NC Senate: Hagan (D) 48, Dole (R) 47

Looks like we have a race folks.

Democrat Kay Hagan, a state senator from Greensboro, easily won the Democratic Primary last Tuesday night and starts the general election campaign essentially tied with incumbent Senator Elizabeth Dole.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in North Carolina Hagan attracting 48% of the vote statewide while Dole earns support from 47%. A month ago, Dole led Hagan by thirteen percentage points.

Hagan currently leads by three points among women while Dole wins by three among men. Hagan leads among voters under 50 while Dole leads among older voters.

Both candidates are popular with the state voters—at least before the campaign season gets under way. Fifty-six percent (56%) have a favorable opinion of Dole while 53% offer positive reviews of Hagan.

Dole is supported by 85% of Republicans, Hagan by 80% of Democrats, and Dole leads by nine points among unaffiliated voters. The incumbent is hurt by the declining value of the Republican party label. Nationally, the number of people who consider themselves to be Democrats has risen to record highs in recent months. The partisan gap (the number of Democrats minus the number of Republicans) has grown to a full ten percentage points in the early phase of Election 2008.

Hagan apparently intends to take full advantage of this partisan reality. She recently reminded Tar Heel voters that " Elizabeth Dole votes with President Bush 92 percent of the time…. you are not representing the interests if you are voting straight-party like that with Bush all the time. That is not what North Carolinians want."

Any incumbent who polls below 50% early in the campaign cycle is considered potentially vulnerable. Dole is far from the only Republican incumbent in that position this year. In addition to North Carolina, Democrats have at least a chance of picking up Republican seats in Virginia, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Colorado, Oregon,Alaska, Minnesota, Kentucky and Texas.


http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/north_carolina/election_2008_north_carolina_senate

neither has Burr for that matter. But the state is red in that way. Hagans only chance is to be ready when people look to her (if Hagan is going to run on DOLE doing zip during her term). Kind of Like VA in 2006 but without the huge lead. Remember Burr never lead Bowles until he won the election.

They've consistently voted against the interests of the people, as far as I can tell. :grr:

I always felt Dole was impossible to oust -- this gives me hope.

I will say that her staff in DC has been the most polite and articulate when I've called (usually to threaten or bitch).

They seemed to know what issue I was referring to (not all of the other offices did) and ASKED for my input. All in all pretty impressive, but my admiration and praise ends there.

Thanks for the rasmussen report!

All Kay has to do is remind NC voters that ED hasn't lived in NC for well over 40 years. All she does is swoop in and visit her mom in Salisbury when it's convenient. Tarheels hate that. She has no real ties to the state and if you asked her, she probably couldn't name the top concerns of NC voters, across the board.

Should be a good season. :-)

so add about 4 pts to the Democrat.

I'm hoping she's blessed with the same common sense and decency that her late Uncle possessed.

Go Kay!

The Corrupt Bastards Club may lose several seats from Alaska.
Rep. Don Young is another likely indictment any day now!!