Landry Of Hopes And Dreams
By Mitch Berg
WOOOT! MPR released a poll showing that Al Franken has pulled even with Senator Norm Coleman!
This is huge news! Why, even MNPublius’ kept Frankenblogger Aaron Landry says so!
…It boils down to this: some people have a strange impression that Franken’s campaign isn’t doing as well as it should, it is comparatively getting a ton of bad press and that Franken doesn’t own on the issues. It’s basically what you’d think if you used right-wing talking points to get your news.
We’ll come back to the “talking point” bit in a moment here…
…but first, let’s get to the bottom of what would seem, according to the MPR poll, to be a return from the dead for Franken. I searched in vain in the MPR story for the set-up numbers – who they actually polled.
Swiftee, over at MDE, would seem to have heard the answer:
it was revealed that in the MPR-HHH poll released today, which revealed a stastical tie, 59% of the respondents identified themselves as Democrats, and 39% identified themselves as Republicans.
In other words, the poll started with a 3:2 advantage for Franken before the tabulation even ran – and he still could only manage a tie!
It seems like more and more people are actually realizing that Franken is solid on the issues, especially as Franken has been continually touring the state talking about them.
Still waiting to hear what Franken’s “issues” are.
As for negative press, Franken is only getting prodded on non-issues.
Actually, while I don’t care about his career as a freelance writer or comic, I think the fact that Franken has nothing by which to judge him except his writing career, a couple of relentlessly smug “political” books and a failed talk show would make a sentient voter a little hinky about Al.
As most of the polls seem to be showing.
UPDATE: My neighbor Flash seems to have replaced the beer in his kegerator with Koolaid.
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:23 pm
You ought to look at the numbers for yourself. Fortunately, I’ve done it myself. here they are (PDF link).
The actual numbers are 50% Dem, 39% Rep, and 10% Ind.
This isn’t an advantage at all — if you think Republicans are going to be 50% of the turnout come November, I’d love to hear that argument.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:33 pm
You have to admit, Mitch..I’m really trying to be nice to Flash…the way you are nice to a senile grandma, heh.
Honestly, Flash’s intellect has really gone down the crapper, hasn’t it?
Does he really believe the shit he writes, or is this just bald frustration at having gotten stuck with a complete moron for a Senate candidate?
Take note youngsters, left wing politics is nothing to play around with….your first time could be your last!
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
You ought to look at the numbers for yourself.
Yeah, being at work and all I didn’t have time for that…
The actual numbers are 50% Dem, 39% Rep, and 10% Ind.
This isn’t an advantage at all — if you think Republicans are going to be 50% of the turnout come November, I’d love to hear that argument.
We may not be fifty percent – but then, either will the Dems.
It’s skewed representation, and it’s pretty typical.