Poll: Growing Majority Believe That Majority Members in Congress Should be Sent Packing in 2010

According to a new poll out byRasmussen Reports, 63% of respondents believe the country would be in better shape if incumbents were given the boot in 2010. Additionally, those who feel that Congress should be turned over, have a decrease in confidence in their own Representatives.
Rasmussen defines two classes in the report: The Political Class, or voters that trust political leaders, and Mainstream voters (or the rest of us).

This growing discontent is, perhaps, most noticeable in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, known first as the cradle of liberty, and lately as the Bluest State in the Union. That has changed, however, over the past two years, as Conservative candidates began to emerge to challenge entrenched Democrats. Although little notice was given, this snowballed when one Scott Brown defied the alleged odds, and managed to take back the “people’s seat”.

That said, as Brown was considering his run, individuals across the Bay State were doing the same – considering a run against those entrenched politicians who have held sway over Beacon Hill and Washington for decades. For the first time in memory, politicians such as Barney Frank, Richard Neal and Nikki Tsongas (to name but a few) are facing opposition from Conservative candidates – and, in most cases, there are multiple candidates who had launched campaigns - and most importantly – prior to Brown’s Senate win. What this tell us about the change in political think of those who are dubbed “the masses” by Progressive thinkers (i.e. some, not all, Democrats who hold an office), have had enough.

Surely, if the long suffering, over taxed, and citizens of what has been fondly called “The People’s Republic of Massachusetts, are seeking alternatives to Congress with a palpable enthusiasm, then it must be happening elsewhere. One may see those Rasmussen poll numbers increase over the next few months, and going forward into 2010, the energy on the part of the “average citizen” to get involved and facilitate change will increase – be it direct involvement in a political campaign, or heading straight to the voting booth – with gusto. For all the pundits, and what it is worth, the recent wins in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and most startling perhaps, New Jersey (for those on the inside of the Commonwealth looking out), was not an anomaly of any sort – it appears to be the beginning of a new “norm”.

GOP Chair – Steele’s Support Said to Tie with Duncan’s

Depending upon which “news” source one is inclined to believe, Michael Steele has between (Politico) 30 supporters within the GOP Committee with MSNBC reporting 20 supporters. It should be noted that, the two reports are based upon the same information from Steele’s team. That said, the grassroots Republican’s and Conservatives support for Steele is significant. Supporters have utilized social networking sites such as Facebook, and the ”Draft Michael Steele” website, to urge visitors to send a personal message to their state Committee Delegates.

It will be the GOP Chair that can attract and hold the grassroots support, while getting out the GOP message that will move the party forward. Not for nothing, the balance of the candidates represent the Party “status quo”, especially current Party Chair, Duncan. This should send a clear message to those committee members who might still be on the fence that “stick to what we know” hasn’t worked out quite as well for the party. One cannot recall a time, during off-election years, when Duncan or any Republican Party Chair was visible to the party base and or the media. Therefore, regardless of Duncan’s ability to raise funds (which is proven), his inability to connect with media and the base, should be a warning to those Committee members who are still undecided. According to the Steele Website, this includes Committee members from the states of Alaska, DC, Hawaii, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming. If accurate, these states represent the votes necessary to garner either Duncan or Steele, (assuming that they have no pledged to another candidate), enough votes to promote either man to the Chair.

There is a candidatures forum today for Committee members only, followed by the vote tomorrow, Friday, the 30th. Characterized as a “Nail Biter” by Greg Bobrinskoy, Real Clear Politics, this all-important vote for Party Leadership, will come down to the ability of the committee members to understand the need for a more aggressive grassroots organizer, with the promotion of Steele, or to play it “safe” and keep the status quo with Duncan.

Addendum: National Review online notes that Massachusetts Party Chair, Jody Dow, has comittedd to Michael Steele, while newly elected chair, Jennifer Nassour (who ran on a grassroots/media friendly chair platform - similar to Steele's), remained undecided.