The Biggest Story In The Universe
By Mitch Berg
The Strib collects more DFL flak points, breathlessly reporting that, fifteen months before the election, Senator Coleman’s numbers have dropped from “plenty solid” to “still plenty solid”:
That’s a slip from last month, when the same poll showed a 48 percent job approval rating for Minnesota’s senior senator.
Cullen Sheehan, Coleman’s campaign manager, dismissed the poll, saying that “with 16 months to the election, there will be numerous polls with numerous results. The senator’s priority is to get things done for Minnesota.”
The story does have one relaitvely honest note:
Coleman recently has been subjected to a drumbeat of attacks for his continued support of the Iraq war in the face of mounting public disapproval. National Democrats and antiwar activists have started two separate TV ad campaigns criticizing Coleman for his opposition to troop pullouts.
Background: in the Twin Cities, the major media and the DFL are practically indistinguishable; the number of reporters, not merely editors and publishers, who’ve gone on to jobs with the party and with various candidates, office-holders and “progressive” rent-a-blogs is staggering. Lori Sturdevant is the smug, disingenuous tip of the figurative iceberg. It is truly sad and amazing that the Minnesota Public Radio newsroom (as opposed to their programming) is probably the most fair and balanced in the region.
So the Strib, which is part of the DFL/media bloc that is broadcasting the attack ads, is now reporting the attack ads as news to help further their effect.
Sure, a 5-6 point poll drop is news (also meaningless at this point in the campaign). But look for much, much more of this as the we move into the final year of this campaign. The Twin Cities’ media is an organ of the DFL, and it will act as such.
July 26th, 2007 at 9:43 am
It would be fascinating to see Franken’s internal polling data. I think his appeal tapers off quickly outside of the metro and with those older than 50 inside the metro.
July 26th, 2007 at 10:45 am
Coleman’s at 48% and Congress is somewhere arround 20%. Interesting.
July 26th, 2007 at 10:50 am
LOL, The Strib’s poll? Hahahahaha! Doesn’t anyone remember the ’06 election and the completely baised and inaccurate polling by the Strib? I wouldn’t take much of anything they say to heart.
July 26th, 2007 at 10:57 am
Coleman’s at 48% and Congress is somewhere arround 20%. Interesting.
It’s not uncommon for people to disapprove of Congress as a body but say “my Congressman’s doing a good job.” Remember Congress’ approval rating is not an average of the approval rating of all of the members.
Disclaimer: not a Coleman supporter but won’t vote for any of the likely Democrat contenders.
July 26th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
I’m suprised the Star Trib gave Racheal Paulose credit in today’s paper for the drug bust in Duluth.
July 26th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Mitch charged: “The Twin Cities’ media is an organ of the DFL, and it will act as such.”
What kind of organ are you, Mitch?
July 26th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
YOu know, I am frequently frustrated with Norm and his somewhat weaselly positions, but he is a good egg, and I will glady vote for him again (baring dead hookers or somesuch)
July 26th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
What kind of organ are you, Mitch?
A very tall one.
July 26th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Why would Bill want to bare dead hookers?
July 26th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
heh PIMF: “barring”
July 26th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
“”The Strib’s poll? Hahahahaha! Doesn’t anyone remember the ‘06 election and the completely baised and inaccurate polling by the Strib? I wouldn’t take much of anything they say to heart.””
This was not a STRIB MN Poll, this was a Survey USA one.
July 26th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
One aspect of this poll finding that I haven’t come across yet in the analysis is that it very likely isn’t just liberals or moderates who are voicing their disapproval. There are plenty of conservatives out there who are none too thrilled with Nom’s job performance of late. I’d be hard pressed to honestly say that I “approve” of what he’s been doing. Tolerate perhaps, but I ain’t giving him a big thumbs up.
I fear that the polls and pressure are going to get to him soon and he’s going to buckle. He’s not exactly the sort of stone wall that you’d like to have holding down your right flank.
July 26th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
I understand that Norm’s father passed away this morning. From an e-mail that I just received:
Norm Coleman Sr. passed away this morning. Condolences can be sent to the family at
Coleman HQ
2550 University Ave West Suite 100N
St Paul, MN 55114
No squirting flowers AC.
July 26th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
A very tall one.
AC, I’ve met Mitch. I don’t often meet people bigger than I am (other than say, NFL offensive linemen.) Mitch is one of them.
July 26th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
I fear that the polls and pressure are going to get to him soon and he’s going to buckle. He’s not exactly the sort of stone wall that you’d like to have holding down your right flank.
Speaking of which, I just got a fundraising letter from Ramstad yesterday warning me that apparently Ted Kennedy has sponsored an immigration bill that will (bolded and underlined in the original) “give amnesty to illegal aliens.” Nice to know Ramstad’s keeping up on current events. I’d hate to think what would have happened if he hadn’t been there to warn me about a bill that was already defeated about a month ago.
In the same letter Ramstad talked about the need for free market health care reform (an issue near and dear to my heart). I couldn’t help but think though that Ramstad’s pet issue is “mental health parity” (co-sponsored with another Kennedy) which is another name for the federal government putting YET ANOTHER unfunded mandate on insurance companies which will result in higher premiums for everyone except of course those people who will lose their health insurance as this mandate makes health insurance even less affordable for individuals and smaller employers.
July 26th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Thorley, so correct. The gov’t is preventing me from making a private contract with an insurer. Our minders in the gov’t will review the contract and if they don’t approve of it, will force me to pay more for added services I don’t want.
July 26th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
“This was not a STRIB MN Poll, this was a Survey USA one.”
A poll that appears in the Star&Sickle, whether they commissioned it or merely centerpieced it, is not worth wiping my nose on after I get done blowing it on AssClown’s lapel.
July 26th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
At least the Rammer is keeping our swimming pools safe. Lord knows we couldn’t handle that without the Federal government’s “help.”
July 27th, 2007 at 7:46 am
Facts are stupid things, eh swift one? Kinda like wingnuts.
July 27th, 2007 at 8:24 am
Angryclown said…well, nothing, really.