Another Poll Shows Matthews In Good Shape For Potential Senate Bid
Yet another poll is suggesting that Chris Matthews could have a real shot at being elected to the U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania, if he decides against renewing his contract at MSNBC and in favor of mounting a campaign.
The numbers from Research 2000: Matthews is in a near-tie with GOP Sen. Arlen Specter, with Specter at 45% and Matthews at 44%. In a three-way Democratic primary with Reps. Patrick Murphy and Allyson Shwartz, it's Matthews 24%, Murphy 19%, Schwartz 15%, with "undecided" leading the race at 42%.
This internal might surprise people: Against his lesser-known potential opponents in the Democratic primary, Matthews currently has a plurality among women voters, and is doing better with them than men, though obviously it's hard to draw any solid conclusions when the undecideds are this high.
Here's another number that should seriously worry Specter: He's under 50% in the Republican primary, with 43% against 2004 primary opponent Pat Toomey's 28%. Specter just barely won his 2004 primary 51%-49%, and could be in for another dogfight if Toomey or another conservative challenger mounts a bid -- and if he were to lose his primary, a Democratic pickup would become very likely.
A previous Rasmussen poll showed Matthews only three points down against Specter.
If Matthews is polling this well vs. Specter, imagine how well a legitimate candidate would be doing!
December 12, 2008 1:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Whoohooo! Angry left, where are you?
OLY OLY OXEN FREE!
Sorry, I've seem to have misplaced my angry lefts...if you happen to see them, tell them they have been looking for them and are worried sick.
Thanks.
December 12, 2008 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
FWIW, the original expression was "Allee allee, all's in free!" Somehow, over the decades it morphed into what you reported.
December 12, 2008 8:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
NOOOOOOO! That would be a disaster. Cosign Dorn76 by the way, please bring on a legitimate candidate.
December 12, 2008 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Please... do we have to read two years of Tweety polls? Can't we set Tweety aside until late 2009?
John
December 12, 2008 1:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
By the way, I find it interesting that the republican hack polling operation ratsmussen keeps pushing this bs. Very interesting indeed.
December 12, 2008 1:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know us Republican hacks...we gotta find something to do until Rahmbo gets sucked into the Blago-sphere.
December 12, 2008 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Credit where credit is due bucko!
You are hereby deputized to use BlagoSphere in whatever context you desire.
I relinquish all trade marks and copy rights associated with the BlagoSphere brand :-)
December 12, 2008 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have something for you to do, try running carelessly while loosely clutching scissors motherfucker.
December 12, 2008 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
There is something to be said for running an experienced politician rather than a show business celebrity when you want to beat an entrenched, experienced incumbent. Pennsylvania is not California. Mathews or other television characters can do very well in California.
What this kind of poll, at this stage in the process, measures is basically just name recognition. Is Mathews capable of assembling and leading the kind of awesome campaign organization such as Al Franken did in Minnesota, building on the heritage of Paul Wellstone? Even with an incredible organization, Franken could only run even against a skilled political pro . . . despite this being a great year for Democrats.
Maybe Mathews should pay his dues for a while. Al Franken not only wrote great books attacking the ultra-right propaganda machine, he also spent several years raising money for candidates across the country and across Minnesota; doing fund-raisers, speaking at county conventions, meeting local organizers and community leaders in person, listening and learning. Al's a quick study and a brilliant guy. Even so, the best he could do was essentially a tie. I think Specter could be defeated but it will take some savvy. Does Mathews have the smarts to match his ego?
December 12, 2008 1:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't speak for the quality of Franken's campaign organization, but I do believe that had he been an experienced politician, the race wouldn't be stuck in the recount hell it's in today. What I mean by that is the Coleman was a person experienced in campaigning, as the candidate, while Franken was not. The early days of the campaign were not days in which Franken can look back with pride for his performance. He took quite a while developing his campaigning chops. It was only his speaking skill, that he learned from years as a stand up comic and a talk show host, that kept his head above water. That difference in campaigning experience might easily have overcome the difference in the votes.
December 12, 2008 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
You may not like him but Matthews has done more than many who might end up in the Senate (Caroline Kennedy anyone?). A lot of "behind the scenes" but he knows how the joint works and a stint in the Peace Corps isn't bad on a Democratic resume either. I'd like to see it just for the oppo TV ads alone.
From Wiki: "When Matthews first arrived in Washington, D.C. he worked as an armed officer with the United States Capitol Police.[2] Subsequently, he served on the staffs of four Democratic members of Congress, including Senators Frank Moss and Edmund Muskie. He campaigned for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district in 1974, losing to incumbent Congressman Joshua Eilberg in the Democratic primary. Matthews received about 23% of the vote.[3] He was a presidential speechwriter for four years during the Carter administration. Matthews later worked six years as a top aide to long-time Speaker of the House of Representatives Tip O'Neill, playing a direct role in many key political battles with the Reagan administration."
December 12, 2008 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I must learn more about how to use these tubes! I don't watch much television and know of Mathews only what I gleaned indirectly from various commentary places like this . . . clearly, whatever he has done lately, he does have a decent resume. You can't work for Tip O'Neill that long without learning some tricks of the trade. So did he run against Eilberg when Eilberg was an incumbent or was it an open seat? Thank you for the additional information. I should stick to Midwestern politics.
December 12, 2008 6:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
tweety is negotiating a new contract. that's the only thing this senate talk is about. he's not a serious candidate. there's no way he can run. now with his long record of saying really stupid things-and it's all on video cause why make the opp research hard?
December 12, 2008 1:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, a friend of mine who does regular freelance tech work on his show agrees that this is just a negotiating tactic.
December 12, 2008 1:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Matthews behavior as a talking head these past few years has poisoned himself for me. Why would I want such a person as Senator, other than for the glee of seeing another Republican being given a pink slip? Surely, there must be a solid candidate, somewhere in PA, who can get the Dem nomination.
December 12, 2008 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm with those who plead for an actual politician to run against Specter. With all the video history of Matthews, he'd be a traveling foot-in-mouth extravaganza. No thanks.
It's time for Specter to go. Here's hoping a Tancredo-like Republican will primary him, and win.
December 12, 2008 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't mind Matthews (most of the time). He sometimes misspeaks but his ideology is pretty progressive. I think he'd be an okay Senator, certainly better than Spector.
December 12, 2008 2:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great maybe we'll get to see Matthews drool onto the senate floor...
He must be trying to drive up the price of his next contract with MSNBC.
December 12, 2008 2:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
This internal might surprise people: Against his lesser-known potential opponents in the Democratic primary, Matthews currently has a plurality among women voters, and is doing better with them than men, though obviously it's hard to draw any solid conclusions when the undecideds are this high.
That might be because men watch more cable news than women. Women may have heard of Matthews, but not actually know his work as well as men. With people who have watched Hardball rather than just heard of it, name recognition is more of a double-edged sword. I just recently read some things about Matthews I didn't know on the Daily Howler - I knew about comparing HRC to a stripper, but I didn't know about the "uppity woman" references - and I'm confident that his numbers would fall among women if they knew more about his sexist comments. Also, aside from the whole sexism issue the NY Times magazine profile of him makes it clear that he's far too immature and out of control to be an effective Senator.
December 13, 2008 12:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
If they run Matthews they'er starting with a handicap. I'm one Democrat that won't vote for him unless the 60 votes is at stake.
December 14, 2008 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Will do my utmost to make sure mr. matthews loses in any attempt. His and Keithies behavior this year is pathetic. Imagine that mouth in the Senate....please
December 15, 2008 1:33 PM | Reply | Permalink