Betsy Markey over Marilyn Musgrave in Poll (May 2008)

May 21, 2008 by weatherdem | 2 Comments

A poll done by Bennett, Petts & Normington has Democratic candidate Betsy Markey up over Marilyn Musgrave 43-36 with a 4.9% MOE. Yes it’s early, yes the sample size was fairly small (400 respondents). Yes a Musgrave campaign poll had Musgrave up 47-42 a couple months back. Although I must say that a three-term incumbent “showcasing” a poll where she only garnered 47% is pretty pathetic, especially considering the district’s voting pattern. Yes it’s only May and November is quite a ways off.What this poll results shows is that Marilyn Musgrave is in trouble again this year. She’s going to have to work her butt off raising money and actually spending time in the district if she hopes to stave off another challenger. And this time around, the NRCC will have limited funds to bail her out.

Two additional, important notes about the poll: Political affiliations for respondents were intended to match the GOP-leaning district: 40 percent Republican, 31 percent unaffiliated and 29 percent Democrats.A majority, 51 percent,of voters gave Musgrave a job rating of “not so good” or “poor” while only 40 percent rate the job she is doing in Congress as “excellent” or “good”. Combined with Musgrave’s lackluster polling results, the job rating results seem to me to signify an incumbent in trouble. More Republican-leaning districts have already fallen this year. Folks know which party started the Iraq occupation and led the economy into a recession. They know that party isn’t offering solutions to the problems they face. All they’re doing is name-calling and finger-pointing. Republicans have pointed out for numerous cycles how common-sensical rural voters in the West are. Those voters might just prove their point this year. As of March 31, the most recent date for which data are available, Musgrave had raised $1.38 million for her re-election and had $1 million on hand. Markey had raised $569,000 and had $376,000 available. Let’s help Betsy Markey close that financial gap. Let’s help Betsy win CO-04 this year and send a 5-2 (D-R) contingent to Congress next year.

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