Polls Indicate Problems for Embattled Democrats Nationwide

It may still be early to project the outcome of the 2010 general election, yet there appears to be a certain change in the wind according to polls taken across the country. A May 20th Quinnipiac Polls gives Republican Christopher Christie a substantial lead over Democrat Governor Corzine by a 45-38 margin. In New York, The Marist Poll wonders if Paterson’s approval ratings have a bottom. Newly announced, (papers filed yesterday) New York Republican gubernatorial candidate, Rick Lazio, bests Paterson in the another Marist Poll by 3 points. In Massachusetts, incumbent Governor Deval Patrick, has an approval rating only slightly higher than Patterson’s. Christie Mihos, a fiscal conservative, is the first Republican to announce a run against Patrick.

In Connecticut, Senator Chris Dodd, is anxiously waiting for results from the latest Quinnipiac poll due out today. The last poll indicated a 33% approval rating, with Republican, Rob Simmons besting Dodd in early polling. In Nevada, Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, could be easily replaced – the latest poll by Mason-Dixon shows that Reid has a 38% approval rating. Currently, his republican opposition is anti-tax, conservative Sharron Angle.

The current trend towards embattled Democrat Incumbents, most of whom mentioned here are rather high-profile, however, that said, the economy will be the driving factor in the 2010 race. With a Legislature controlled by the Democrat party since 2006, and the White House spending faster than money can be printed, those independents that bought the “middle class tax cut” and make up the majority of the electorate, will push the line in Vegas , which, in all likelihood, stands to favor a Republican resurgence.

Anti-Tax, Sharron Angle (R-NV), forms Exploratory Committee to oust Harry Reid.

Sharon Angle and Family

Sharron Angle, an anti-tax, fiscal conservative, who has an impeccable political pedigree, has announced her intention to run for the U.S. Senate against the decreasingly popular Harry Reid. Angle, a resident of Nevada for the past 50 years, is a traditional conservative– married to the same man for 35, wife and grandmother, who has an outstanding public service record, is throwing down the gauntlet against Harry Reid, whose experiencing a serious decline in popularity in the previously conservative Western State of Nevada.

Angle is not alone in a growing number of Republican members of the “oust Harry Reid” club. According to the Ely News

“ John G. Chachas, a managing director of Lazard Ltd., has been talking to Republican Party bigwigs in Nevada and Washington who are anxious to find a credible challenger to the Senate majority leader, sources said this week.

Chachas declined to comment Thursday on the speculation about his potential candidacy.

Chachas' interest in the race is said to be active but preliminary: He feels strongly that Reid could be felled by a strong opponent and would be willing to step into that role if no other satisfactory candidate does, but he might not make a decision for several months, according to people who have spoken to him and who discussed the matter on condition of anonymity.” Article from 3/29/09.

It has also been rumored that former Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney, may also be considering a run against the lackluster Reid.

What is interesting in all this is that both men would have roots in Nevada, yet, may be perceived as “carpet baggers”. However, conservatives nationwide, (and those who may lean conservative) are currently inclined to vote (or financially support) against wasteful government spending and for any candidate that is “not” Harry Reid (or Barney Frank or possibly now, Nancy Pelosi).

Interesting facts: The State of Nevada, with a population of approximately, 2,600,167, based on 2008 estimates, has, according to the Secretary of State, Ross Miller (Democrat who recently filed charges against ACORN for voter fraud) there are currently 1,186, 878 registered voters in the State, 519,704 Registered Democrats, 181,233 unaffiliated, and 424,015
Registered Republicans, as of April, 2009. One might observe that over 50% of the population in Nevada is registered to vote, an interestingly high figure. (See ACORN)

Although early in the 2010 political season, the national interest in Nevada is high, due to the embattled Reid. The taxing problem is just the ticket that may prove to benefit Ms. Engle. Nevada hosted 10 official “tax day tea party’s”, from Carson City to Las Vegas to Reno. Ms. Engle’s record on taxes is strong, and in the current economy, this will stand her in good political steed, regardless of the voters’ political affiliation. For more information on Ms. Engle, visit Sharron Engle.com. H/T to this blogs favorite Chicago Democrats, Hillbuzz.org. - read their take here.