2010 elections

Top Five Political Catch Phrases Of 2010

Brian Beutler | December 29, 2010, 12:45PM

Sarah Palin

A big part of politics is coming up with catchy slogans and phrases so that voters draw conclusions that help your party. They run the gamut from Barack Obama's "Yes we can!" to Sarah Palin's "death panels."

The flipside of that is that you have to avoid saddling yourself with unflattering slogans and catch phrases. A bad gaffe will stick to a politician like flypaper -- sometimes for years. These buzzwords and catchphrases bubble up into the political discourse all the time. Most of them dissipate harmlessly, but a few attach themselves to their subjects like stink on, well, chickencrap.

Here's our list of the top five political catch phrases of 2010 -- the good, the bad, and the ugly.

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MO-SEN

Blunt Defeats Carnahan In Missouri Senate Race

Brian Beutler | November 2, 2010, 9:40PM

Missouri Sec. of State Robin Carnahan (D) and Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)

The Missouri Senate delegation will remain divided in 2011, as tonight Republican Rep. Roy Blunt defeated Democrat Robin Carnahan to fill the seat being vacated by Sen. Kit Bond.

In a normal year, Carnahan would have stood a very good chance of defeating Blunt, whose stock is low in Missouri after years of getting cozy in Washington and after his son Matt's disastrous single term as governor.

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Sharron Angle

Harry Reid Camp Tells Sharron Angle To 'Man Up'

Brian Beutler | October 21, 2010, 5:35PM

NV-SEN candidates Sharron Angle (R) and Harry Reid (D)

Examples of female politicians questioning their male rivals' manhood are about a dime a dozen at this point. Christine O'Donnell told her primary opponent Mike Castle to get his "man-pants" on. Sharron Angle told Harry Reid to "man up" and gut Social Security. Democrat Robin Carnahan told her Missouri Senate rival Roy Blunt to repeal his own health care..."and man up." Sarah Palin said Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has "the cojones" that to tackle immigration reform that Barack Obama could use -- just one of many times she emasculated some of her enemies: "impotent, limp, and gutless reporters" and Republicans who won't "man up" and support the Tea Party.

Now one of the men on the receiving end of this phallic fusillade is turning the tables.

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MO-SEN

PPP Poll: Dem Carnahan Gaining On GOPer Blunt In MO-SEN

Marc Kilstein | October 18, 2010, 4:00PM

Missouri Sec. of State Robin Carnahan (D) and Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)

A newly released PPP poll suggests things may be tightening up in the Missouri Senate race between Republican Rep. Roy Blunt and Democratic Secretary of State Robin Carnahan. Blunt, who has maintained a lead throughout recent months' polling, is found to be leading by only five points, 46%-41%, with Constitution Party candidate Jerry Beck and Libertarian Jonathan Dine both polling at 3%.

This PPP poll was conducted for the Carnahan campaign.

When PPP looked at this race back in mid-August, Blunt led Carnahan 45%-38%, with Beck earning 5% and Dine polling at 3%. Two polls from October 5 saw Blunt leading more comfortably in the race: a CNN/Time poll gave him a 53%-40% lead, while a Rasmussen survey had him on top 51%-43%.

The margin of error for the latest survey is ±3.9 percentage points.

MO-SEN

Dem Carnahan's Ad In MO-SEN: Blunt Is A 'Pork-Meister' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 30, 2010, 4:27PM

From a Robin Carnahan campaign ad, "Potatoes."

Democratic candidate Robin Carnahan has a new TV ad in the Missouri Senate race, trying to tear down Republican Rep. Roy Blunt's bonafides on the issues of government spending that he's been pushing in the race. The message: He's a "pork-meister."

"What do this museum for teapots, this swimming pool, and this center studying potatoes have in common?" the announcer asks. "Thanks to Roy Blunt, they've been getting your tax dollars. That's right. Blunt's been a leader in allowing earmarks to get out of control. He's been called a 'prodigious pork-meister' for earmarks that cost you $20 billion a year. That's a lot of potatoes. Roy Blunt: The very worst of Washington."

The candidate then closes with her message: "I'm Robin Carnahan. I approved this message, because I'm for banning earmarks once and for all."

The TPM Poll Average gives gives Blunt a lead of 51.2%-44.0%.

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MO-SEN

Roy Blunt Ad: Carnahan Family Got 'Payoff' From Stimulus Money (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 30, 2010, 11:34AM

Campaign ad from Senate candidate Roy Blunt (R-MO), "Where's My Stimulus?"

Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) has a new ad in the Missouri Senate race, that openly accuses his Democratic opponent, Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, of corruptly enriching her family through her support of President Obama's policies

"They promised jobs. Instead we got generations of debt. Where'd our money go?" the ad says. "Ask Robin Carnahan. Her brother's wind farm got over a hundred million stimulus dollars. How? Robin Carnahan campaigned for Obama and the stimulus. Her brother lobbied for his special deal, and was a top Obama fundraiser. The payoff: Over a hundred million dollars. The Carnahans get a real windfall. We get the bill -- and no jobs."

The TPM Poll Average gives Blunt a lead of 51.2%-44.0%.

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MO-SEN

Rasmussen Poll: GOPer Blunt Leads By 8 In MO-SEN Race

Marc Kilstein | September 23, 2010, 11:58AM

Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)

A new Rasmussen poll of the Missouri Senate race shows Republican Rep. Roy Blunt leading Democratic Secretary of State Robin Carnahan 52%-44%.

When Rasmussen last took a look at this contest on September 7, Blunt was on top of Carnahan 53%-43%. The TPM Poll Average finds the Republican nominee ahead 51.2%-44.0%.

The margin of error for the latest survey is ±4.0 percentage points.

For more on the race, check out TPMDC's full coverage here.

MO-SEN

Carnahan Ad Slams Blunt On Lobbyist Ties In MO-SEN Race (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 10, 2010, 5:14PM

Campaign ad from Senate candidate Robin Carnahan (D-MO), "Clean Up The House"

Democrat Robin Carnahan has a new ad in the Missouri Senate race, attacking Republican Roy Blunt as a Washington insider who is too connected to lobbyists for the current reform-minded, anti-incumbent environment.

The ad shows old video of Blunt on Fox News Sunday back in 2006, when the then-House Majority Whip was running for Majority Leader. Chris Wallace is shown bringing up Blunt's ties to Phillip Morris tobacco lobbyist money, and his ties to Jack Abramoff. "Are you the one to clean up the House?" Wallace asked. (Blunt later lost the leadership race to John Boehner, remained as Republican Whip, and gave up that post after the 2008 election.)

The Carnahan campaign really has hit on something phenomenal in this ad: A leading Republican was once criticized on Fox News!

The TPM Poll Average gives Blunt a lead of 50.6%-43.8%.

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MO-SEN

Rasmussen Poll: Blunt Up 10 In MO-SEN

Evan McMorris-Santoro | September 9, 2010, 3:58PM

Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)

The Republican nominee for Senate in Missouri, Rep. Roy Blunt, is pulling away from his Democratic opponent, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan in the race for the Show Me State's open Senate seat. A poll from Rasmussen out today shows Blunt ahead 53-43, the latest in a series of polls that have shown the Republican could be settling into a comfortable lead.

The last Rasmussen poll -- which also happens to be the last public poll of the race -- showed Blunt ahead 54-41. That poll was conducted Aug. 23.

The TPM Poll Average shows Blunt ahead 50.6-43.8. Trendlines show Blunt with the momentum:

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American Crossroads

Rove-Backed Group Drops Four New Senate Race Ads (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 2, 2010, 3:32PM

American Crossroads, the conservative group backed by Karl Rove and former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie, has a whole set of new ads in four key Senate races.

First up is an ad in Nevada, against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). This spot continues the theme from American Crossroads's previous ad, complaining about stimulus spending going to help other states.

"Really, Harry," the announcer says. "How about some help for Nevada?"

The TPM Poll Average of the Nevada Senate race puts Reid ahead of Republican Sharron Angle by 46.6%-43.7%.

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MO-SEN

Rasmussen Poll: GOPer Blunt Widens Lead In MO-SEN Race

Marc Kilstein | August 24, 2010, 1:53PM

Missouri Sec. of State Robin Carnahan (D) and Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)

A new Rasmussen poll of the Missouri Senate race finds Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) with a 13-point lead over Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, 54%-41%.

The latest survey shows Blunt's largest lead in recent months' polling. The Republican had an 11-point advantage, 51%-40%, prior to leaners' preferred candidate being fleshed out with a follow-up question, after which Blunt's lead widened to 13 points. An August 10 Rasmussen survey had Blunt ahead by a slimmer seven points, 50%-43%. Rasmussen's late-July poll of the contest produced a six-point lead for the Republican, 49%-43%. All three surveys have a margin of error of ±4.0 percentage points.

The TPM Poll Average finds Blunt leading the race, 49.9%-42.8%.

For more on the race, check out TPMDC's full coverage here.

MO-SEN

Up Is Down In Missouri As Dem Veers To The Right Of Her Party (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | August 20, 2010, 8:52AM

A new ad from US Sen. candidate Robin Carnahan (D-MO) attacking Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) on his vote for the financial bailout.

The race for Missouri's open Senate seat has to be one of the strangest out there this year. As Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D) and Rep. Roy Blunt (R) slug it out, the backdrop of this battleground includes tea party spats, attacks over the bailout and Carnahan adopting the GOP positions on tax cuts for the rich.

Carnahan Thursday told voters at the Missouri State Fair she believes "now is not the time to raise taxes" for members of any income class, Huffington Post reported and confirmed with the campaign after catching the news on a St. Louis scribe's Twitter feed.

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Robin Carnahan

Carnahan Blasts Blunt In New Ad: 'The Worst Of Washington" (VIDEO)

Megan Carpentier | August 12, 2010, 5:22PM

Missouri Senate candidate Robin Carnahan (D) slammed her opponent, Rep. Roy Blunt (R), in a new statewide television ad issued today over everything from banking deregulation to his leadership during the bailout negotiations in 2008 to the reported $1.6 million in contributions he took from Wall Street.

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MO-SEN

Rasmussen Poll: Blunt Leads By 7 In MO Senate Race

Evan McMorris-Santoro | August 12, 2010, 9:27AM

Missouri Sec. of State Robin Carnahan (D) and Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)

Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) has a slim lead over Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan according to a new poll from Rasmussen. Blunt leads Carnahan 50-43 in the survey, which was conduced Tuesday among 750 likely voters. The margin of error is 4%.

Past polling has also shown Blunt with a slight edge in the race. The last Rasmussen poll, from July 27, showed Blunt leading 49.-43. The TPM Poll Average for the contest shows Blunt in the lead 48.6-43.2.

Health care lawsuits

GOP Hails Purely Symbolic Victory In Missouri's Anti-Health Care Reform Vote

Christina Bellantoni | August 4, 2010, 12:41PM

A Tea Party protester

While yesterday's vote in Missouri against national health care reform will have little substantive impact on the federal health care reform law, Republicans nonetheless are hailing it as a major victory for their side. Voters in the Show Me State overwhelmingly voted to change Missouri statutes so the mandate for insurance coverage wouldn't apply, a symbolic gesture that everyone acknowledges is highly unlikely to have any effect on the federal health care reform law (absent major and unexpected changes to established legal precedent).

But don't tell RNC Chairman Michael Steele, House Minority Leader John Boehner or former Alaska governor Sarah Palin that.

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Health care lawsuits

Missouri Voters Poised To Reject Health Care Reform, Start Legal Challenges

Christina Bellantoni | August 3, 2010, 1:07PM

Protesting the health care bill in March.

Missouri Republicans today are preparing to celebrate the success of their ballot initiative on health care reform, which asks Missourians whether they want to roll back a critical element of the new law despite significant questions about the constitutionality of doing so.

But opponents of Prop C, the Republican-engineered ballot measure dubbed the "Health Care Freedom Act" that has more political significance than legal precedent behind it, number just in the hundreds and have scant help from the state's Democrats or even Gov. Jay Nixon. The teenage leader of the opposition, in fact, is managing a Facebook campaign against the ballot measure in between his job making sandwiches at Subway.

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MO-SEN

Tea Party Protest v. Roy Blunt Turns Out To Be A Dud (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | August 2, 2010, 11:09AM

A St. Louis Tea Party protest against Roy Blunt.

Tea party groups in Missouri, irate over Rep. Michele Bachmann's endorsement of Rep. Roy Blunt before tomorrow's Republican Senate primary, were planning a "major protest' against Blunt's campaign events over the weekend. Democrats and Blunt's main Republican primary opponent, Chuck Purgason, pushed for the protest as evidence Blunt was headed for trouble this fall in a general election matchup against Robin Carnahan (D).

But it didn't quite turn out that way.

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MO-SEN

Rasmussen Poll: Roy Blunt Up 6 In Missouri Senate Race

Thomas Rhiel | July 29, 2010, 9:46AM

Missouri Sec. of State Robin Carnahan (D) and Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)

Republican Roy Blunt still leads Democrat Robin Carnahan in the Missouri Senate race, according to the latest Rasmussen survey, which puts his lead at six points. Rep. Blunt -- the frontrunner in next Tuesday's GOP primary and the preferred Republican candidate of Michele Bachmann and Joe the Plumber -- leads Carnahan 49%-43% in the general election.

Those numbers are more favorable to Blunt than Rasmussen's last poll, which showed the Republican up only two points, but they're comparable to a Mason-Dixon poll from July 21, which showed Blunt ahead 48%-42%.

The TPM Poll Average for the race shows Blunt leading Carnahan 48.1%-43.2%. The margin of error for the latest Rasmussen survey is ±4.0 percentage points.

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MO-SEN

Missouri Tea Partiers Rip Michele Bachmann For Backing Roy Blunt

Christina Bellantoni | July 28, 2010, 2:52PM

Reps. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and Roy Blunt (R-MO)

Tea party groups in Missouri are furious that national tea party icon, Rep. Michele Bachmann, endorsed the strong frontrunner for the Senate nomination Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO). Bachmann will join Blunt for a fundraiser and to make campaign calls in his St. Louis headquarters Saturday.

Given that Bachmann has emerged as a tea party hero and formed the brand-new Tea Party Caucus in Congress, the groups said "we were shocked" that she is backing Blunt since he voted for the TARP bailout funds and "Cash for Clunkers."

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MO-SEN

Blunt Tries To Use Obama Against Carnahan (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 20, 2010, 11:33AM

A new ad from Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) attacking Senate opponent Robin Carnahan (D-MO).

When a president comes to town to raise money for a candidate in a tough race, it's usually the candidate who boasts of the commander-in-chief's support in the form of a positive television ad. But today, Rep. Roy Blunt is trying to use President Obama's fundraiser for his Senate rival Robin Carnahan against her, putting a new ad on television starring Obama and Carnahan and claiming she would be a "rubber stamp" for the Obama agenda.

Blunt's 30-second television ad up today includes video footage from Obama's event for Carhanan (D-MO) earlier this month. During the fundraiser, Obama told Missouri Democrats that he needed Carnahan in Washington to be "another vote" for his agenda. In many other races, Democrats have used the glowing Obama remarks in their own television ads to showcase that they'd be a partner to the president.

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2010 elections

GOPers And Dems Agree: 2010 Should Be A Referendum On Bush

Brian Beutler | July 19, 2010, 8:50AM

Sen. Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and President Barack Obama

Republicans and Democrats alike seem content to let the November elections hinge on a question the answer to which once seemed obvious to voters: Was the Bush era good for the country?

Though for most of President Obama's tenure Republicans were eager to run away from that question, they now act as though the answer makes them bulletproof. With the economy still in crisis, and polls showing Republicans poised to pick up many seats this November, GOP leaders have found the nerve to explicitly argue that what the country needs is a return to the same policies that triggered country's woes in the first place.

"We need to go back to the exact same agenda that is empowering the free enterprise system rather than diminishing it," said NRCC chairman Pete Sessions on "Meet the Press" Sunday morning.

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MO-SEN

Blunt Outraises Carnahan In MO-Sen

Christina Bellantoni | July 15, 2010, 6:52PM

Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)

Rep. Roy Blunt this quarter has outraised his rival Democratic Secretary of State Robin Carnahan in the battle for the heartland.

Blunt (R-MO) pulled in $2.2 million in donations during the second quarter from April 1 to June 30, the St. Louis Post Dispatch reported. Carnahan raised $1.5 million during the same period. Blunt has $4.5 million in the bank and she has $3.6 million cash on hand. They are vying to replace retiring Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO).

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MO-03

GOPer Doubles Down On Carnahan Comments: So Many Gov't Bailouts, Religious Freedom Could Be Next!

Christina Bellantoni | July 13, 2010, 6:29PM

House candidate Ed Martin (R-MO)

Moments after Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO) condemned his Congressional challenger Ed Martin (R-MO) for remarks Martin made about Carnahan's faith, Martin said in a statement to TPM that he stands by the comments.

As we reported, Martin said on the "Dr. Gina show" that the growth of government endangers freedom to worship and, "[T]hat's one of the things that we have to be very, very aware of that the Obama Administration and Congressman Carnahan are doing to us." In his statement tonight Martin defends himself, saying the Obama administration already has "abolished" many freedoms.

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MO-03

Carnahan Says GOPer 'Crossed The Line' Attacking Me Over Faith

Christina Bellantoni | July 13, 2010, 6:11PM

House candidate Ed Martin (R-MO) and Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO)

Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO) tonight tore into his Republican rival for suggesting that Carnahan and President Obama are trying to "take away" religious freedom. Carnahan said in a statement that Ed Martin (R-MO) is engaging in "fear mongering" that proves his true character.

As TPM reported last night, Martin said on a conservative radio show Tuesday that the growth of government endangers religious freedom and the "ultimate freedom ... to get your salvation." He said on the "Dr. Gina show" that "[T]hat's one of the things that we have to be very, very aware of that the Obama Administration and Congressman Carnahan are doing to us."

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MO-03

GOP Candidate: Obama And Carnahan Want To Take Away Your Chance To Find The Lord (AUDIO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 12, 2010, 8:45PM

House candidate Ed Martin (R-MO)

Ed Martin, a Republican candidate for Congress in Missouri, said in a radio interview with a conservative talk show host that President Obama and Rep. Russ Carnahan are trying to interfere with America's freedom to worship. Martin also has taken a swipe at Carnahan's sister Robin Carnahan, suggesting she is doing the "devil's work" as Secretary of State.

Martin said today the growth of government endangers religious freedom and the "ultimate freedom ... to get your salvation." "And I think that's one of the things that we have to be very, very aware of that the Obama Administration and Congressman Carnahan are doing to us," Martin said during an interview on the "Dr. Gina show."

Martin is challenging Carnahan (D-MO) this fall. The left-leaning FiredUp Missouri blog caught the radio segment and posted the audio tonight.

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MO-SEN

Obama Headed To Missouri To Help Robin Carnahan

Evan McMorris-Santoro | June 24, 2010, 3:28PM

Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan enjoys the Oklahoma Sooners-Missouri Tigers basketball game.

The race to replace retiring Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO) will get some high-profile attention next month in the form of a visit from President Obama on behalf of Democratic nominee Robin Carnahan.

According to the Kansas City Star, Obama will appear at a Carnahan fundraiser July 8. As the paper reports, the race with GOP nominee Roy Blunt "is sure to be a very expensive" and Carnahan can certainly use the cash Obama will bring.

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MO-SEN

Poll: Blunt Leads Missouri Senate Race, With Obama And Health Care Bill Unpopular

Eric Kleefeld | March 30, 2010, 11:04AM

Missouri Sec. of State Robin Carnahan (D) and Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)

The new survey of Missouri by Public Policy Polling (D) finds Republican Rep. Roy Blunt narrowly ahead in the race for the open Senate seat of retiring GOP Sen. Kit Bond. More importantly, however, other numbers show that the Democrats could have a very tough time ahead in this perennial swing state.

The numbers, among registered voters: Blunt 45%, Dem Secretary of State Robin Carnahan 41%, with a ±4.4% margin of error. Carnahan edges the other Republican candidate, state Sen. Chuck Purgason, by 42%-38%. The TPM Poll Average gives Blunt a lead of 47.0%-40.7% over Carnahan.

Below the surface, President Obama's approval rating is only 43%, with 52% disapproval. In addition, voters said by a 51%-42% margin that Republicans should work to repeal the health care bill. And voters oppose the health care bill by 54%-37%.

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MO-SEN

Poll: GOPer Blunt Takes Lead In Missouri Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | January 21, 2010, 9:37AM

Missouri Sec. of State Robin Carnahan (D) and Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)

In a further sign that Democratic fortunes have declined, a new Rasmussen poll of the Missouri Senate race shows Republican Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) taking the lead. The seat is currently held by retiring GOP Sen. Kit Bond.

The numbers: Blunt 49%, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan 43%, with a ±4.5% margin of error. Last month, Carnahan had a slim lead of 46%-44%, and in September they were tied at 46% each.

From the pollster's analysis: "As it has for other Democrats throughout the nation, the health care issue appears to be creating challenges for Carnahan. Just 37% of Missouri voters favor the health care plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats, but 62% oppose it. As in most other states, stronger feelings are on the side of the opponents. In Missouri, 20% Strongly Favor the plan versus 50% who Strongly Oppose it."

MO-SEN

Poll: Close Senate Race In Missouri, Democrat Has Edge

Eric Kleefeld | December 17, 2009, 11:01AM

Missouri Sec. of State Robin Carnahan (D) and Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)

A new Rasmussen poll says that it's a tight race for a Republican-held Senate seat in Missouri, a state that voted for John McCain in 2008, with possibly a slight edge for the Democrats.

The numbers: Democratic Secretary of State Robin Carnahan 46%, Republican Rep. Roy Blunt 44%, within the ±4.5% margin of error. Back in September, Rasmussen had them tied at 46% each.

It's interesting that Democrats would be competitive and perhaps even ahead in this state, in the midst of an apparently tough national environment.

The poll finds that only 40% of Missouri voters favor the health care bill, to 57% against. But Carnahan leads not only among those in favor of the plan, but even among those are "somewhat opposed" to it.

MO-SEN

Poll: Statistical Tie In Missouri Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | November 18, 2009, 10:54AM

Missouri Sec. of State Robin Carnahan (D) and Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)

The new survey of Missouri by Public Policy Polling (D) shows a dead heat in the race for this state's open Republican-held Senate seat.

The numbers: Democratic Secretary of State Robin Carnahan 43%, Republican Rep. Roy Blunt 42%, with a ±3.6% margin of error. The last time PPP tested this race in January, Carnahan had an edge of 45%-44%. Carnahan also leads Blunt's primary challenger, state Sen. Chuck Purgason, Carnahan has a 42%-35% lead. Blunt leads Purgason in the GOP primary by 53%-16%.

The pollster's analysis finds that Carnahan's personal ratings are much better than Blunt's. Her favorable rating is at 40%, to a 36% unfavorable, compared to Blunt's upside-down rating of 30%-38%. Nevertheless, this is a close race. One possible factor: President Obama's approval rating in the state is low, at 43%-52%.

"If Robin Carnahan had faced off against Roy Blunt in any election year between 1996 and 2008 she would likely have won given her superior popularity," said PPP president Dean Debnam, in the polling memo. "But 2010 has the potential to be an extremely good year for Republicans, and that's made this race highly competitive."

MO-SEN

Poll Gives Democrat Narrow Lead In Missouri Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | October 7, 2009, 9:38AM

Missouri Sec. of State Robin Carnahan (D) and Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)

A new poll in the top-tier 2010 Missouri Senate race, where four-term GOP Sen. Kit Bond is retiring, gives Democratic candidate Robin Carnahan a narrow lead over Republican candidate Roy Blunt.

The new numbers from Momentum Analysis (D): Carnahan 48%, Blunt 45%, with a ±3.5% margin of error.

The poll also gives Carnahan higher favorables and lower unfavorables than Blunt. She is at 51%-28%, while Blunt is at 44%-33%.