It was about this time four years ago that a small group of bloggers and activists got a call from the Chip Cravaack campaign; the challenger was within the margin of error against 200-term congressman Jim Oberstar.
It was unthinkable.
And was one of the headiest days in my life as a political activist; the Tea Party wave was flipping the unflippable.
I didn’t think I’d see another day like it.
I’m going to lead with all the usual disclaimers; it’s an internal poll, which can make it both more and less trustworthy.
But an internal poll shows Torrey Westrom leading 12-term DFL Rep. Colin Peterson, 44-43, as the race turns into the home stretch:
A new survey released today by the Westrom for Congress campaign reports Republican challenger Torrey Westrom pulling ahead of 12-term incumbent Democrat Congressman Collin Peterson. Westrom now enjoys a lead among likely voters in Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District (44%-43%), while thirteen percent (13%) are undecided
Of course, that’s a lot of undecideds – but then, that’s the point of releasing the polling news; to create the “bandwagon effect” that drives campaigns over the finish line in style. Fact is, even if it’s close, Peterson has got to be sweating bricks right now; rarely do challengers get within a three-digit margin of northwestern Minnesota’s ag pork king.
If this poll is even within 3-4 points of accurate, it’s bad news for the DFL.
My November 5 dream: Torrey Westrom, Stewart Mills and Tom Emmer not only start measuring their drapes in Washington, but flip Minnesota’s congressional delegation not only red, but solidly right-of-center.
I wrote about the Westrom-Peterson race here:
http://www.examiner.com/article/westrom-leads-peterson-private-polling
The Democrats don’t have many bullets left to fire.
That might explain why the DCCC is going after Westrom as hard as they have been going after Mills.
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
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