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Is GOP confidence for real? Is this a classic bluff?
Christian Science Monitor ^ | Nov 1, 2006 | Linda Feldmann

Posted on 11/01/2006 12:43:56 PM PST by rface

"We're going to win," President Bush asserted confidently in his latest press conference, when asked about the midterm elections....

Vice President Dick Cheney tells interviewers he is "optimistic" about the Republican Party's ability to hold on...

But the voice that gives Democrats the biggest chills is that of Karl Rove. Mr. Rove has seen the private polls from individual races, he tells interviewers, and the data point "strongly" in one direction: a Republican House and a Republican Senate.

Is this a classic bluff..... Or do Rove and his bosses really know something that's not knowable by the rest of us?

The rock-solid pronouncements of Rove, who cites not just internal polls but also the GOP's advantage in fund-raising and organization, buttress the predictable positive outlook...

"Rove is relying on the Rove mystique," says John Pitney, a political scientist at Claremont-McKenna College in Claremont, Calif. "A lot of Democrats are paranoid about it. ...

..... a comment by John Kerry that was interpreted as a slight against US troops in Iraq. "Education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. And if you don't, you get stuck in Iraq." Kerry called it a botched joke.

Republicans maintain a funding advantage. At the end of August, in 30 of the most competitive races, Republicans had $33 million cash on hand versus $14 million for the Democrats, says Rove. The Republicans also tout their so-called 72-hour turnout operation. There have been reports of greater early-voting turnout by Republicans than by Democrats.

says GOP pollster Whit Ayres.... if the Democrats don't retake the House next Tuesday, "they should hang it up as a political party. If they can't win in this climate, when can they win?"

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


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: rove
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To: bigbob

If the last few elections have taught me anything, it's that polls are largely bogus and they tend to lean in the Dems favor...that is, until the election.

I think the GOP will hold Congress overall. I wouldn't even be surprised to see them actually expanding their advantage. The base (FINALLY) seems fired up.

Thank you Senator Kerry! You're the best Republican senator since Bob Dole!


21 posted on 11/01/2006 12:55:08 PM PST by TheDoctorNoh
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To: unkus

You can say that again!


22 posted on 11/01/2006 12:56:18 PM PST by 1035rep
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To: Cementjungle

And your wife didn't even have
the benefit of the Kerry Kalamity
before she cast her ballot! <>g<>


23 posted on 11/01/2006 12:56:46 PM PST by Grendel9
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To: rface

I will be SOOO happy if we win both House & Senate. I have been MUCH more relaxed the past week or so.


24 posted on 11/01/2006 12:56:55 PM PST by PghBaldy (Depose Pelosi! What Did She Know and When Did She Know It?)
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To: rface

From
The Story Behind the Polls
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2006/10/the_story_behind_the_polls.html

At this stage of the campaign, pollsters try to screen their respondents and report only those who answer a series of questions in ways that suggest they are actually going to vote. Many polls find that a higher proportion of Democrats than Republicans pass the screen.

>SNIP<

Serious pollsters concede that there are some problems with polling. Americans have fewer landline phones than they used to, and the random digit dialing most pollsters use does not include cell-phone numbers. Larger and larger percentages of those called are declining to be interviewed.

Interviewers can inject bias in the results. The late Warren Mitofsky, who conducted the 2004 NEP exit poll, went back and found that the greatest difference between actual results in exit poll precincts and the reports phoned in to NEP came where the interviewers were female graduate students -- and almost all the discrepancies favored the Democrats.


25 posted on 11/01/2006 12:57:36 PM PST by listenhillary (Islam = Religion of peace. If you say otherwise, we'll kill you!)
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To: unkus

AGREED!


26 posted on 11/01/2006 12:58:06 PM PST by cvq3842
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To: Grendel9

I'm calling Charlie Rangel's office on Wednesday, NOvember 8th and asking if he's going to fulfill his promise to resign when he said he'd do that if the democrats didn't retake the house!


27 posted on 11/01/2006 12:58:45 PM PST by princess leah
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To: rface

"Rove, you magnificent bastard!"

28 posted on 11/01/2006 12:59:06 PM PST by Disambiguator (If the Democrats were a stock, I would short them.)
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To: rface

" . . .If they can't win in this climate, when can they win?" . . ."

The Democrats can win again when the Republicans become as arrogant, amoral and corrupt as the Democrats had become when they lost control, and begin forget what got them polical support in the first place . . . like promises of smaller, less intrusive government. They are almost to that point now, which is why the election is up in the air.


29 posted on 11/01/2006 12:59:20 PM PST by RatRipper
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To: rface

The author should be asking: "Is our polling for real?" The "polls" that show the Dems taking over do so because they've wildly oversampled Democrat voters. One posted here the other day assumed a 66% voter turnout. (I don't think that an off-year election has had a 66% turnout during my lifetime!) Since the Dems have an advantage over the GOP in voter registrations, overestimating the turnout adds more Democrats to the mix. The polling is pure bullcrap. Thus there's nothing odd about GOP optimism.


30 posted on 11/01/2006 1:00:38 PM PST by Redcloak (Speak softly and wear a loud shirt.)
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To: rface

Is it accurate, just ask Dan Rather.


31 posted on 11/01/2006 1:00:45 PM PST by trustandobey
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To: cvq3842

It is sad that some in this country would even contemplate voting for these dispicable people. The Communist Manifesto is working.


32 posted on 11/01/2006 1:01:07 PM PST by unkus
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To: rface
OK Here's my take. I voted today in TX #22 yes the one that once was represented by Tom DeLay. Every one of the twenty or so machines were occupied and as one pole worker said it's easy to tell who everyone is voting for. If it takes five minutes to vote they are doing a write in. Now if Shelly SG wins or even comes close the Rats are toast.
33 posted on 11/01/2006 1:02:55 PM PST by gumboyaya
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To: rface; All

I'm cautiously optimistic- I'm going to go out on a limb, and predict we will win- possibly, win big.

Here's my brief report on what I saw with Georgia's Advance Voting Monday:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1728963/posts?page=20#20

And some followup here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1728963/posts?page=28#28

I've thought over what I saw, and I finally realized what my first impression of the crowd was...

"These are all talk radio listeners."

So the Republican base is motivated- highly motivated.

Stay tuned...


34 posted on 11/01/2006 1:02:59 PM PST by backhoe (Just an old Keyboard Cowboy, ridin' the trackball into the Sunset...)
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To: TheDoctorNoh

Just wondering (because I'm nervous) why does everyone think polls are pro Dem? Is there evidence of this over the years?


35 posted on 11/01/2006 1:03:11 PM PST by Pacothecat
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To: rface

36 posted on 11/01/2006 1:04:04 PM PST by Petronski (KERRY: "Our soldiers are dumb!" -- PELOSI: "And we are not winning!" [SPIT])
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To: unkus

I don't know what it is, but it's very deeply disturbing.

This jackass Kerry should have received no more than 30% of the vote, tops, in 2004.

Bush is not perfect, but people need to get educated. This is NOT Truman's Democratic Party.

Some people still think Bush is the threat, not the terrorists.

It makes me physically ill.

God help us.


37 posted on 11/01/2006 1:04:28 PM PST by cvq3842
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To: Pacothecat
Just wondering (because I'm nervous) why does everyone think polls are pro Dem?

My take on polls? Here:

http://www.freedominion.ca/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=798211&highlight=#798211
_________________
( Just an Old Keyboard Cowboy, etc., etc...)

38 posted on 11/01/2006 1:06:29 PM PST by backhoe (Just an old Keyboard Cowboy, ridin' the trackball into the Sunset...)
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To: Pacothecat

Well let's put it this way. If polls were for real, we would have had President Gore or President Kerry + at least one house of Congress in control of the 'Rats.

Polls seem to be more wishful thinking on the part of the Left, and NOT a self-fulfilling prophesy.


39 posted on 11/01/2006 1:06:51 PM PST by TheDoctorNoh
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To: rface

Eliminate voter fraud and the Dems might never win an election again.


40 posted on 11/01/2006 1:07:23 PM PST by Niteranger68 (Already voted absentee?.straight Republican ticket?.best choice on the menu.)
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