Three Shockers

Three new polls indicate that the “good year for the GOP’ might not stop at the Saint Croix:

• As I noted yesterday, an internal poll conducted by Tarrance for the GOP shows Torrey Westrom leading 434-term congressman Colin Peterson in the 7th CD by a point, 44-43, with 13 percent undecided. 
• A GOP internal poll from POS shows Dan Severson up by two points over Steve Simon in the Secretary of State race – a result that I reported as rumor, but a likely one with a high degree of confidence, earlier in the week.
• Biggest of all, perhaps?  A KSTP/SUSA poll shows Stewart Mills, the GOP challenger in the 8th CD, crushing DFL incumbent Rick Nolan 47/39, with a Greenie clocking at 4%

The first two are, of course, internal polls.  It’s possible they’re self-serving – although generally the parties are paying good money for the internal polls, and want them to be accurate.  They are, of course, intended to start a “bandwagon effect”, convincing voters who are inclined to be friendly that their support can be rewarded, and likely opponents to stay home and avoid the futility. 

Sort of like the DFL, ABM and mainstream media (ptr) have been doing to make DFL wins feel inevitable. 

Three weeks ’til the election?  This is huge. 

Also – with the Democrats pulling their money out of Kentucky and Colorado, look for Al Franken to get a wad of cash, as Democrats around the country start to realize Senator Smalley is a lot more vulnerable than the local media let on.