third, where most of the population lives.

That's how I ended up being a Democrat early in my political life.

[upsdriver]

There is somewhat of a chance Hoeven will run mainly because he will feel duty bound to take on Dorgan. However, I don’t think he really wants the job. Who the hell wants to leave a wonderful place like ND to move to that cesspool?

I do know there are many encouraging him to run. My guess is if he decides to, he will announce late in order to shorten the campaign season.

[Recon Dad]

I'm starting a “2010 Dead Pol Pool” looking for help filling in the names that every one thinks will be politically dead in 2010. I did put Robert Byrd on the list for other reasons.

Byron Dorgan
Chris Dodd
Harry Reid
Ben Nelson
Blanche Lincoln

[Recon Dad]

I’m starting a “2010 Dead Pol Pool” looking for help filling in the names that every one thinks will be politically dead in 2010. I did put Robert Byrd on the list for other reasons.

Byron Dorgan
Chris Dodd
Harry Reid
Ben Nelson
Blanche Lincoln

[Welcome2thejungle]

Could someone kindly get on the phone with Gov. Hoeven’s office and tell him to get into the race before we lose another US Senate seat in a red GOP state? We need to get cracking. Now!

[upsdriver]

John Hoeven has ambition, but not necessarily for political stature. He has a good life here in ND, there is no good reason to leave other than he may feel duty bound to take the challenge. He is an administrator and the Senate is not that attractive a place to go for someone who enjoys accomplishing things.

[Presbyterian Reporter]

Zogby International was commissioned by League of American Voters to conduct a telephone survey of 502 likely voters in North Dakota. The survey was conducted between November 17th and 18th 2009.

In a potential 2010 election match-up Republican Governor John Hoeven leads Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan 55% to 36%

Rasmussen is the second poll in the past month with the same results. Namely, Hoeven beats Dorgan by 20 points in November 2010.

Dorgan seems unconcerned that his Senatorial days are numbered.

[sunmars]

A democrat senator who knows he screwed next year is somewhat dangerous in that he no longer will feel the need to walk a fine line, he’ll just vote how they tell him now.

[Def Conservative]

Many Democrats committed Obamacide for their Dear Leader. lol. Oh well, they’ll be out the door next year.

[vpintheak]

Democrats do not give a crap about America. What they care about is enslaving Americans, and then retaining their power. Every sane person in America doesn’t want the healthcare crap, and yet they will push it through. They are nuts.