Tuesday, August 12, 2008

DSCC Poll Can't Bring Martin Above 36%



Well Schumer and Martin are up to it again, this time with their good friend the Mellman group involved.

They have cooked the books and released a poll suggesting Jim Martin is within striking distance of Republican incumbent Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

This is funny for several reasons:
  1. This poll was paid for by the DSCC and to the Mellman Group, a polling agency that was used extensively by the Clintons back in the day to boost their own numbers publicly.
  2. The poll likely used a set of likely voters that is completely unrealistic. Something like 90% African American turnout and 20% White male turnout.
  3. Even with this manipulation of the numbers they could not legitimately bring Jim Martin above 36% of "likely voters."
  4. Even with this manipulation they couldn't bring Saxby below 42%.
If they are going to be honest about this poll and claim it has any credibility I'd call on the Mellman Group to release its demographic breakdown of what it claims are likely voters used in this poll.

These polls are used to to and drive donors to the campaign so now they can say "hey look we're within striking distance." What Martin doesn't realize is it can backfire so the Chambliss campaign can say "hey look, we've got a target on our back."

Both will likely happen, and Martin has already used the line to get new money out of Senate leaders adding to his PAC money with a donation from Sen. Byron Dorgan's PAC.

Congrats Jim Martin on being the status quo.

1 comment:

GeorgiaValues said...

As I posted on Peach Pundit...

1) The Mellman group will publish a poll stating whatever you want if you are willing to pay for it.

2) If Saxby were in trouble, the DSCC would do more than put up a YouTube ad attacking Saxby on gas prices.

3) Martin emerged battered and broke from his primary, after pulling a come from behind victory over Vernon Jones who beat him on the 15th. Hardly awe inspiring.

Jim ’s lackluster primary campaign made more headlines for its missteps than anything else - falsified Lanier endorsement, late FEC reports, falsified Commissioner Irvin endorsement, dodged forums and campaign debates, and most disappointing - Jim’s failure to raise the 2.5 million he said he would for the primary.

He started the General off by reading a press release to reporters who braved the 100 degree heat only to be denied the opportunity to ask questions while he ducked back into his basement Campaign HQ. Since then he hasn’t been heard from.