Don Walton calls some recent Gallup Poll data "stunning". Maybe. I think "not very surprising" and "temporary" are more apt descriptors.
The data show that Democrats hold a slight (43% to 42%) edge over Republicans in Nebraska right now. That's interesting, yes, but it really shouldn't be very shocking. The data come from the first six months of 2009. The first few months of that period were marked by heavy Obamaphilia; skepticism and cynicism are now setting in. I suspect data from the second half of 2009 won't be quite as favorable.
Not that Democrats don't have a window of opportunity right now. They do. On the national stage Republicans haven't inspired much confidence or shown much leadership. Within our state's borders, Republicans just aren't very exciting. Whatever the poll numbers say, state Democrats should be making some moves.
Are you "stunned" by any of this? Do you think Nebraska's Democrats can make hay of this opportunity at the local and/or state level?
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No, I am not stunned. I think if polled today, the numbers would be less dem-centric.
I think Don Walton wears his politics on his sleeve more than anyone else at the LJS (to the point of being downright annoying and unreadable to me) and he’s wetting himself thinking we’re turning into a blue state.
And no, I don’t think the state Dems can make much hay of this.
With that said, I wouldn’t be crowing too much as a Rep - I am of the mindset that we’d be better off in Washington to do away with as many current congressmen and women as possible. The mid-term election is a good place to start a clean sweep, and I think that Fortenberry and Terry and friends need to do something other than being in lockstep with poor (abesnt? missing? abysmal?) Republican leadership and do something to represent themselves and Nebraska, or they should pack their crap and move home and let someone else have a crack at the job.
Don needs to quit taking the little blue pill before writing his columns.
I’ll be ‘stunned’ if the Democrats can field a decent candidate not named Ben Nelson for any of the major national offices and governor in the next 5 years. (sorry, Scott Kleeb doesn’t count)
I don’t think Nebraska is that much skewed Republican anyways. Sure, there are more registered Republicans than Democrats, but a good portion of them are likely fence-sitters like Nelson. The Nebraska left likes to paint Nebraska Republicans as a bunch of hayseed, hick, racist homophobes, but the number of them converted to temporary Obamatrons is evidence to the contrary.
That’s probably a pretty good analysis. There are a lot of independents here, and a lot of independents have been polling with the Democrats lately.
I expect Lee Terry to lose next year to Tom White. The national GOP is concerned about Terry’s chances and have placed him on their “Patriot” (read: endangered species) list.
Good. He needs to be on that list, and he needs to be gone.
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