Senate '12

Poll: As Michigan's GOP Gov. Loses Support, Dem Senator Rises

Jon Terbush | March 23, 2011, 4:38PM

Governor Rick Snyder (R-MI) and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)

In December, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) looked shaky heading into her 2012 reelection bid. One poll found her barely leading a slate of potential Republican challengers. But now, Stabenow's poll numbers have rebounded: a new PPP poll shows her leading her potential rivals by double-digits.

That turnaround comes at the same time that Michigan's new Republican Governor, Rick Snyder, has seen his approval rating slide, after his push for a controversial proposal that would give him the authority to appoint emergency managers in struggling cities, a proposal one supporter likened to "financial martial law."

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CT-SEN

PPP Poll: Murphy, Bysiewicz In Close Dem Primary For CT-SEN

Eric Kleefeld | March 22, 2011, 5:40PM

CT-SEN Democratic candidates Chris Murphy and Susan Bysiewicz

A new survey of Connecticut by Public Policy Polling (D), commissioned by Daily Kos, shows Democrats starting out heavily favored to keep the open seat of retiring Dem-aligned independent Sen. Joe Lieberman, with the two candidates Chris Murphy and Susan Bysiewicz starting out in a close primary.

Murphy, a three-term Congressman, and Bysiewicz, a former Connecticut Secretary of State, are in a statistical dead heat at 40% for Murphy, to 38% for Bysiewicz. The survey of likely Democratic primary voters has a ±4.9% margin of error, and the primary is a long way off -- in August 2012.

In a wider sample of registered voters for the general election, Murphy and Bysiewicz both lead all five possible Republican opponents, none of whom are officially in the race: 2010 nominee and former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon, 2010 candidate and former Rep. Rob Simmons, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, former Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele, and state Sen. Scott Frantz.

OH-SEN

As Kasich Sinks, Dem. Senator's Reelection Odds Get A Big Boost

Jon Terbush | March 16, 2011, 12:26PM

Gov. John Kasich (R-OH) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Just two months ago, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) looked vulnerable to defeat heading into 2012. But now, amid a state-level showdown over union rights that has energized voters and sent Republican Gov. John Kasich's approval rating into a tailspin, a new PPP poll of registered voters finds Brown suddenly dominating a slate of potential Republican challengers.

In December, polls showed Brown in a precarious position, barely leading relatively unknown Republicans in hypothetical 2012 contests. But in the latest survey, Brown has suddenly shot ahead of his GOP rivals, such that he now leads each of them by double-digit margins; his lead over one challenger exploded from a miniscule 2 points in December to 19 in the latest poll.

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Scott Brown

Poll: Scott Brown In Great Shape Heading Into 2012 Reelection Campaign

Jon Terbush | March 15, 2011, 8:37AM

Senator Scott Brown (R-MA)

Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) could drive his truck straight on to a second term in 2012.

A poll out this week from Wester New England College finds that a majority of registered voters in deep blue Massachusetts give Brown good marks on his job approval. In addition, Brown tops a couple of potential Democratic challengers in head-to-head matchups.

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Jeff Flake

Flake Joins GOP Frosh Fray, Won't Vote for Next CR

Susan Crabtree | March 14, 2011, 6:35PM

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ)

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), a longtime fiscal conservative who is running for Senate, is closing ranks with his fellow Tea Party loyalists in rejecting the latest stop-gap spending measure crafted to avoid a government shutdown and which has the backing of the House GOP leadership.

"How are we ever supposed to tackle the grave fiscal challenges before us like the debt ceiling, the debt, and the FY2012 budget when we just keep punting on FY2011 spending?" Flake said in release Monday afternoon.

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VA-SEN

DNC: Kaine 'Increasingly Likely' To Run

Eric Kleefeld | March 14, 2011, 1:55PM

DNC Chairman Tim Kaine

The Democratic National Committee is responding to online reports that DNC chairman Tim Kaine said he would run for Senate in Virginia, where he was previously governor and where Dem Sen. Jim Webb is retiring -- saying instead that it is "already widely known" that Kaine is "increasingly likely" to make the race.

Earlier on Monday, Larry Sabato tweeted that Kaine had told a class at the University of Richmond, where he teaches a class on law and leadership, that he would run for Senate.

"In response to a student's question, Governor Kaine told his law school class today what is already widely known which is that he is increasingly likely to run," said DNC communications director Brad Woodhouse, in a statement.

"However, no final decision will be made or announced until the governor has had a final round of consultations with folks about how he can best serve the President, the people and the causes he cares about; he is assured that the Democratic Party will be in good hands should he choose to make the race and leave the DNC; he has the support that would be necessary to mount a successful campaign and he completes commitments for travel and fundraising he has made to the Party and the President through at least the end of the month."

ME-SEN

Poll: Olympia Snowe Could Win Reelection -- As An Independent

Jon Terbush | March 9, 2011, 1:36PM

Maine Republicans aren't so keen on nominating Sen Olympia Snowe (R) for another reelection bid. But if Snowe does get dumped by her own party in a primary election, a PPP poll of registered voters shows that she could still cruise to reelection should she run as an Independent.

Earlier this week, PPP released a poll showing that only one quarter of Republicans in Snowe's home state think she should be considered a Republican, while a third said she was better described as a Democrat. Further, almost six in ten said they would probably vote for a more conservative candidate should one challenge Snowe in a primary.

Yet as the new release shows, Snowe garners plenty of support from Democratic voters, and could return to the Senate even if her own party dumps her in a primary next year.

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Senate '12

Poll: Sen. McCaskill Looks Vulnerable For Defeat In 2012

Jon Terbush | March 8, 2011, 3:53PM

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO)

Sen Claire McCaskill (D-MO) may face a tough road to reelection in 2012 according to a new PPP poll of registered voters that shows her just barely squeaking past a number of potential challengers.

McCaskill won election to her first term in 2006, but by a slim two-point margin in a year when Democrats romped to victory nationwide. As a result, her seat has been viewed as a toss-up heading into 2012, something the poll's results seem to confirm.

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WI-SEN

Poll: Democrats Poised To Keep Wisconsin Senate Seat In 2012

Jon Terbush | March 3, 2011, 9:06AM

Senator Herbert Kohl (D-WI) and Fmr. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)

Sen. Herb Kohl (D) is in solid position to hold his seat if he runs for reelection in 2012, according to a new PPP poll. But if he retires, as some observers believe he will, Democrats could still hold the seat if they nominate a progressive favorite in Kohl's place: former Sen. Russ Feingold.

Kohl and Feingold held strong leads over every Republican challenger thrown their way in the survey, making it seem at least for now like the GOP would have a tough time flipping another Wisconsin Senate seat.

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VA-SEN

Poll: Top Dem and GOPer Tied For 2012 Virginia Senate Race

Jon Terbush | March 2, 2011, 8:51AM

Former Sen. George Allen (R-VA) and Chairman of the Democratic Committee Tim Kaine (D-VA)

With Virginia Sen. Jim Webb (D) retiring at the end of his term, the race to replace him in 2012 looks like a total toss up, according to a new PPP poll.

In the poll, the strongest potential candidate from each party -- former Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine and former Republican Sen. George Allen -- topped every challenger thrown against them. Yet in a head-to-head match-up, Kaine and Allen tied at 47% apiece.

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