For this week's polls, which we're going to get into the field a little earlier in the week than we usually do, we're doing our monthly North Carolina survey and also taking a first look at the Washington race.
As always we'd love suggestions on things to poll in those states beyond the obvious. In particular, what Republicans should we look at as possible 2012 Maria Cantwell opponents?
Thanks for all the tips, we almost always take some of them.
Tea Party Favorable/Unfavorable.
ReplyDeleteWho would you rather see as Speaker: Pelosi or Boehner?
Don't forget to poll support for NC Libertarian Senate candidate Mike Beitler! He's been hovering between 6% and 10% support in other polls.
ReplyDeleteFor Washington, I would be interested in the jungle primary numbers. Since Dino Rossi has become a perpetual candidate for office, he seems like a likely choice to take on Cantwell in 2012 if he loses to Murray. Dave Reichert might also be a noteworthy opposition candidate.
ReplyDeleteWell, as long as you asked it for Boxer and Fiorina, let's get a sample from the other side of the country so we can see if the partisan numbers hold up. Ask it regularly and you could probably write it up for the Annals of Improbable Research:
ReplyDelete"Who has better hair, Burr or Marshall?"
Haha we're only going to poll on hair if the candidates make it an issue.
ReplyDeleteFor Washington, I'd ask about Initiative 1098 (http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/text/i1098.pdf), which plans to create an income tax for high earners (Washington has never had an income tax before).
ReplyDeleteFor 2012, you might want to look at the Governor's race instead: Rep. Jay Inslee and state Sen. majority leader Lisa Brown on the Dem side, and AG Rob McKenna and perennial candidate Dino Rossi on the GOP side. (It's pretty much an open secret that he'd much rather be governor than senator.) I haven't heard any speculation about who might be interested in taking on Cantwell in 2012. Maybe Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers?
Whatever you do, don't forget to run the WA-Sen race (presumably in the same sample) as both jungle primary (Murray/Rossi/Didier/Akers) and two-way general (Murray/Rossi... and maybe Murray/Didier, as unlikely as that is).
Poll about whether Washington state voters would pay for a new stadium if it meant that they would get a NBA team in Seattle.
ReplyDeleteThe most obvious choice for 2012 is Rep. Dave Reichert, who is constantly recruited for higher office in WA. He faces a tough re-election every year, and may want to move up. The only other two names mentioned are Rep. Cathy McMorris Rogers and former TV anchorwoman and King County executive candidate Susan Hutchison. She was the NRSC's second choice to Rossi this year.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be a lot being made out of Murray's many earmarks and Rossi's coming out against them... Maybe a poll question about that?
ReplyDeleteIt's not Washington specific, but I want to know what percentage of people look at polls and what percentage of those are influenced by them. Some people on the web think that a pollster can influence an election and I'm skeptical.
ReplyDeletemaybe in nc 2012 gubernatorial race and the same with WA but include the gov because she can run again for gov in WA
ReplyDeleteBe sure and ask the 2012 GOP hopefuls question in Washington state. Some Palin supporters are claiming Washington as a solid Palin state. I would love to see what the truth of the matter is.
ReplyDeleteAsk about AG Rob McKenna. The nutjob has his eye on the governor's mansion in 2012...
ReplyDeleteThe AG Rob McKenna is obviously a statewide office holder angling for something higher.
ReplyDeleteTry Rob McKenna for Senate.
ReplyDeleteCould you do a NC governor poll with the 2008 candidates....It could be a rematch
ReplyDeleteHeh, maybe you can have a poll question in Washington about whether or not it gets on their nerves whenever politicians condemn "Washington"...
ReplyDeleteYou could ask favorable/unfavorable on Gary Locke like you've done with Napolitano and Vilsack.
ReplyDeleteIn WA poll the 3rd Congressional as well as jungle primary for Senate race.
ReplyDeleteFor 2012 poll on the governor's race. It is likely to atrract more interest and quality candidates than the Senate race.
Wow! It looks like everyone from my home state of Washington has some great suggestions. I agree with all of them.
ReplyDeleteDitch the 2012 Senate question. Ask about the guv race instead. McKenna vs Brown. Maybe McKenna vs Cantwell if you want try something crazy.
The Jungle Primary is the most important question. I've seen nothing about it. (Would Dems vote for Didier to keep Rossi off the ballot?)
Related to McKenna. In a blue state, there's a GOP A.G. who wants to join the legal challenge to health care reform. It's a bit old, but maybe now that the debate is so far in the past, maybe see if people still (don't) want him to.
The WA state initiative about creating an income tax is GREAT! There's also TWO about privitzing liquor sales.
My vote is for a question about I-1098 (income tax initiative) in WA.
ReplyDeleteAre you also going to poll Alabama in the comng weeks ?
ReplyDeleteYour last poll from AL is from March.
I'd like to see congressional polling NC. Specifically in the Virginia Foxx v. Billy Kennedy race.
ReplyDeleteI second 1098; it'd be interesting what WA does in terms of an income tax since they never had one.
ReplyDeletePossible GOP candidates against Cantwell in 2012 - Susan Hutchison, Dave Reichert, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Sam Reed, Doc Hastings, Sean Salazar, Art Coday, Craig Williams, Brad Klippert, Don Benton, Kirby Wilbur. Also Clint Didier if he does not make it through this time.
ReplyDeleteIt'd be great to see something about Initiative 1098, the proposed state income tax, in Washington. It's going to be a big fight here.
ReplyDeleteJake, I agree! I would also love to see Foxx v/s Kennedy. I will be doing my part here in Forsyth, to oust Foxx!!
ReplyDeleteAnother vote for I-1098 in WA here.
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to have a question about same sex marriage in both states, especially Washington.
ReplyDeleteI wrote pretty much the entire Washington poll off the suggestions here- thanks everyone!
ReplyDeleteI believe a few questions about American Voter's knowledge of the Civil Rights movement would be illuminating. What were Freedom Riders. When did Congress pass Voters Rights Act? I bet you get some frightening results.
ReplyDeleteFor NC, you should ask a approval/disapproval question about the NC General Assembly.
ReplyDeleteYou could also ask voters opinion on how to close the $3 billion hole in the state budget next year: Layoff teachers and public employees? Across the board cuts? Raise the sales tax? Raise taxes on the wealthy?
You could also ask about support for high speed rail and local transit systems.