WY-PPP: Sen. Barrasso (R) leads Freudenthal (D) by 20

[Tender Branson]

John Barrasso................................................. 56%
Dave Freudenthal ........................................... 36%
Undecided....................................................... 9%

Do you approve or disapprove of the work Dave Freudenthal did during his 8 years as Governor?

Approve .......................................................... 71%
Disapprove...................................................... 18%
Not sure .......................................................... 11%

Do you approve or disapprove of Senator John Barrasso’s job performance?

Approve .......................................................... 69%
Disapprove...................................................... 25%
Not sure .......................................................... 6%

...

PPP surveyed 1,039 Wyoming voters from January 4th to 5th. The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.0%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_WY_0110.pdf

[Keystone Phil]

Less popular and still kicking the most popular politician in the state's ass.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

Gosh, it's almost as if people are willing to elect candidates to state office that they won't elect to federal office.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

While state like Wyoming may elect Democrat as Governor, I don't see electing a Democrat to the Congress. Same situation like it was with Massachusetts: Weld was extremely popular Governor, who won over 70% of the vote in 1994, but lost 1996 Senate race.

[Capitan Zapp Brannigan]

Makes sense.

[Keystone Phil]

Gosh, it's almost as if people are willing to elect candidates to state office that they won't elect to federal office.

I know, I know. I still think it's impressive that Freudenthal is more popular and losing by twenty right off the bat.

[DrScholl]

Incumbency is a big factor here. I do think that Freudenthal might have a better chance at an open seat, but those don't come along much.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

LOL

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Freudenthal had his chance in 2008: popular Governor running against newbie in a Democratic-friendly (or at least non-hostile) year.

Popular Democratic Governors in Red states aren't favored to move to the Senate. Same rule goes for many Blue states.

[Lunar]

Gosh, it's almost as if people are willing to elect candidates to state office that they won't elect to federal office.

I know, I know. I still think it's impressive that Freudenthal is more popular and losing by twenty right off the bat.

Important to note that Barrasso's numbers also make him one of the most popular senators in the country, if not the most popular.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Back in 1996, Governor Ben Nelson was considered a safe bet for Nebraska Senate seat, due to his great popularity. After all, he was reelected with an astonishing margin in 1994, a year during which fellow Democrats were slaughtered all across the country. At the end? Well, he lost soundly to a relatively unknown Republican named Chuck Hagel.

Point: Popular Democratic Governor in Red State always is going to face odds in congressional election.

[dmmidmi]

Popular Democratic Governors in Red states aren't favored to move to the Senate. Same rule goes for many Blue states.

Evan Bayh and Joe Manchin?

[SvenssonRS]

Popular Democratic Governors in Red states aren't favored to move to the Senate. Same rule goes for many Blue states.

Evan Bayh and Joe Manchin?

On everything but the presidential level(usually, at that), Indiana is more of what I like to call a "burgundy state" than anything else - that is, it's way more friendly to Democrats than you'd think, this year obviously aside. West Virginia, on the other hand, is hardcore Democratic in every aspect except Presidential elections, so Manchin would have been pretty well favored to win no matter the year and no matter the candidate.

[Oakvale]

Well, yeah, Wyoming's pretty unlikely to have a Democratic Senator any time in the next few decades.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Popular Democratic Governors in Red states aren't favored to move to the Senate. Same rule goes for many Blue states.

Evan Bayh and Joe Manchin?

I don't think you can compare WV, where Democrats are still strong at statewide level, nor even Indiana, where Democrats can be competive to Wyoming.

[dmmidmi]

Popular Democratic Governors in Red states aren't favored to move to the Senate. Same rule goes for many Blue states.

Evan Bayh and Joe Manchin?

I don't think you can compare WV, where Democrats are still strong at statewide level, nor even Indiana, where Democrats can be competive to Wyoming.

You completely missed the point of my post. I'm quite aware that each state's case is different (strength of the Democratic Party in WV, the electoral successes of the IN Democratic Party, etc.), nor was I necessarily trying to "compare" WY with any other state.

Instead, I was addressing the sweeping generalization that popular Democratic Governors of "Red" states (and vice versa) aren't favored to win election to national office--a generalization I believe to be flawed (see: Bayh, Evan; Gregg, Judd; Manchin, Joe; Nelson, Ben). I don't see how I'm wrong.

[albaleman]

LOL

[RodPresident]

Senate races are more partisans by nature. A single seat can define majority or minority. A solid Republican state would refuse to back even its most popular politician for Senate if he's a Democrat. Freudenthal's best choice would go to try the House, like Mike Castle made in Delaware.

[Miles]

I'd think it would be closer. hmmm...

I guess WY will elect a Democrat statewide, but it won't send one to the Senate.

[Badger]

Freudenthal had his chance in 2008: popular Governor running against newbie in a Democratic-friendly (or at least non-hostile) year.

Popular Democratic Governors in Red states aren't favored to move to the Senate. Same rule goes for many Blue states.

He probably would've had an even easier time if he'd run for the open at-large house seat. If Gary Trauner could come within 10% in 08, Frued would've had a real shot to win. He would've hard pressed in 2010 of course, but still....

[mondale84]

Freudenthal probably has his best chance at federal office in picking up the 1st CD (Minnick's old seat). The (D) next to your name is just a killer in Wyoming.

[Niemeyerite]

Freudenthal probably has his best chance at federal office in picking up the 1st CD (Minnick's old seat). The (D) next to your name is just a killer in Wyoming.

I don't think he wants to move to Idaho.

[The Doctor]

We have no idea what will happen between now and 2012. For example, if the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupts in Wyoming, that would change the playing field completely

[Associate Justice PiT]

We have no idea what will happen between now and 2012. For example, if the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupts in Wyoming, that would change the playing field completely

     Though not quite as big a change as Barrasso & Freudenthal turning out to be Daleks would be.

[Citizen (The) Doctor]

We have no idea what will happen between now and 2012. For example, if the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupts in Wyoming, that would change the playing field completely

     Though not quite as big a change as Barrasso & Freudenthal turning out to be Daleks would be.

I think Cybermen are more appropriate on this one.