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Pat Roberts is in big trouble, but he’s not a goner yet
The Washington Post ^ | October 1, 2014 | Aaron Blake

Posted on 10/02/2014 6:57:38 AM PDT by centurion316

A new poll out Wednesday from Suffolk University and USA Today confirms something we kind of already knew: Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) is in a remarkable amount of trouble. The poll shows independent Greg Orman leading Roberts 46 percent to 41 percent with Democrat Chad Taylor now off the ballot.

It has plenty of bad news for Roberts, but also some reasons to believe his goose isn't cooked just yet. Below, we're recapping three ominous signs for Roberts, and three reasons for hope. (And it all comes with the caveat that one poll shouldn't be taken as gospel.)

First, the storm clouds:

1) He is behind, period.

The only other Senate incumbents who have trailed by as much as five points in a poll are Sens. Mark Pryor , Mary Landrieu and Mark Begich . And there are less than five weeks left in the campaign — i.e. not a ton of time.

2) His favorable rating — 39 percent — is lower than President Obama's — 41 percent.

Ouch. That said, this is where Obama's mother is from, so there might be same nostalgia for that. His approval rating, for example, is five points lower, at 36 percent. And Roberts's unfavorable rating and disapproval ratings are both lower than Obama's. Still, the fact that Roberts is in the same ballpark as Obama in ruby-red Kansas is telling.

Also telling: Roberts's approval rating among Republicans is just 50 percent, with 36 percent disapproving. Clearly, there are lingering effects from his sub-50-percent primary showing.

3) Roberts earns the support of just 61 percent of Republicans

It's 61-30 Roberts among GOPers. If he's going to win, that needs to change — plain and simple. An incumbent, even in a state like Kansas, can't win while ceding that much of his party's vote.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Kansas
KEYWORDS: 113th; 2014midterms; kansas; ks2014; patroberts; roberts; senate; teaparty
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To: Jim Noble

Because, they need to vote for their own best interests, the best interests of their state, and the best interests of this country. Are you paying attention to this race, I can only assume that you are not, and if so this is a good chance to get up to speed.

The two choices in this race are Orman and Roberts. The Democrat dropped out and the Libertarian is out of the country. Orman is a flaming liberal and is lying through his teeth about his “independence”. He is a shill.

That’s why. I’m voting for Roberts, sorry if you have a problem with that.


21 posted on 10/02/2014 7:33:06 AM PDT by centurion316
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To: Jim Noble

Because, they need to vote for their own best interests, the best interests of their state, and the best interests of this country. Are you paying attention to this race, I can only assume that you are not, and if so this is a good chance to get up to speed.

The two choices in this race are Orman and Roberts. The Democrat dropped out and the Libertarian is out of the country. Orman is a flaming liberal and is lying through his teeth about his “independence”. He is a shill.

That’s why. I’m voting for Roberts, sorry if you have a problem with that.


22 posted on 10/02/2014 7:33:55 AM PDT by centurion316
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To: InterceptPoint
...as reliable a conservative vote (at least this year) as Ted Cruz...

"At least this year" being the operative phrase. What will Roberts do next year?

23 posted on 10/02/2014 7:34:33 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: Jim Noble

While 2 and 3 are valid causes for opposition, 1 is just a cheap shot of demagoguery...and a particularly inane one at that.

Unfortunately, a demagogue has a reliable base.


24 posted on 10/02/2014 7:34:37 AM PDT by lepton ("It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into"--Jonathan Swift)
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To: DoodleDawg

“What will Roberts do next year?”


If reelected, compile an ACU score at least 70% higher than Orman would. If he loses, probably retire from public life, and shake his head sadly as the same so-called conservatives that defeated him in the general election realize that—gasp!—the liberal Democrat who ran as an “independent” with the backing of every Democrat (and most RINOs) in Kansas is voting lockstep with Obama and Harry Reid.


25 posted on 10/02/2014 7:38:50 AM PDT by AuH2ORepublican (If a politician won't protect innocent babies, what makes you think that he'll defend your rights?)
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To: Patton@Bastogne

Thanks for your brilliant political analysis. You’ve got a real future ahead of it.


26 posted on 10/02/2014 7:39:59 AM PDT by centurion316
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To: centurion316

Well said but the guy is still behind and I’d say an incumbent at 41% is going to lose. Most likely.


27 posted on 10/02/2014 7:41:53 AM PDT by Williams
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To: centurion316
.


ok ... sounds like you're pretty astute ...


Perhaps you could name just three (3) major PREDICTED "positive" accomplishments of a U.S. Congress (2014-2016) led by Messrs. McConnell and Boehner ...

1) "Illegal Amnesty" for 25 million Mexicans doesn't count

2) "Full Funding" of ObamaCare doesn't count

3) "Full Funding" of the BLM doesn't count

4) "Full Funding" of the EPA doesn't count

5) "Full Funding" of the IRS doesn't count

6) "Full Funding" of the State Department FOOLISHNESS doesn't count

7) "Full Funding" of the ISIS in Syria doesn't count



.
28 posted on 10/02/2014 7:47:45 AM PDT by Patton@Bastogne (.)
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To: AuH2ORepublican
If he loses, probably retire from public life, and shake his head sadly as the same so-called conservatives that defeated him in the general election realize that—gasp!—the liberal Democrat who ran as an “independent” with the backing of every Democrat (and most RINOs) in Kansas is voting lockstep with Obama and Harry Reid.

On the plus side he'll never have to worry about having to set foot in Kansas again.

29 posted on 10/02/2014 7:48:00 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: DoodleDawg
"At least this year" being the operative phrase. What will Roberts do next year?

Who is to say? But I will give my standard Freeper Insurance Policy Guarantee of the following:

It will be miles better than what we will see from Orman if he is elected. GUARANTEED.

And I have to ask: Is your concern that Roberts might not match up with Ted Cruz in 2015 a good enough reason to leave the Senate under the control of Harry Reid?

What nonsense this is. We need to support Roberts. PERIOD.

30 posted on 10/02/2014 7:52:17 AM PDT by InterceptPoint (Remember Mississippi)
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To: lacrew

I read yesterday that Wolfe was going to openly endorse and urge his supporters to support Roberts, if true that should happen anyday. I read that here on FR I think. Of course here in Mississippi I’m NOT going to vote for haley barbour’s minion, thad cochran.


31 posted on 10/02/2014 7:58:30 AM PDT by duffee (Dump the Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party, joe nosef.)
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To: DoodleDawg

Honestly, Sen Roberts could walk Kansas accompanied by a sound truck blaring his name and half of Kansas would have no idea who the guy is. Roberts situation at the moment is entirely of his accumulated own making of the last decades.

He is a get along low profile rinocrat that honestly votes mostly favorably but supports every phony socialist farm bill ever to take root anywhere. His core values remain unknown and hidden, if they even exist.


32 posted on 10/02/2014 8:03:39 AM PDT by whistleduck
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To: Jim Noble
If he is not defeated, the power that is strangling our nation can never be overcome.

Quite the hyperbole and nonsense on its face. These Washington homesteaders need to be defeated in the primaries and they can be with decent candidates to stand up against them. Wolf failed by that measure. If Roberts is defeated, Reid may retain control of the Senate, a much worse outcome for both the long and short term.

33 posted on 10/02/2014 8:08:24 AM PDT by centurion316
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To: InterceptPoint
And I have to ask: Is your concern that Roberts might not match up with Ted Cruz in 2015 a good enough reason to leave the Senate under the control of Harry Reid?

The question should be whether having Mitch McConnell as Senate Majority Leader is enough to make conservative voters hold their noses once again and vote for an arrogant establishment chair-warmer who has no understanding or interest in his constituents and who holds much of his party base in contempt?

34 posted on 10/02/2014 8:09:20 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: DoodleDawg

First of all, I don’t think we know for sure that Roberts was behind breaking the story. Frankly, it came out way too early to get political damage, and I suspect the media broke the story all on their own.

But even if Roberts were behind it...did he lie? Did he fabricate the story? No, its 100% true - just like Roberts’ sketchy residency status (drug up by Wolfe) is true. It was a nasty race...a lot of them are. But its self defeating if the GOP persists in leaving the primary fractured.


35 posted on 10/02/2014 8:10:09 AM PDT by lacrew
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To: whistleduck
Honestly, Sen Roberts could walk Kansas accompanied by a sound truck blaring his name and half of Kansas would have no idea who the guy is. Roberts situation at the moment is entirely of his accumulated own making of the last decades.

Which is what I've been saying all along so we're in complete agreement there.

36 posted on 10/02/2014 8:10:19 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: centurion316

Just quoting the article. If you disagree, take it up with the WaPo.


37 posted on 10/02/2014 8:13:44 AM PDT by Uncle Miltie (When Amnesty was granted 30 years ago, they promised to close the borders and enforce the law)
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To: lacrew
First of all, I don’t think we know for sure that Roberts was behind breaking the story. Frankly, it came out way too early to get political damage, and I suspect the media broke the story all on their own.

Yeah. And he wasn't behind the ethics investigation either.

It was a nasty race...a lot of them are. But its self defeating if the GOP persists in leaving the primary fractured.

If they leave the primary fractured then they have nobody to blame but themselves.

38 posted on 10/02/2014 8:13:55 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: DoodleDawg

And if Kansas “conservatives” elect a liberal like Orman over him, I wouldn’t blame him.


39 posted on 10/02/2014 8:15:23 AM PDT by AuH2ORepublican (If a politician won't protect innocent babies, what makes you think that he'll defend your rights?)
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To: centurion316

“ruby-red Kansas”

Romney and Ryan carried Kansas with 59.66% of the popular vote to Obama’s and Biden’s 38.05%, thus winning the state’s six electoral votes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_in_Kansas,_2012

You seem to be the one misinformed.


40 posted on 10/02/2014 8:16:26 AM PDT by Uncle Miltie (When Amnesty was granted 30 years ago, they promised to close the borders and enforce the law)
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