Rasmussen: Dorgan trailing in ND re-election bid by 22 points
posted at 11:36 am on December 21, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Call it the Wages of ObamaCare. When only 30% of a state’s likely voters support the one piece of legislation on which the incumbent has worked for most of the year, they tend to get a little chippy about the idea of sending him back to Washington. When paired up with Republican Governor John Hoeven in a 2010 midterm election, Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan trails by 22 points, 58%-36%:
Incumbent Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan may have a serious problem on his hands if Republicans recruit Governor John Hoeven to run for the U.S. Senate in North Dakota next year.
The first Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 telephone survey of likely voters in North Dakota finds the popular Republican governor leading Dorgan by 22 points – 58% to 36%. Just six percent (6%) are undecided in that senatorial contest.
Part of the challenge for Dorgan is the health care legislation working its way through Congress. Dorgan, along with every Democrat in the Senate, has voted to move the legislation forward and is expected to vote for final approval of the reform later this week. That’s not likely to be well received in North Dakota where just 30% favor the proposed health care reform plan and 64% are opposed.
Thus far, Hoeven has not declared an intent to run for Dorgan’s seat — but these poll results can’t hurt. When Dorgan gets matched against the one Republican who has declared, Duane Sand, Dorgan easily bests him by almost the same margin that he loses to Hoeven. Hoeven beats Dorgan by 15 points among women, a rather shocking prospect for Democrats, who rely on the gender gap each election.
Dorgan’s poor showing indicates a big problem for a man who won his last election by over 30 points. Like most Democratic Senators from red states, Dorgan has tried arguing that he represents common-sense moderation over partisan agendas. His participation in passing ObamaCare makes a mockery of that claim, and North Dakota voters see him now as a man who carries water for Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Barack Obama.
Still, if Hoeven doesn’t jump into the race, Dorgan may be able to get past his midterm trial, unless Duane Sand can make an impression in a hurry. Expect the North Dakota GOP to be making a beeline to Governor Hoeven’s office with this poll in hand.
Blowback
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I see a nice trend developing.
gatorboy on December 21, 2009 at 11:38 AM
That is astounding.
SouthernGent on December 21, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Well, I sure hope Hoeven takes this into consideration. We need all these damn dems OUT!!!
capejasmine on December 21, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Acorn will find enough of the living dead to make it close.
MadDogF on December 21, 2009 at 11:40 AM
These crackpot socialists threw away the mask with this HC disaster.
People see their true character now, they feel they’ve been had, and are going to make them pay.
jjshaka on December 21, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Is Hoeven a patriot or not? He needs to step up. The country is on precipice and we can’t hand these cheap seats fromr ed states to Democraps.
promachus on December 21, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Don’t worry, Ed. I’m sure Harry Reid, the all-powerful and all-merciful, has arranged something cushy and remunerative for Dorgan if he takes a fall next November.
Instead of looking at polls and speculating about elections that are 11 months away — enough time for the senate to do even more damage to the nation (inconceivable as that may seem)) — I wish some good investigative-types would start looking for the rest of the payoffs Reid and Osama Obama are using to get this atrocity passed.
And one has to wonder whether they have some little trick up their sleeves to insure the re-election of supposed losers like Dorgan.
The word “ACORN” comes immediately to mind….
MrScribbler on December 21, 2009 at 11:42 AM
People are pissed. I’m just astonished that Dem party members don’t see their support of Obamacare as political suicide. These polls are demonstrating just how much this is true.
Syd B. on December 21, 2009 at 11:42 AM
I’m sure the bribe taking from Countrywide ads to the sleaze factor of Dorgan.
MNHawk on December 21, 2009 at 11:42 AM
But Chuckie Schumer told us that the polls would soar after ObamaCare got passed. This poll is obviously racist.
Knucklehead on December 21, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Wow… it looks like EVERY Dem Senate seat up in 2010 may be in play.
Even if they hold here, California, etc., the sheer level of challenge they’re facing across the board makes it harder for them to keep marginal seats or make a play for open ones in Ohio, New Hampshire, etc.
teke184 on December 21, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Well that is interesting,especially when unemployment is at 22 percent!!
So,Dorgan is in a Divebomber position,will he make it out
of his dive,and maybe,like the kiss of death,with Bill Clin
ton,Obama should help Dorgan campaign for him!!
canopfor on December 21, 2009 at 11:43 AM
The fact that he beats the declared candidate by thirty points suggests that it’s not health care that’s dragging him down. Appears to be more of a pro-Hoeven than and anti-Dorgan thing.
Bleeds Blue on December 21, 2009 at 11:43 AM
I’m sure the day Dorgan helps force this socialist healthcare abortion on the country his polls will rebound. /
http://hotair.com/headlines/?p=64380
elduende on December 21, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Keep thinking that Bleeder. The carnage for the democrats in ’10 will be a total shock to you.
portlandon on December 21, 2009 at 11:44 AM
2010 Landslide, 2012 Avalanche.
I’d like to see a poll on each of the 60 that voted for this mess.
RealMc on December 21, 2009 at 11:45 AM
String him up, Gov. Hoevan. String him up.
By the Hoax and Chains.
TXUS on December 21, 2009 at 11:48 AM
The people of ND need to be calling, emailing, and faxing Governor John Hoeven and pleading with him to run. Put pressure on these guys to stand with us to get these traitors out of the house and sente.
Brat4life on December 21, 2009 at 11:49 AM
ACORN fraud is hard to pull off in rural and small town states where people know each other. It works best in big cities, especially when people are transient.
There is some possibility of fraud on the reservations, but that’s a small population.
And one assumes the ND GOP, like the SD GOP, has its poll watchers out. In SD, Johnson beat Thune with reservation fraud. Then when Thune ran against Daschle, Daschle tried, and failed to get the poll watchers out of the reservations. Thune won.
Wethal on December 21, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Nah. I know we’re going to lose seats. But if it’s all anti-health care resentment, why isn’t he losing to the one declared opponent? You’d think there would be an “anybody but Dorgan” movement.
And don’t count your chickens. This ain’t ’94.
Bleeds Blue on December 21, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Ask John Corzine how that worked out.
Bat Chain Puller on December 21, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Oh you bet . . . and pay no attention to the naysayers, those hallucinogenic drugs will have absolutely no effect on your lucidity or judgement.
rplat on December 21, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Be ashamed of your political decisions past, O South Dakota, O Nevada, O Nebraska! The future of our republic lies in your resolve to remedy this ill wrought by your representatives who represent us not!
August Horch on December 21, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Wait till you see what happens to Nelson in NE if he tries for re-election in 2012 and Heineman runs against him.
a capella on December 21, 2009 at 11:51 AM
That would be Conrad not Dorgan, although I think they’re both sleazy.
Hoeven needs to make up his mind already – he leaves no time for anyone else to raise the money needed to beat Dorgan and his war chest. The dems did a number on Duane Sand last year and the NDGOP did nothing to fight back.
thevastlane on December 21, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Bleeds Blue on December 21, 2009 at 11:43 AM
whatever
SHARPTOOTH on December 21, 2009 at 11:52 AM
It’s actually much worse for us that these guys aren’t in close races. When you know your electoral goose is cooked, what’s to stop you from voting for unpopular/disastrous legislation? Look for it all to pass – cap and trade, amnesty, card check, the works. What do they have to lose now?
This Congress will go down as sacrificial lambs in order to create the modern American social welfare state.
Missy on December 21, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Get used to it, Democrats, because this is just be beginning. One by one, district by district, state by state, you are going to see your glorious house of cards fall to pieces in November 2010 and then scatter to the winds.
You want to talk about change?
We The People will soon be giving you a demonstration of what our version of Hope and Change is, and it is a far far cry from yours looks like!
Because ours is based in liberty and justice, not seedy backroom Chicago Machine politics!
pilamaye on December 21, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Just the first of many. I hope Harry Reid at least has the decency to arrange for Ryder Moving Vans for those supporting HIS bill.
GarandFan on December 21, 2009 at 11:54 AM
A-MEN!!!
OmahaConservative on December 21, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Well, there are also a few other states with donk senators. I’m not sure the blame falls on just three states.
a capella on December 21, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Make sure you listen to Nelson’s quarterly talk show today at 2:00 CST on KKAR 1290. You can get live streaming from the website.
OmahaConservative on December 21, 2009 at 11:58 AM
You have to consider that to nearly the same extent as the media is in the tank for the Dems, the Dems live in a happy bubble created by the media. When there is always as much good news broadscast about you as you could possibly want, no matter how badly you are screwing up, and without the embarassment of even having to ask for it, it leads to a powerfully addictive feeling of comfortable self-righteousness.
And when you will be rescued from any gaffe, or have the record massaged automatically to protect you from your errors, it not only leads to illusions of invincibility, but to intellectual laziness (see Obama, Barack).
drunyan8315 on December 21, 2009 at 12:02 PM
I hope the Gov does throw his hat into the ring. Although the dems have outraised reps in funds the last year, this would make them have to spend money in states they didn’t anticipate having to do so in.
Instead of going like gang-busters to grab Ohio and Kentucky, they will have to go all out to pull long-term Dems out of the fire.
RNC needs to ramp up now.
Intrepid on December 21, 2009 at 12:02 PM
And the GOP can be national heros by starting to undo it in 2011. We need real reformers too. No socialist lite.
donh525 on December 21, 2009 at 12:04 PM
O.C., a tangential compliment to you for keeping us posted on all of the doings in Nebraska. Your comments, facts, and insights are sincerely appreciated..
..from a former USAF officer type who served at Offutt during the Viet Nam war.
VoyskaPVO on December 21, 2009 at 12:04 PM
That’s right. Virginia gave us Warner and Webb. What about Nelson of Florida? Lincoln of Arkansas? Baucus of Montana? Lots of Red States need to man up, and quick.
TXUS on December 21, 2009 at 12:04 PM
God Bless you sir! Your service to our country is greatly appreciated.
OmahaConservative on December 21, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Not good enough.
When this ****** and his pals are voted out, I want to see a law passed that prohibits former congressmen from being employed as lobbyists.
And then I want to see his pension eliminated.
Hey, he’ll be fine. He’ll get government health care just like the rest of do.
PackerBronco on December 21, 2009 at 12:09 PM
Women prefer Dorgan over Sand by 24 points and Hoeven over Dorgan by 15 points? That is hard to believe. Hoeven must have the most sex appeal ever, or Sand the least sex appeal ever.
Buddahpundit on December 21, 2009 at 12:11 PM
BLOODBATH 2010
stenwin77 on December 21, 2009 at 12:12 PM
I think the reason why the dems out raised the repubs is because many people quit donating to the repubs and are donating to the canidates directly. I think that will have a bigger effect on some of these races then giving to the gop and have them dolling out the monies.
Brat4life on December 21, 2009 at 12:13 PM
I’m from Indiana, and I am planning to distribute a few thousand bumper stickers with the slogan:
2010 – Bye Bayh.
MikeA on December 21, 2009 at 12:15 PM
WTF? Those are some odd numbers.
tetriskid on December 21, 2009 at 12:16 PM
So, how many vote count challenges do you expect to make it to the SCOTUS, where they will be given a fair hearing by a wise Latina woman?
MikeA on December 21, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Wouldn’t it be beautiful if every democrat running for re-election in 2010 gets beaten by a republican in both the house and the senate? Think about that for a minute. I know it won’t happen but what if that were to happen.
Enjoy the thought. I know I am. :)
milwife88 on December 21, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Amazing how the popularity of lying back-stabbing traitors diminishes when it becomes obvious who they are.
volsense on December 21, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Whoops, my bad.
MNHawk on December 21, 2009 at 12:18 PM
GOOOH: Get Out Of Our House!
petefrt on December 21, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Good. We need more governors in Congress.
conservative pilgrim on December 21, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Very clever!
conservative pilgrim on December 21, 2009 at 12:20 PM
I think Dorgan would be badly trailing a senate candidate to be named later at this point.
Vashta.Nerada on December 21, 2009 at 12:30 PM
http://www.duanesand.com/inner.asp?z=2
Probably a little nerdy looking for those women who likes guys that use terms like “b**ch,” or worse as in Clinton, but seems to be pretty good on the issues.
Probably just lack of name recognition.
MNHawk on December 21, 2009 at 12:32 PM
I don’t see how any GOP candidate can win with the StateRunMedia covering for every democrat. For once I would like to see a fair coverage instead of the demo all good and the gop all evil from the media.
garydt on December 21, 2009 at 12:35 PM
And spoil its carefully crafted reputation as the champion of weenies?
platypus on December 21, 2009 at 12:36 PM
How about:
Flush Congress!
Mojave Mark on December 21, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Unless Sand did something terrible to piss off the ND womanfolk, I’d say those numbers are impossible and the poll is a sham.
Buddahpundit on December 21, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Next year the counter-revolution begins.
True_King on December 21, 2009 at 12:39 PM
reap the whirlwind!!!
ginaswo on December 21, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Good grief. Did you totally miss NJ and VA in November?
Bat Chain Puller on December 21, 2009 at 12:42 PM
milwife88
I think it is doable i truly truly do
for example, miracles like me! after 24 yrs of DEM downticket voting I broke free mind body and soul…
AND I gave some dill dollars to Michele Bachmann just last week (I am in AZ)
it can be done!
ginaswo on December 21, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Kay Hagan (SWP-NC) hasn’t even pretended to be the “moderate” she ran as… she is not up until 2014, but I hope NC conservatives are prepared to fight her at that time.
mankai on December 21, 2009 at 12:46 PM
***
FLYOVER SPACE is going to flip the Senate soon. TSUNAMI COMING!
***
Hasta la vista, socialista! Bend over and kiss your A** goodbye.
***
John Bibb
***
rocketman on December 21, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Its a disgusting and unfortunate truth but i bet it all comes down to what skeletons John Hoeven has in his closet. You can bet the Democrat dung beetles are digging into the guys high school records looking for something to scare him out of the race.
So, if the guy has ever cheated on his wife…smoked a joint….or shoplifted a pack of gum, you can bet some scum ridden Democrat operative has clandestinely bumped into John Hoeven at the local mini mart to let him know his dark secrets would come out if he ran.
Pray, he is better than the average man and can (and will) withstand the dirty political game.
We need him now.
alecj on December 21, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Gotta’ love Rush. He just said Nebraskans won’t forget what Judas Iscariot Nelson has done to us. He said we have long memories, and besides, there just aren’t that many of us, so there are fewer who need to remember than there are in other states. (:
OmahaConservative on December 21, 2009 at 12:55 PM
It’s a new era. No Dem is safe.
AnninCA on December 21, 2009 at 1:01 PM
He could lose 100%-0% and it won’t bring back the US from its grave. The Dems know this and are knowingly commited suicide for 2010. Doesn’t matter though, the damage will have been done.
By the time amnesty is enacted in 2010, the 30 million new Dem voters will ensure 2012 and beyond the Dems will be THE political party.
angryed on December 21, 2009 at 1:21 PM
These fools that think we are a bunch of serfs are in for a election that will shake the very foundation of the democratic party.This coming nov could make 1994 look like a normal election .There are some people in the know that will tell you off the record that the dems could loose 80+ seats in the house and over 12 seats in the sen.and more in 2012.
thmcbb on December 21, 2009 at 1:34 PM
Hoeven was a Democrat at one time, but matured and has been a good governor. He’s a bit of a spender but then we have a budget surplus up here (thanks to our oil industry) and he’s had to pacify the libs in the state legislature. He and his wife and kids are pretty squeaky-clean. I’d love to say good riddance to old “Helmet Head” Dorgan! He has a huge war chest though, mostly from out of state donors.
Upnorthlurkin on December 21, 2009 at 1:50 PM
N. Dakotan here:
I expect women favor Hoeven bcs he’s handsome (although I don’t think so).
Even Democrats in ND like Hoeven.
He’s been a good gov here & he’s made himself accesible to many of us rural citizens.
He has done a lot to attract business to our state & we have a large surplus, compared to every other state.
We have been gaining a lot of good paying jobs, too, within the last decade.
But there is one thing I do not like about him:
He took the fed stimulus $$ when we had a suprplus bcs of all the oil & gas development.
Dorgan is a putz. Maybe at one time he had ND’s best interest at heart, but he’s been playing the national politics game way too long.
And I cannot believe he voted for the health care monstrosity.
This will KILL & DESTROY our rural hospitals who are already on life support.
The nearest hospital to my house is 15 miles.
The next nearest is 50 miles.
In ND we desperately depend upon small hospitals & rural clinics.
Badger40 on December 21, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Here’s the List ( Hunyadi’s List, not Oscar Schlindler ), roughly east to west
Conn
New York
Penna
Ill
Ark
N.D.
Colo
Nev
Calif
( and like the Viking said in “The Thirteenth Warrior”–”Don’t worry, little brother: There are MORE!!”)
new Republican senators next year………
Janos Hunyadi on December 21, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Hopefully, that will be the case for RINOs, too. At least the worst of them. We can work on the rest in 2012.
Sporty1946 on December 21, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Good riddance to the likes of Dorgan. For all Dems in the House or Senate, it is the Dem Party first, last always. To hell with what is good for the country anymore.
You are either with US or against US. If you still vote for these DEM/RINO scumbags after the destruction they have caused, then you too are scumbag.
Sporty1946 on December 21, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Maybe the Democrats will give him some prize to make up the loss, a nice ambassadorship perhaps. Better yet, I hear that Dashcle got a job as a consultant with some lobbying group and is raking in millions. I bet he could get Dorgan a job like that.
Terrye on December 21, 2009 at 4:52 PM
I would like to think you could add Bayh to that list, but here in Indiana the Bayh name goes a long way. The man running against him is John Hostettler, the conservative Republican who lost reelection to the House in 2006 to Brad Ellsworth.
Terrye on December 21, 2009 at 4:55 PM
Don’t get over confident. Democrats love and re-elect lying cheating self serving pieces of slime each and every election. Just ask Charlie Rangel.
bluegrass on December 21, 2009 at 5:23 PM