AZ-Sen. 2010: John McCain leads J.D. Hayworth in new poll (Daily Kooks for McCain!) (BARF ALERT)

Salon ^ | 2010-04-02 | Mike Madden

[rabscuttle385]

WASHINGTON -- So far, J.D. Hayworth's campaign to beat Sen. John McCain for the Republican nomination for McCain's seat in Arizona is looking like little more than a nuisance.

A new Research 2000 poll sponsored by Daily Kos, out Friday, showed McCain beating Hayworth easily, 52-37. Meanwhile, McCain ended the first quarter of 2010 with $4.5 million in the bank, after raising more than $2.2 million this year so far. Hayworth announced that he raised more than $1 million, but didn't say exactly how much. (And one of his top advisors, Arizona public relations mogul Jason Rose, recently quit because Hayworth couldn't, or wouldn't, give him a paying contract to keep working on the campaign.)

McCain is taking the race deadly seriously, running all over Arizona in an effort not to let Hayworth carve out much space to his right. His campaign aides push back against the slightest provocation from Hayworth with overwhelming force. And of course, Sarah Palin -- who he launched from Alaska to global superstardom in 2008 -- came through to rally the faithful for him last weekend. True, the state's Republicans are rabidly conservative, and some of them have never liked McCain; his push a few years ago for immigration reform hurt him among some segments of the GOP base. Hayworth has had some luck raising money from tea party groups outside Arizona who think McCain is an apostate.

But there's only been a couple of public polls that ever made it seem like the race would be close, both by the same company, Rasmussen Reports. The Daily Kos survey certainly doesn't give that impression. If Hayworth did somehow pull off the upset, Democrats might have a chance of taking the seat, the poll showed. But national Democrats are barely paying attention to Arizona (except to direct attention to the GOP primary). And chances are McCain will win both the primary and the general election handily, for a fifth term in the Senate.

[wastedyears]

Probably McCain line: “My friends at the Daily Kos...”

[wastedyears]

I meant probable*

[Nitehawk0325]

I can’t believe Palin stumped for that loser McCain. She should have tried to help JD instead.

[CitizenUSA]

McCain is an incumbent senator with a huge war chest, name recognition, and plenty of political connections. Even if the poll is accurate, isn’t it amazing that McCain is only at 52% versus JD’s 37%?

Even if we assume this leftist poll is accurate, 37% for JD is most encouraging! This looks like an exceptionally volatile election season, and McCain’s 52% shows amazing weakness for an incumbent. JD is moving up. McCain is moving down. This is excellent news!

[SmokingJoe]

Daily Kos polls are worthless. They had Coakley winning in Massachusetts, at a time when Norfolk University had Scott Brown solidly ahead. Having said that, McCain probably got a bump from Sarah Palin, but that will likely disappear after the illegal alien killers murdered that farmer.

[CitizenUSA]

SmokingJoe: “Daily Kos polls are worthless.”

Exactly! But even they show a surprisingly close race for an incumbent senator. This poll is actually quite encouraging!

[jonrick46]

Just what I predicted.

[jonrick46]

Actually, McCain has just moved up from what was a seven point spread.

[donna]

Thank you Sarah Palin!

[CitizenUSA]

jonrick46: “Actually, McCain has just moved up from what was a seven point spread.”

I couldn’t find any previous Kos polls showing the race was a seven point spread earlier. Where do you come up with the idea that McCain is gaining? Do you disagree that McCain shows surprising weakness for an incumbent senator?

[jonrick46]

It was a Rassmussen Poll:

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/poll-mccain-ahead-of-hayworth-by-only-seven-points.php

Hayworth came within seven points and now he is down again.

[jonrick46]

Since I do not live in Arizona, I do not know if the poll fluctuations are a function of voter weakness for McCain.

Anyone from Arizona with any insights about McCain’s strength as an incumbent?

[CitizenUSA]

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/arizona/election_2010_arizona_republican_primary_for_senate

Arizona Survey of 541 Likely Voters
March 16, 2010
Election 2010: Arizona Republican Primary for Senate
John McCain 48%
J.D. Hayworth 41%
Some other candidate 3%
Not sure 8%

In January, Rassmussen had McCain ahead by 53% to 31%. If you’re going to compare polls, compare ones by the same pollster. In particular, Rassmussen shows JD GAINING! YES!

I’ll write it again. McCain shows surprising weakness for an incumbent and clearly powerful senator.

[presently no screen name]

I’ll call it - JD 52% and Mc 48% in August.

[CitizenUSA]

McCain has the MSM, Republican leadership, name recognition, incumbency, numerous political connections, etc. He’s got a lot going for him. Unfortunately, he’s also got this pesky thing called his record in office.

You can bet McCain AND the other RINOs are pulling out all the stops on this one, and he’s weak. I mean the man has the darling of tea partiers herself, Sarah Palin, campaigning for him, and he’s STILL weak. Don’t you love it?

[Boucheau]

Thanks Palin, goofy b***h!

RINO’s helping RINO’s

She’s a phony.

[DeaconRed]

IT AIN'T OVER TILL THE FAT LADY SINGS.

I got it on good authority that she likes JD

[detective]

“But there's only been a couple of public polls that ever made it seem like the race would be close, both by the same company, Rasmussen Reports. The Daily Kos survey certainly doesn't give that impression.”

Gee, who would I trust more Resmussen or Daily Kos? I can't imagine anything that Daily Kos would ever sponsor anything that was biased or inaccurate. Daily Kos has always been so honest and credible. Just like Salon.

[Soul of the South]

If McCain wins he will have a strong grudge against the conservative movement. He’ll go back to his maverick ways, striking compromises on every critical issue, particularly if he views this as his last term. His behavior will likely make Arlen Specter look like a moderate.