An acquaintance told me yesterday he was supporting a particular candidate because he thought that candidate was the most electable Democrat. I said it seems to me most of our current crop of legislators have been good at getting elected, and damned poor at actually doing what they talked about. i named a few examples...and you could too.
Submitted by Jake Gellar-Goad on Fri, 02/12/2010 - 2:08pm.
an anti-rape amendment. He voted against the stimulus bill and then took credit for its effects. And in a financial crisis his solution was to have his family do a bank-run.
Electability aside, all 3 candidates strike me as an improvement over that.
Submitted by HallStyle on Sat, 02/13/2010 - 8:22pm.
Anything is an Improvement over Burr. I can't think of one good vote he has made. He is a Water Carrier for the GOP leadership. He is a Safe GOP Vote in the Senate. They don't have to twist his arm or nothing he goes right along with McConnell, he can't think on his own. He needs a Brain Transplant and some GUTS!
Anthony D. Hall,
Fighting for Truth, Justice, Freedom and the American Way!
Submitted by NCDem1973 on Fri, 02/12/2010 - 2:52pm.
The difference between Cal and Elaine are that Cal's votes are coming from out-of-state. Probably some awful state like Texas or California. Probably from DC, as well.
Submitted by prettyshadeofblue on Fri, 02/12/2010 - 11:26pm.
Because I'm a practical person? Do you really think that these people have time to get on these websites and flood these polls with votes? Don't you think they have better things to do?
Submitted by prettyshadeofblue on Fri, 02/12/2010 - 9:51pm.
There are reasons people in DC want Cal Cunningham to be the nominee. He's the only one that can win in November. It would be wise for everyone to start realizing that.
Sure, elect Elaine Marshall as your nominee. I hope you enjoy spending the general election day watching her lose by 20 percentage points.
Submitted by NCDem1973 on Fri, 02/12/2010 - 10:49pm.
I don't care who wants him to be the nominee or why. My point is that I'm sure they are flooding this poll with their votes- which makes the poll pointless. They can't vote in North Carolina.
Submitted by prettyshadeofblue on Fri, 02/12/2010 - 11:17pm.
Don't be ridiculous. These people have lives. They don't have time to flood every random poll that pops up online for their candidate. You're upset because your candidate is not the winner, simple as that.
Submitted by NCDem1973 on Fri, 02/12/2010 - 11:33pm.
Talk about volatile. Geezus. Actually, I'm supporting Cal. I just don't think he's actually going to win the primary. Elaine has broad support and is a woman that many other women in this state like and admire. Lewis is going to take a huge portion of the AA vote. Turnout for these primaries is always very low and I just don't think the people of North Carolina are going to elect another rich, good-looking, white guy after the scandal we have seen with a recent former Senator. Forgive me for being a realist. As far as democrats I know and encounter, I'd say that 2 to 1 people are supporting Elaine over Cal. I have not encountered a single person that is excited about Cal Cunningham. I am supporting him because I agree he is electable but not because he thrills me as a candidate.
Also, if people post it on facebook and twitter(which I know that they have), the staffers(and dscc'ers) and their friends, out of state and not, will vote in the poll. I saw far more posts on facebook and twitter for Cal over Elaine.
Submitted by prettyshadeofblue on Fri, 02/12/2010 - 11:51pm.
If you feel that way, you should speak of his candidacy in a better light, don't you think? I don't see many NC democrats being realists these days. They are so wrapped up in Elaine Marshall's loyalty to NC democrats, they can't see that she can't win in November. There are more things to consider than the fact that she's a good democrat, you know?
I feel like Ken Lewis is going to take more of Elaine's votes than Cal's. I didn't see Ken Lewis as a real candidate until he hired Bruce Clark as his campaign manager. That was a smart move on his part.
Haha, you don't think North Carolina will elect another rich, good-looking, white guy.. but they might!
Submitted by NCDem1973 on Sat, 02/13/2010 - 12:08am.
Bruce Clark? Wow. You are really in the light on this issue. He almost ran Anthony Foxx's campaign into the ground. If it hadn't been for NCDP, he would have.
I would speak of Cal's candidacy in a better light if I felt like he was a great candidate but honestly, I don't have much great to say about him. So how about you live your life and I'll live mine?
Submitted by prettyshadeofblue on Sat, 02/13/2010 - 1:41am.
I've worked with Bruce Clark on several occasions. He is a respectable fellow with great campaign skills. Anyone who says otherwise is severely misguided.
You joined BlueNC 11 hours ago, did you just join to vote in that poll and say bad things about Cal Cunningham? Honestly, I feel like you're probably some Elaine supporter posing.
Submitted by NCDem1973 on Sat, 02/13/2010 - 1:51am.
What did I say bad about Cal? I said I am supporting him but I'm not excited about him. I said he was the most electable in November. What Elaine supporter would say that? Grow up. I know plenty about Bruce and I know exactly who you are too. Bruce Clark spent that campaign into the ground by late summer. Lucky for them they found a way to raise the money to help make it up in the end. Foxx should have won by far more than 2,000 votes. Even their own campaign consultants were livid with the staff of that campaign. I think the consultants probably have a little better idea of how a good campaign is run over a college student.
Submitted by NCDem1973 on Sat, 02/13/2010 - 1:58am.
We won't even mention that you joined four hours ago just so you could defend Cal. It's people like you that will run potential supporters off. Over. The. Top.
Submitted by Jake Gellar-Goad on Sat, 02/13/2010 - 1:35am.
who have people excited about them. But I agree that they all need more people to be excited about them if they are to win.
I'm going to defend Cal's excitement level in particular since it was called out.
My experience is a little skewed towards online and towards a younger voting age crowd, but I am seeing excitement for his candidacy. Cal has nearly twice as many facebook supporters as Elaine. If issues are what you are judging off of, only Elaine & Cal have issues sections on their website. Elaine recently bumped from 2 to 3, Cal's has 7. Cal has way more multimedia in terms of pictures and videos (which you can find all over youtube). And if you ever chat with Frank Eaton, or anyone working on Cal's campaign the conversation just oozes of excitement and support and teamwork. I also don't particularly think that being photogenic is a negative in the realm of politics. I think Elaine has plenty of excitement behind her campaign too, and I'd like to see less "poor Elaine isn't getting enough democratic party backing" stories that sound like the primary decision is a foregone conclusion, because I think she can do quite well for herself regardless.
Speaking to folks from Wayne County at Wilber's BBQ in Goldsboro
Talking to our veterans about foreign policy engagements.
And I when I see pictures like these, I think he is doing is due diligence to appeal to rural and perhaps more conservative and older voters, in addition to doing the rounds at democratic party events. And I believe his team sent out a message about going to HKonJ (although I haven't heard an update from them since HKonJ was rescheduled a couple of hours ago). If Cal loses, I don't think it'll be for a lack of excitement. And count me among those excited about his campaign, and all the campaigns. I'll be happy to vote Burr out of office any way I can.
Submitted by prettyshadeofblue on Sat, 02/13/2010 - 1:45am.
I agree. There was a lot of excitement for his campaign before it even began on Facebook and Twitter. Everyone talks about how he is the DSCC's candidate, but they fail to mention the swell of grassroots support that has surrounded him from the beginning.
Really, guys, chill out. The election is a couple of months away. No reason to start tearing down each other's candidates yet.
Elaine Marshall has a couple of big advantages that Cal does not have and can't get: she's a she, and she's holding a statewide office. Have you noticed how many women are in state offices now? The ladies are on a roll right now.
Submitted by HallStyle on Sat, 02/13/2010 - 8:15pm.
All three Candidates are Great. I believe they are all running pretty good campaigns in their own right. I would be happy to see either one of the become the next senator of North Carolina. But the Primary is where WE decide that so that means WE must choose the Candidate that WE think has the Best Chance of Beating Burr in what is still a very CONservative State.
All Three Candidates have huge Up sides and a very few downsides but it is those few downsides that could prove devastating in a General Election.
I believe Cal Cunningham has the Best Chance of winning and is the best Candidate. His Upside far exceeds that of the other candidates and he has almost know downside to speak of. Plus I can tell he is learning on his feet very quickly I have observed the campaign since last summer and I must say he was pretty Raw then but he is becoming a Polished Senate Candidate.
I have been honored with the Privielge of hearing all three speak in person and I am impressed with all of them but we have to make a choice. I choose Cal!
Anthony D. Hall,
Fighting for Truth, Justice, Freedom and the American Way!
Submitted by teepack on Fri, 02/12/2010 - 11:13pm.
Electability is not something that can be defined or predicted. There is no way that Cal Cunningham is more "electable" than Elaine Marshall at this point. Saying someone is more "electable" than another is only a scare tactic. Give me a break.
Submitted by Reasonably Honest on Fri, 02/12/2010 - 3:40pm.
You are right. I believe Easley would win "easley." The voters would see that he has been maligned in the press and he would ride into Washington on a white horse and save the day.
Submitted by Oliver Queen on Sat, 02/13/2010 - 3:46pm.
Electability arguments are cynical and far from substantive. Can you say someone's really electable if they can't win a primary first? Isn't a primary the very test of electability? Are the people who bring up electability so cynical that they don't believe that their candidate would actually be the best senator?
Then again, electability arguments have their uses. They worked great for Hillary Clinton!
And the Washington argument against Cal? It was a bunch of people from NC trying to get Cal into the race before DC cared. You can't blame them for the establishment throwing their weight around. Of course, DC isn't going to be giving the winner anything unless they're a viable candidate, so even Cal will be left out in the cold if he can't demonstrate good poll numbers and enthusiasm. They're not spending their own cash in the race; if Cal beats Marshall, it will be of his own accord.
I always wanted to be the avenging cowboy hero—that lone voice in the wilderness, fighting corruption and evil wherever I found it, and standing for freedom, truth and justice. - Bill Hicks
People that vote in primaries are just a subset of the people that vote in general elections when there isn't a presidential election, that are a subset of people that vote in a general election with a presidential race. So winning a primary and winning a general election are two very different situations.
Submitted by Oliver Queen on Sat, 02/13/2010 - 5:08pm.
However, raising money; building an organization; getting out the vote; creating an effective message; having an strong, capable staff; delivering a winning message; basically, doing everything it takes to win a general election is tested on a smaller scale in the primary. If a candidate can't win a primary, they're probably going to have a hard time winning a general election.
I always wanted to be the avenging cowboy hero—that lone voice in the wilderness, fighting corruption and evil wherever I found it, and standing for freedom, truth and justice. - Bill Hicks
Submitted by Foxtrot (not verified) on Sat, 02/13/2010 - 5:09pm.
so even Cal will be left out in the cold if he can't demonstrate good poll numbers and enthusiasm
That stands true to any and all candidates for public office, my friend.
The national party will make efforts for those that can win and not make those efforts for those they deem unable to win. Can you truly blame them? If I donate to the national party, I would expect no less.
Submitted by persondem on Sun, 02/14/2010 - 3:13pm.
If this poll has been skewed by out of state players. Also, are more people responding than usual for a primary poll at his point in the cycle? Can it be compared to a similar poll from 2008?
1000+ respondents seems like a lot, but I'll admit that that's a vague impression.
Submitted by Foxtrot (not verified) on Sun, 02/14/2010 - 3:20pm.
If the poll is not working out like someone wants it to work out would it not be best to just say that there is some conspiracy or skewed reason for it?
These kinds of polls are almost always of no value. It is like when CNN or Fox News puts a question out on their website about some issue. The response will be swayed by the political beliefs of the viewers.
In this case, yep, there could be people outside NC that vote and yep, there could be people that vote more than once.
It really is a worthless endeavor, actually. It is unscientific and has little-to-no value.
Submitted by persondem on Sun, 02/14/2010 - 3:32pm.
the originating IP address for each respondent should be known to site admin. I am NOT suggesting that they slog through 1000+ posts, unless they have some applications handy to automate the process. Also, a list could be generated based on those respondents who joined BlueNC with hours of voting in the poll, but, again, time involved precludes assembling the data.
The value of this poll could actually be in learning who has more instate support, and which candidate might, or might not, be astroturfing.
Submitted by Foxtrot (not verified) on Sun, 02/14/2010 - 4:00pm.
I think we both know the value of this kind of poll is suspect, at best. And, I do agree with you that if a candidate in a particular state (say, NC for example) has a candidate that is being supported and receiving the predominant amount of his/her funding from sources outside the state, this should give us cause for concern. I do not see that with Cal, however. Every U.S. Senatorial candidate worth his salt in any state will receive funding from sources other than in-state. It might be wrong and it might be something that should be addressed, but it is a reality in today's political environment and to be competetive, a candidate must take what he/she can get. I do not know if Elaine gets funds or support from sources outside of NC. Could be. Ken either.
Submitted by Jake Gellar-Goad on Sun, 02/14/2010 - 4:36pm.
than science, but interesting nonetheless. I have been sharing links to this poll everywhere I can, on student message boards, on facebook, and other sites. But only sites with an NC focus though.
My comment whenever linking the poll was always something like "Which candidate are you leaning towards in the democratic primary in NC for the US Senate race?"
I don't care who wins this poll, but I want everyone to start thinking about and talking about these candidates, because they all 3 need more name recognition if they're going to win. And if it helps drive some new blood to BlueNC along the way, well all the better. =)
(if we want to grow the site, we should be careful not to tell new comers they're opinions aren't welcome here just because they're new)
Submitted by scharrison on Sun, 02/14/2010 - 6:07pm.
BlueNC to vote in this poll, to the best of my knowledge.
On a wider note, polls like this can be very instructive, to both voters and candidates. Networking on sites like Facebook can direct a lot of folks to sites (like ours) they normally would miss, and a bad showing in the poll above should tell candidates they are falling behind in the netroot race.
As far as out-of-state participants somehow "skewing" the results, that's a whole lot of supposition based on non-existent proof. This is the Internet, and I'm sure there are some out-of-staters showing up, but the idea of a bunch of DC Senators/staff/lobbyists joining together to skew a BlueNC poll is hilarious. ;)
Submitted by Insider84 on Mon, 02/15/2010 - 5:15pm.
Cal is behind Ken and Elaine in every poll taking. Not some polls, every poll so the myth about him being more electable is just hogwash. This myth that Cal's campaign has been trying to put out that he is more electable than the other two candidates is just wrong and is not backed up by any evidence. In fact, the evidence states the exact opposite...
Cal looks great and when you hear him speak one has no complaints, but as someone who follows politics very closely my critique would be Cal has very little substance. BTW don't take my word for it, I would challenge everyone to look pass his good looks and actually see what he has done. You will find it's very little.
I'm bias because I'm supporting the candidate with the most experince and with a record for winning state wide...with out saying any names we all know who that is.
Submitted by Jake Gellar-Goad on Mon, 02/15/2010 - 5:35pm.
and if she wins the primary I think she has a decent shot at taking down Burr, depending on how the national winds are blowing, which would equally affect all the candidates. I hope we win in November, but if not, I hope these candidates build on their experiences and consider bringing the fight to Burr again the next time he is up for election.
That said, Kay Hagan has recently proved that state senate can a viable stepping stone/experience on the way US senate, even if it isn't a statewide election.
Whoever wins the primary will have my vote on election day, that's for sure.
Submitted by Foxtrot (not verified) on Mon, 02/15/2010 - 5:41pm.
That is why we have this forum here, so we all can air out our feelings. I am a Cal supporter but have absolutely ZERO complaint about folks coming here and presenting their opinions about the other candidates. Personally, I like it that we can do this here. It can only make us stronger especially if we all agree to totally support the winner in this race. I see you as that kind of person.
Submitted by Malleusmaleficarum on Thu, 02/18/2010 - 11:11pm.
Insider84 has an odd opinion about Cal Cunningham when he says, "Cal has very little substance." Cal has served in the NC Senate, the Democratic Party - and he has prosecuted corrupt contractors in Iraq. Instead of taking Insider84's opinion, take a look at Cal's website - www.calfornc.com - and you will see just how uninformed Insider is - in fact, you can ignore Insider from now on and you won't miss a thing.
I wouldn't say Cunningham has no experience but his (and Lewis') resume is a bit thin for someone running for the US Senate. It was one term in the state senate I believe. I would just rather have a little more experience for someone that we would send to Washington. I wish he had run and held office a bit more. How about a seat on the County Commissioners a run at his old senate seat or a state house seat. Give the voters something to look at and make a judgment on. I'd like to see how he holds up in a long campaign, how he leads when he is position, what we can expect from him in different situations. And I wonder, if he doesn't get this where do his political aspirations take him from here?
You have got to be kidding. Over confidence is a recipe for disappointment. I don't know who will win the primary but it is safe to say it's not a "one person race".
BlueNC is dedicated to freedom and fairness for the people of North Carolina. If you share that vision, welcome. If your intention is to disrupt our efforts, please find somewhere else to express your opinions.
Comments
Why lean any direction when the elections are months away?
An acquaintance told me yesterday he was supporting a particular candidate because he thought that candidate was the most electable Democrat. I said it seems to me most of our current crop of legislators have been good at getting elected, and damned poor at actually doing what they talked about. i named a few examples...and you could too.
Stan Bozarth
Burr voted against
an anti-rape amendment. He voted against the stimulus bill and then took credit for its effects. And in a financial crisis his solution was to have his family do a bank-run.
Electability aside, all 3 candidates strike me as an improvement over that.
Exactly....
my point.
Stan Bozarth
On The Real....
Anything is an Improvement over Burr. I can't think of one good vote he has made. He is a Water Carrier for the GOP leadership. He is a Safe GOP Vote in the Senate. They don't have to twist his arm or nothing he goes right along with McConnell, he can't think on his own. He needs a Brain Transplant and some GUTS!
Anthony D. Hall,
Fighting for Truth, Justice, Freedom and the American Way!
Hmmm...
The difference between Cal and Elaine are that Cal's votes are coming from out-of-state. Probably some awful state like Texas or California. Probably from DC, as well.
And, you know that....how?
?
Because I'm a practical
Because I'm a practical person? Do you really think that these people have time to get on these websites and flood these polls with votes? Don't you think they have better things to do?
My point
I wanted to know how anyone would know if there is a big push of votes on this little poll coming out of D.C., that was my point.
If I read you right, you agree?
There are reasons people in
There are reasons people in DC want Cal Cunningham to be the nominee. He's the only one that can win in November. It would be wise for everyone to start realizing that.
Sure, elect Elaine Marshall as your nominee. I hope you enjoy spending the general election day watching her lose by 20 percentage points.
I don't care who wants him to
I don't care who wants him to be the nominee or why. My point is that I'm sure they are flooding this poll with their votes- which makes the poll pointless. They can't vote in North Carolina.
Don't be ridiculous. These
Don't be ridiculous. These people have lives. They don't have time to flood every random poll that pops up online for their candidate. You're upset because your candidate is not the winner, simple as that.
Talk about volatile. Geezus.
Talk about volatile. Geezus. Actually, I'm supporting Cal. I just don't think he's actually going to win the primary. Elaine has broad support and is a woman that many other women in this state like and admire. Lewis is going to take a huge portion of the AA vote. Turnout for these primaries is always very low and I just don't think the people of North Carolina are going to elect another rich, good-looking, white guy after the scandal we have seen with a recent former Senator. Forgive me for being a realist. As far as democrats I know and encounter, I'd say that 2 to 1 people are supporting Elaine over Cal. I have not encountered a single person that is excited about Cal Cunningham. I am supporting him because I agree he is electable but not because he thrills me as a candidate.
Also, if people post it on facebook and twitter(which I know that they have), the staffers(and dscc'ers) and their friends, out of state and not, will vote in the poll. I saw far more posts on facebook and twitter for Cal over Elaine.
If you feel that way, you
If you feel that way, you should speak of his candidacy in a better light, don't you think? I don't see many NC democrats being realists these days. They are so wrapped up in Elaine Marshall's loyalty to NC democrats, they can't see that she can't win in November. There are more things to consider than the fact that she's a good democrat, you know?
I feel like Ken Lewis is going to take more of Elaine's votes than Cal's. I didn't see Ken Lewis as a real candidate until he hired Bruce Clark as his campaign manager. That was a smart move on his part.
Haha, you don't think North Carolina will elect another rich, good-looking, white guy.. but they might!
Bruce Clark? Wow. You are
Bruce Clark? Wow. You are really in the light on this issue. He almost ran Anthony Foxx's campaign into the ground. If it hadn't been for NCDP, he would have.
I would speak of Cal's candidacy in a better light if I felt like he was a great candidate but honestly, I don't have much great to say about him. So how about you live your life and I'll live mine?
I've worked with Bruce Clark
I've worked with Bruce Clark on several occasions. He is a respectable fellow with great campaign skills. Anyone who says otherwise is severely misguided.
You joined BlueNC 11 hours ago, did you just join to vote in that poll and say bad things about Cal Cunningham? Honestly, I feel like you're probably some Elaine supporter posing.
What did I say bad about Cal?
What did I say bad about Cal? I said I am supporting him but I'm not excited about him. I said he was the most electable in November. What Elaine supporter would say that? Grow up. I know plenty about Bruce and I know exactly who you are too. Bruce Clark spent that campaign into the ground by late summer. Lucky for them they found a way to raise the money to help make it up in the end. Foxx should have won by far more than 2,000 votes. Even their own campaign consultants were livid with the staff of that campaign. I think the consultants probably have a little better idea of how a good campaign is run over a college student.
Didn't Ken also get
Joe Trippi for something? Sounds his staff has some solid name recognition.
Joe Trippi charges a lot but
Joe Trippi charges a lot but delivers little as far as results. He's never won anything. But sure, his name ID is high.
We won't even mention that
We won't even mention that you joined four hours ago just so you could defend Cal. It's people like you that will run potential supporters off. Over. The. Top.
They're all 3 great candidates
who have people excited about them. But I agree that they all need more people to be excited about them if they are to win.
I'm going to defend Cal's excitement level in particular since it was called out.
My experience is a little skewed towards online and towards a younger voting age crowd, but I am seeing excitement for his candidacy. Cal has nearly twice as many facebook supporters as Elaine. If issues are what you are judging off of, only Elaine & Cal have issues sections on their website. Elaine recently bumped from 2 to 3, Cal's has 7. Cal has way more multimedia in terms of pictures and videos (which you can find all over youtube). And if you ever chat with Frank Eaton, or anyone working on Cal's campaign the conversation just oozes of excitement and support and teamwork. I also don't particularly think that being photogenic is a negative in the realm of politics. I think Elaine has plenty of excitement behind her campaign too, and I'd like to see less "poor Elaine isn't getting enough democratic party backing" stories that sound like the primary decision is a foregone conclusion, because I think she can do quite well for herself regardless.
Speaking to folks from Wayne County at Wilber's BBQ in Goldsboro
Talking to our veterans about foreign policy engagements.
And I when I see pictures like these, I think he is doing is due diligence to appeal to rural and perhaps more conservative and older voters, in addition to doing the rounds at democratic party events. And I believe his team sent out a message about going to HKonJ (although I haven't heard an update from them since HKonJ was rescheduled a couple of hours ago). If Cal loses, I don't think it'll be for a lack of excitement. And count me among those excited about his campaign, and all the campaigns. I'll be happy to vote Burr out of office any way I can.
I agree. There was a lot of
I agree. There was a lot of excitement for his campaign before it even began on Facebook and Twitter. Everyone talks about how he is the DSCC's candidate, but they fail to mention the swell of grassroots support that has surrounded him from the beginning.
Note on Frank Eaton: Amazing guy.
You two should take it outside!
Really, guys, chill out. The election is a couple of months away. No reason to start tearing down each other's candidates yet.
Elaine Marshall has a couple of big advantages that Cal does not have and can't get: she's a she, and she's holding a statewide office. Have you noticed how many women are in state offices now? The ladies are on a roll right now.
Good idea. Elaine is an
Good idea.
Elaine is an impressive woman. She is certainly qualified to be a United States Senator.
Totally Agree!
All three Candidates are Great. I believe they are all running pretty good campaigns in their own right. I would be happy to see either one of the become the next senator of North Carolina. But the Primary is where WE decide that so that means WE must choose the Candidate that WE think has the Best Chance of Beating Burr in what is still a very CONservative State.
All Three Candidates have huge Up sides and a very few downsides but it is those few downsides that could prove devastating in a General Election.
I believe Cal Cunningham has the Best Chance of winning and is the best Candidate. His Upside far exceeds that of the other candidates and he has almost know downside to speak of. Plus I can tell he is learning on his feet very quickly I have observed the campaign since last summer and I must say he was pretty Raw then but he is becoming a Polished Senate Candidate.
I have been honored with the Privielge of hearing all three speak in person and I am impressed with all of them but we have to make a choice. I choose Cal!
Anthony D. Hall,
Fighting for Truth, Justice, Freedom and the American Way!
Thanks for the enlightenment
Electability is not something that can be defined or predicted. There is no way that Cal Cunningham is more "electable" than Elaine Marshall at this point. Saying someone is more "electable" than another is only a scare tactic. Give me a break.
CNN
CNN has just given the check mark to Cal.
They are already projecting winners?
Filing period isn't even closed. What if Mike Easley decides to get into the race?
Sen. Easley
You are right. I believe Easley would win "easley." The voters would see that he has been maligned in the press and he would ride into Washington on a white horse and save the day.
I wouldn't get too excited about
an unscientific poll of less than 1000 self selected respondents no matter what the result showed.
These things can be amusing, but they have little significance. Certainly not worth having a spat over.
Opinions will vary over who is most electable. Which is certainly a valid consideration in casting a primary vote.
The important thing is doing all we can to elect the eventual nominee in November. No matter which Democrat that turns out to be.
Electability & Washington
Electability arguments are cynical and far from substantive. Can you say someone's really electable if they can't win a primary first? Isn't a primary the very test of electability? Are the people who bring up electability so cynical that they don't believe that their candidate would actually be the best senator?
Then again, electability arguments have their uses. They worked great for Hillary Clinton!
And the Washington argument against Cal? It was a bunch of people from NC trying to get Cal into the race before DC cared. You can't blame them for the establishment throwing their weight around. Of course, DC isn't going to be giving the winner anything unless they're a viable candidate, so even Cal will be left out in the cold if he can't demonstrate good poll numbers and enthusiasm. They're not spending their own cash in the race; if Cal beats Marshall, it will be of his own accord.
I always wanted to be the avenging cowboy hero—that lone voice in the wilderness, fighting corruption and evil wherever I found it, and standing for freedom, truth and justice. - Bill Hicks
People that vote in primaries
People that vote in primaries are just a subset of the people that vote in general elections when there isn't a presidential election, that are a subset of people that vote in a general election with a presidential race. So winning a primary and winning a general election are two very different situations.
I'm a moderate Democrat.
Obviously
However, raising money; building an organization; getting out the vote; creating an effective message; having an strong, capable staff; delivering a winning message; basically, doing everything it takes to win a general election is tested on a smaller scale in the primary. If a candidate can't win a primary, they're probably going to have a hard time winning a general election.
I always wanted to be the avenging cowboy hero—that lone voice in the wilderness, fighting corruption and evil wherever I found it, and standing for freedom, truth and justice. - Bill Hicks
Dead on, Huh
Yes, that is just so true. Off-year elections vs. elections in years presidents are elected are different animals altogether.
Good analysis.
About all three dem senatorial candidates
That stands true to any and all candidates for public office, my friend.
The national party will make efforts for those that can win and not make those efforts for those they deem unable to win. Can you truly blame them? If I donate to the national party, I would expect no less.
I would be curious to know
If this poll has been skewed by out of state players. Also, are more people responding than usual for a primary poll at his point in the cycle? Can it be compared to a similar poll from 2008?
1000+ respondents seems like a lot, but I'll admit that that's a vague impression.
Environmental Defense Fund
http://signon.org/sign/an-end-to-gerrymandering
How could we know, persondem?
If the poll is not working out like someone wants it to work out would it not be best to just say that there is some conspiracy or skewed reason for it?
These kinds of polls are almost always of no value. It is like when CNN or Fox News puts a question out on their website about some issue. The response will be swayed by the political beliefs of the viewers.
In this case, yep, there could be people outside NC that vote and yep, there could be people that vote more than once.
It really is a worthless endeavor, actually. It is unscientific and has little-to-no value.
Agree that these polls are unscientific, but
the originating IP address for each respondent should be known to site admin. I am NOT suggesting that they slog through 1000+ posts, unless they have some applications handy to automate the process. Also, a list could be generated based on those respondents who joined BlueNC with hours of voting in the poll, but, again, time involved precludes assembling the data.
The value of this poll could actually be in learning who has more instate support, and which candidate might, or might not, be astroturfing.
Environmental Defense Fund
http://signon.org/sign/an-end-to-gerrymandering
Agree, in most part
I think we both know the value of this kind of poll is suspect, at best. And, I do agree with you that if a candidate in a particular state (say, NC for example) has a candidate that is being supported and receiving the predominant amount of his/her funding from sources outside the state, this should give us cause for concern. I do not see that with Cal, however. Every U.S. Senatorial candidate worth his salt in any state will receive funding from sources other than in-state. It might be wrong and it might be something that should be addressed, but it is a reality in today's political environment and to be competetive, a candidate must take what he/she can get. I do not know if Elaine gets funds or support from sources outside of NC. Could be. Ken either.
Like I said, that is just my considered opinion.
These polls are more fun
than science, but interesting nonetheless. I have been sharing links to this poll everywhere I can, on student message boards, on facebook, and other sites. But only sites with an NC focus though.
My comment whenever linking the poll was always something like "Which candidate are you leaning towards in the democratic primary in NC for the US Senate race?"
I don't care who wins this poll, but I want everyone to start thinking about and talking about these candidates, because they all 3 need more name recognition if they're going to win. And if it helps drive some new blood to BlueNC along the way, well all the better. =)
(if we want to grow the site, we should be careful not to tell new comers they're opinions aren't welcome here just because they're new)
You don't have to join
BlueNC to vote in this poll, to the best of my knowledge.
On a wider note, polls like this can be very instructive, to both voters and candidates. Networking on sites like Facebook can direct a lot of folks to sites (like ours) they normally would miss, and a bad showing in the poll above should tell candidates they are falling behind in the netroot race.
As far as out-of-state participants somehow "skewing" the results, that's a whole lot of supposition based on non-existent proof. This is the Internet, and I'm sure there are some out-of-staters showing up, but the idea of a bunch of DC Senators/staff/lobbyists joining together to skew a BlueNC poll is hilarious. ;)
Myth
Cal is behind Ken and Elaine in every poll taking. Not some polls, every poll so the myth about him being more electable is just hogwash. This myth that Cal's campaign has been trying to put out that he is more electable than the other two candidates is just wrong and is not backed up by any evidence. In fact, the evidence states the exact opposite...
Cal looks great and when you hear him speak one has no complaints, but as someone who follows politics very closely my critique would be Cal has very little substance. BTW don't take my word for it, I would challenge everyone to look pass his good looks and actually see what he has done. You will find it's very little.
I'm bias because I'm supporting the candidate with the most experince and with a record for winning state wide...with out saying any names we all know who that is.
Elaine is very electable
and if she wins the primary I think she has a decent shot at taking down Burr, depending on how the national winds are blowing, which would equally affect all the candidates. I hope we win in November, but if not, I hope these candidates build on their experiences and consider bringing the fight to Burr again the next time he is up for election.
That said, Kay Hagan has recently proved that state senate can a viable stepping stone/experience on the way US senate, even if it isn't a statewide election.
Whoever wins the primary will have my vote on election day, that's for sure.
What if you get a candidate who has
...state senate experience and statewide office experience?
Good post, Insider
That is why we have this forum here, so we all can air out our feelings. I am a Cal supporter but have absolutely ZERO complaint about folks coming here and presenting their opinions about the other candidates. Personally, I like it that we can do this here. It can only make us stronger especially if we all agree to totally support the winner in this race. I see you as that kind of person.
Cal Cunningham's qualifications
Insider84 has an odd opinion about Cal Cunningham when he says, "Cal has very little substance." Cal has served in the NC Senate, the Democratic Party - and he has prosecuted corrupt contractors in Iraq. Instead of taking Insider84's opinion, take a look at Cal's website - www.calfornc.com - and you will see just how uninformed Insider is - in fact, you can ignore Insider from now on and you won't miss a thing.
Curious Blue
I wouldn't say Cunningham has
I wouldn't say Cunningham has no experience but his (and Lewis') resume is a bit thin for someone running for the US Senate. It was one term in the state senate I believe. I would just rather have a little more experience for someone that we would send to Washington. I wish he had run and held office a bit more. How about a seat on the County Commissioners a run at his old senate seat or a state house seat. Give the voters something to look at and make a judgment on. I'd like to see how he holds up in a long campaign, how he leads when he is position, what we can expect from him in different situations. And I wonder, if he doesn't get this where do his political aspirations take him from here?
I'm a moderate Democrat.
It's A 4 Person Race
Just for relaxing entertainment, why don't you guys face the truth and list all of the candidates? Yes it includes: NowWeShall.com
Sorry. I should have included you.
And will do so in our next online poll. I apologize for the omission.
not likely
It's a one person race which was decided the day Cunningham entered the race. Sorry but this one is over.
You have got to be kidding.
You have got to be kidding. Over confidence is a recipe for disappointment. I don't know who will win the primary but it is safe to say it's not a "one person race".
I'm a moderate Democrat.