President Tancredo? Just Maybe, If You Believe This Poll

Human Events Online ^ | 04/27/06 | Robert B. Bluey

[VU4G10]

A new poll from Rasmussen Reports has some bad news for Republicans—well, almost all Republicans. If you’re Rep. Tom Tancredo (R.-Colo.), the news couldn’t be better.

While a generic Republican candidate trails a generic Democrat by 12 percentage points, according to the poll, a third-party candidate who runs on a get-tough-on-immigration platform not only beats the Republican, but also actually runs even with the Democrat. Here’s an excerpt:

The survey also asked respondents how they would vote if "a third party candidate ran in 2008 and promised to build a barrier along the Mexican border and make enforcement of immigration law his top priority."

With that option, support fell sharply for both major parties. The Democrats still come out on top with support from 31% of Americans. The third party candidate moved into a virtual tie at 30% while the GOP fell to 21%.

If anyone fits Rasmussen’s description it’s Tancredo, who has made a very public name for himself as the anti-illegal-immigration crusader in Congress. And having spent time in both Iowa and New Hampshire beginning last year, he’s posited himself to be the candidate who could play spoiler.

Coming back to reality for just one moment, I should note the rest of the Rasmussen commentary about the poll numbers:

This result probably reflects unhappiness with both parties on the immigration issue rather than a true opportunity for a third party. Historically, issues that drive third party candidates get co-opted by one of the major parties as they demonstrate popular appeal. Most Americans favor a barrier along the border and enforcement of existing law prior to other reforms.

With the immigration issue candidate as an option, 36% of conservative voters opt for the Republican candidate while 35% take the third party option. Among political moderates, 34% pick the Democrat while 32% prefer the third party option.

I’d recommend reading the full Rasmussen summary as well as my post last night about the new Diageo/Hotline poll on Democrats.

[Old_Mil]

Meanwhile, Grand Ayatollah Sistani in Iraq has just said that all Shiites should turn their weapons in to the government, that only the Iraqi government should have weapons.

...and undoubtedly a gun buyback program is going to work really well in a city teeming with hostile jihadis when it doesn't even work in Philadelphia.

[fizziwig]

"It's temporary insanity. This has never been an issue in the presidential elections in my lifetime."
_____________________________________

Its insanity to think that concern over open borders and illegal immigration is insanity.

Sheesh, its like 911 never occurred and we have nothing to worry about from the south. We go all out to increase security in almost every other way but leave the borders wide open....now that is INSANE!

And that is just the tip of the iceburg with the problems caused by massive illegal immigration and the proposed solution with amnesty. It was not an issue in previous elections because it had not boiled to the point that it became an issue. Well its boiling now, like or not, and it WILL be a key issue in the next election....at least for sane people.

[battletank]

"I mean yea its a problem... one we have had for a LONG TIME."

I would agree. I've been squawking about it for years and years. Would you agree that in the last...oh..say 5 years or so it has gotten unbearably worse? Between Vincente's encouragement and President Bush's banging the gavel of amnesty...the hordes of illegals has jumped tremendously it seems to me. It's now reaching critical mass and it's why the issue is rising to the top. IMO.

[Jarhead1957]

Rinos are running scared, so it's shame on me for my beliefs time. It worked for them once, and they think it will work again. Even if they retain control of congress in 06, they will have alienated enough people that 2008 will have slow walk with sad singing.

In their eyes it will be our fault.

Rinos are showing their Democrat upbringing. To them power and winning is everything. They really are having problems understanding principles.

[Dane]

Gotta love these polls.

A poll says that 70% of the people are against the ports deal, some on FR jump for joy.

Another poll comes out saying 65% are for a guest worker program, those same people damn the polls to hell.

All these polls have their own biases(zogby and rasmussen, and both of them have botched Presidential election results).

Just utter noise and giving some people what they want to hear.

I ignore all polls these days.

[itsahoot]

or is this temporary insanity??

Nope, Temporary Sanity, of course it will pass, being it's only temporary.

[battletank]

Yep. And voting dem-lite is completely acceptable as long as there's an (R) showing after a name. Principles be damned.

[spikeytx86]

I like tancredo's stances on illegals but where dose he stand on other issues like taxes,trade,the deficit, spending restraint,privatization,health care etc? any one know where I could get his voting record?

[georgia2006]

""I hope we can solve this illegal alien problem soon""

So long as Mexico is a 3rd world country, it isnt solvable..there are only degrees of which the problem exists

[Echo Talon]

I believe I seen some numbers on this, not sure how they can tell how accurate they are, but it looks like the influx has a direct correlation to our economy. i.e. when our economy is down, illegal numbers are down, when the economy is chugging along the numbers increase(maybe it reflects the job market, when jobs are here they come when they aren't they don't).

The border needs to get secure thats a given and anyone thinking differently is functionally retarded, after the border is secure then we address a "guest worker program" or whatever they want to do for future employees that are needed.

[ARCADIA]

Another poll comes out saying 65% are for a guest worker program, those same people damn the polls to hell.

Where was that poll taken, Mexico City?

[sinkspur]

...and undoubtedly a gun buyback program is going to work really well in a city teeming with hostile jihadis when it doesn't even work in Philadelphia.

Sharia law says that the Grand Ayatollah must be obeyed. Now, some nut could take him out, I guess, but it's more likely that the vast majority of Shiite militias will do what he says.

I have to commend you, though. You were the first neighsayer to come along and play the part of David Gregory, telling us why nothing will work in Iraq.

Then you wonder why people who actually get things done in the world won't pay attention to what you say.

[ncphinsfan]

"What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?" Open-ended


%
War in Iraq 27
Economy/Jobs 13
Immigration 7
Terrorism (general) 6
Health care 5
President Bush 4
Gas/Heating oil crisis 4
Poverty/Homelessness 4
Other 26
Unsure 4

I wonder what the results of this poll would have been if instead of "immigration" CBS had used the accurate term, "illegal immigration".

[Miss Marple]

Hey, I'd vote for you!

[Wolfstar]

But, if you don't dig around, you'll think that all that's happening in America is hordes of illegals running amok, trying to destroy the country.

Yep. Illegal immigration is a tough issue. Unfortunately, there are extremists and opportunists on both sides of the issue doing their best to whip "their people" up into a frenzy.

[itsahoot]

How this could ever be labeled as "one issue" is just beyond me.

Simple, they can then easily call it racism.

[Cobra64]

A one-issue wonder. Not a chance.

Probably one of the most important for this country.

[Echo Talon]

When was the last time a pollster called you? Its been a LONG time for me.

[battletank]

http://tancredo.house.gov/issues/

He's 100 percent conservative. That may scare off some.

[georgia2006]

Hillary will ove this poll...will the angry right help another Clinton to get re-elected??

I remember in Mar/April 2004 Kerry Led Bush by 12-13...i dont think it is a coincidence that the Generic DEM Pres candidate leads the Generaic GOP candidate for Pres by the same margin as the Generic DEM candidate for Congress leads the generic GOP candiate for Congress