Sen. Undecided?
Despite statewide name recognition and a campaign war chest of over $4 million, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham has his hands full against an unknown libertarian-turned-Democrat who whose campaign hasn’t spent a dime.
In one of the strangest polls we’ve seen in a long time, Graham has a three-to-one lead over Democrat Bob Conley – but nearly half of the state’s voters are undecided and another 12% are either sitting the race out or voting for “anyone else.”
Conducted by Winthrop/ETV for La Socialista (a.k.a. The State newspaper) and other McLatchy media outlets, the U.S. Senate poll released yesterday shows 46.6% of South Carolina voters undecided, with 6.6% saying they would vote for anyone else, 3.7% saying they would vote for “no one” and 1.5% declining to answer.
The results of the poll differ dramatically from a Rasmussen survey last month which showed Graham up on Conley by nine points.
We honestly have no clue what’s going on with the polling in this race, but we’re sure our friends over at the Palmetto Scoop will remind us any minute now that Lindsey Graham is not only flying higher than an eagle, but is in fact the wind beneath all of our wings.
Comments
By nope on October 24th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
The State’s report said the questioners didn’t give first names or party affiliations, which probably had a lot to do with it.
By Henry Feagin on October 24th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Apparently in this time when it looks like the American public is about ready to wash it’s hands of the republican party and it’s continued use of Lee Atwater’s “Book of Dirty Tricks”, Senator Graham is more concerned with John McCain’s presidential bid than he is with his own election. Speaking of Lee, at least before he died, he made several attempts to right some of the wrongs he had committed against opposing candidates. Maybe after this election season is over, the republicans will bury Lee’s playbook and begin to run future campaigns on merit rather than character assignation.
By rick on October 24th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Aw Henry, Once again it’s only the Republicans that are guilty. Please run home, you’re momma has your dry diaper and bottle ready.
By Marcy on October 25th, 2008 at 12:22 am
It’s not an exciting senate race, so there’s nothing surprising here. Lindsay doesn’t motivate the conservative base, so that ambivalence is showing.
What’s fascinating about the whole poll is how similar NC and VA are, and yet how different they are from SC. The “Old South” is slowly changing.
It’s mind-boggling to me that adding Palin to the ticket actually helped McCain in SC. (But hurt him in NC or VA).
By John Steinberger on October 25th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Note that the Palmetto Scoop reported on the Winthrop Presidential poll, which showed McCain ahead 55-35 but didn’t mention the disconnect in the Senate poll.
It is clear that a large number of Republicans and conservative Independents are not happy with Sen. Graham. They need to know that Bob Conley is a conservative alternative.
Bob Conley is in favor of ending illegal immigration – he would filibuster against the amnesty bill that either McCain or Obama is sure to propose immediately after the election, while we all know that Sen. Graham supports amnesty. Bob was against the Trillion Dollar Bailout. He is for replacing our tax code with the FairTax to stimulate our ailing economy.
By Ellen McLellan on October 25th, 2008 at 10:34 am
It would be prudent for SC citizens to quit looking at polls.Go to LindseyGraham.com to look at the Senator’s News releases and his views on the variety issues we as SC citizens and US citizens have to think through before voting.Also,go to Senate.gov and look up the Senator’s voting record.
Also,go to any SC GOP regional offices across the state and ask for information on Senator Graham and you will be given some direction.
Look up information on Bob Conley’s experience.
Do your research.Think hard.Pray earnestly.Please do not be complacent.Go to the voting polls on November 4th and vote for the either Senator Graham or Mr.Bob Conley who you want to be our US Senator from SC.
Remember the pollsters will not be present,most likely,when either Senator Graham or Bob Conley take the oath of office to be the US Senator from SC.
The pollsters will not be there in the US Senate office in Washington,DC in the Russell Senate office building,the US Capitol,all the various meeting and conferences the US Senator from SC has to attend across SC,the country and the world. The pollsters will not be there in all the regional offices of the US Senator from SC across the state of SC in Columbia,Rock Hill,Greenville,Florence,and Charleston.
The US Senator from SC has a huge schedule of responsiblities to shoulder.On top of all that was mentioned above,the US Senator from SC has to serve on various committees as a US Senator.All US Senators have to shoulder these responsibilities which takes their time,energy and skills.
Go to US Senate.gov and you can see which committees Senator Lindsey Graham serves the citizens of SC as a member.While you are there look at the realtity of what Senator Jim DeMint has to shoulder as well as any other Senator.
The main issue for SC citizens to consider is that despite all the opinions,polls,TV ads;one can go to Senator Graham’s website to see his record and to Senate.gov to see his record.One can seek research on Bob Conley’s experience as well.Then one can have facts,think it through,pray earnestly for wisdom,and go and vote.
Thank you.
By Poll Watcher on October 25th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
http://faculty.winthrop.edu/huffmons/UndecidedStatement.htm
Winthrop University’s Dr. Scott Huffmon created such a stir among the media with his methodology on this weird poll that he posted the info above to explain what he is doing and apologized for the confusion.
He’s not looking for a typical “if you had to vote today, who would you vote for” response like every other pollster. He’s trying out a political science experiment to guage the impact of straight party voting and coattail effect so he can do a big post-election research project.
He even went so far as to say, “In SC, Graham’s support was at 63.7% and Conley’s was at 36.3% using the support rubric described above.” Obviously, that ain’t gonna happen and John McCain isn’t going to beat Barack Obama by 21 points…so not really sure why they published this research.
By Brian Frank on October 25th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Bob Conley is the best person that will represent SC and America!
http://www.BobConleyforSenate.com
By lisa on October 26th, 2008 at 10:57 am
I know of no friend or relative willing to vote Lindsey this time. He betrayed many of the residents of this state who elected him. Talk about having his hands full, there is more to come~~~~~