OK: Benenson Strategy Group (D): Inhofe, under 50%, but leading Rice by 8%

[Adlai Stevenson]

In a ballot matchup between Republican James Inhofe and an unnamed "Democratic candidate," Inhofe fails to break through 50%, beating the unnamed Democrat 46% to 38% - an 8% lead. When Andrew Rice’s name is substituted in for the unnamed Democrat, the ballot remains virtually unchanged with Inhofe failing to break 50% again: Inhofe scores 49% compared to Rice’s 35%. This slim 4% shift is barely outside the margin of error of the survey and occurs despite the fact that 73% of voters are currently unfamiliar with Rice. ...

To further test openness to Rice’s candidacy we read voters a series of positive statements about Andrew Rice. After hearing these positive statements about Rice’s values, agenda and background when asked a second time about their choice for Senate, Democrat Andrew Rice jumped out to a 2% lead, beating Republican James Inhofe 43% to 41%. This indicates both that voters are potentially open to Rice and that when presented with a positive alternative to Inhofe, support for the Senator dropped significantly below 50%.

58% of Oklahomans feel the nation is off on the wrong track; only 48% of Oklahomans feel Inhofe is doing an excellent or good job; meanwhile, 45% feel Inhofe is doing only a fair or poor job

To further test openness to Rice’s candidacy we read voters a series of positive statements about Andrew Rice. After hearing these positive statements about Rice’s values, agenda and background when asked a second time about their choice for Senate, Democrat Andrew Rice jumped out to a 2% lead, beating Republican James Inhofe 43% to 41%. This indicates both that voters are potentially open to Rice and that when presented with a positive alternative to Inhofe, support for the Senator dropped significantly below 50%.

The Benenson Strategy Group conducted 900 interviews statewide with likely general election voters December 8 - 12, 2007. The margin of error for overall results is ±3.27%.

The Benenson Strategy Group’s clients include Governor Tim Kaine (VA), Senator Jim Webb (VA), and Senator Robert Menendez (NJ). Peter Brodnitz, who conducted this survey, was named "Pollster of the Year" by the American Association of Political Consultants earlier this year for his work for Kaine, Webb and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. It is a bi-partisan award given to one pollster every two years.

http://senate2008guru.blogspot.com/

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Rice performs worse than a generic Democrat.  Hahahaha.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

Rice performs worse than a generic Democrat.  Hahahaha.

Generic Democrat always does better.

When are you going to change your avatar to blue?

[Joe Republic]

When are you going to change your avatar to blue?

Why would he?

[TheresNoMoney]

Inhofoe will win again, unfortunately. Oklahoma is one of the reddest states in the country and no Democrat is going to win there.

I consider him the most vile Senator in Washington now that Santorum is gone.

[Gabu]

Rice performs worse than a generic Democrat.  Hahahaha.

People are always apt to pick what they know over what they don't.  Given that 73% of people don't know who he is, the numbers relating to him aren't very meaningful.

[Padfoot]

If Inhofe ends up going down I'll eat my hat and laugh doing it.  The thought of BushOklahoma actually being right about Inhofe's vulnerability would be just too awesome.  It would probably be the funniest thing ever to happen on the forum.

[Gabu]

I certainly have to admit, though he currently beats Rice by 14%, being under 50% against a candidate that nearly three-quarters of the respondents know nothing about is a bad sign for Inhofe.  If more people are willing to vote for a politician's opponent than there are people who know a single thing about that opponent, that indicates that there's a not insignificant number of people who really, really want the politician gone.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

When are you going to change your avatar to blue?

Why would he?

When's the last time he's said anything complimentary toward Democrats?

[TheresNoMoney]

When's the last time he's said anything complimentary toward Democrats?

He really is a Republican, hell, he used to work for the Massachusetts Republican party.

It's definitely his right to have whatever avatar he wants, but people should know he's really a Republicans (like a few other "independents" on here).

[HardRCafé]

He really is a Republican, hell, he used to work for the Massachusetts Republican party.

It's definitely his right to have whatever avatar he wants, but people should know he's really a Republicans (like a few other "independents" on here).

By the same standard, Arianna Huffington really is a Republican.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

It's definitely his right to have whatever avatar he wants, but people should know he's really a Republicans (like a few other "independents" on here).

The Massachusetts Secretary of State's records beg to differ, but whatever.

When are you going to change your avatar to blue?

Why would he?

When's the last time he's said anything complimentary toward Democrats?

Off the top of my head: At the ballot box in 2006?

In case you haven't noticed, I'm not lavishing praise upon the Republican Party anywhere around here.

[Sam Spade]

I certainly have to admit, though he currently beats Rice by 14%, being under 50% against a candidate that nearly three-quarters of the respondents know nothing about is a bad sign for Inhofe.  If more people are willing to vote for a politician's opponent than there are people who know a single thing about that opponent, that indicates that there's a not insignificant number of people who really, really want the politician gone.

I seriously hope you're not taking an internal partisan poll seriously, Gabu.