US Senators ranked by popularity rating

[PennSkinsFan]

http://www.surveyusa.com/50State2006/100USSenatorApproval060126Net.htm

Interesting

[akhhorus]

Burns isn't a surprise. The whole Montana GOP is melting down because of enviromental problems and a series of mining scandals. And Burns has been successfully linked by the Montana Dems to Delay and Abramoff. He's fried chicken come November.

[PennSkinsFan]

Burns isn't a surprise. The whole Montana GOP is melting down because of enviromental problems and a series of mining scandals. And Burns has been successfully linked by the Montana Dems to Delay and Abramoff. He's fried chicken come November.

Hey, I am just glad to see how popular mr. santorum is :)

[akhhorus]

Hey, I am just glad to see how popular mr. santorum is :)

When Bill Frist laughs at you, you have problems.

Im still laughing at the joke in the Philly Inquirer about Santorum: "One of the finest minds of the 13th century...."

[thickskin]

jersey looking for a regime change

[Paintedbird]

Seeing the backs of the criminal Frist and Santorum (maybe the dumbest congressman since Virginia's William Scott) will lighten my mood.
George Allen is less popular than I thought. Rhetorical questions: How dim a bulb is George Allen really? Who? Him? President?
Bush is a moron, sure, but Bush has a certain gift for low-life calculation, evil and duplicity. If Allen's elected President we'll actually have a nice, honest, admirable, dim- witted moron running the country.
I forget H.L. Menken's precise words on the matter, but they are something
like this: " If we ever perfect our democracy, we'll elect a perfectly average man as President of the United States."
Frankly, I'd rather have Hillary. No. Wait. Give me Obama.

[Ibleedburgundy]

Why is Ted Stevens so popular?

[CNYSkinFan]

just did a quick count

Under 50% approval Dems 3 Reps 13, including Frist

In the words of Brit Hume, that's indicative of something.

[fent]

just did a quick count

Under 50% approval Dems 3 Reps 13, including Frist

In the words of Brit Hume, that's indicative of something.

let's take a more accurate look at how things may shake up, though, and see what the word is on those seats that are up...we'll ignore the retiring seats and Menendez in NJ because those races won't rely on approval rating of the member exiting or there's no real poll data to go on.

Democrats
North Dakota: Kent Conrad 67%
Nebraska: Ben Nelson 67% approval
West Virginia: Robert Byrd 65% approval
New York: Hillary Clinton 64% approval
Connecticut: Joe Lieberman 63% approval
Delaware: Tom Carper (WHO????) 62% approval
Massachusetts: Ted Kennedy 61% approval
Wisconsin: Herb Kohl 59% approval
Hawaii: Daniel Akaka 59% approval
New Mexico: Jeff Bingaman 59% approval
Florida: Bill Nelson 53% approval
Washington: Maria Cantwell 53% approval
California: Dianne Feinstein 52% approval
Michigan: Debbie Stabenow 50% approval



Republicans
Maine: Olympia Snowe 75% approval
Texas: Kay Bailey Hutchison 63% approval
Mississippi: Trent Lott 63% approval
Utah: Orrin Hatch 62% approval
Indiana: Dick Lugar 62% approval
Wyoming: Craig Thomas 59% approval
Virginia: George Allen 56% approval
Rhode Island: Lincoln Chafee 53% approval
Missouri: Jim Talent 50% approval
Nevada: John Ensign 50% approval
Ohio: Mike DeWine 47% approval
Arizona: Jon Kyl 44% approval
Pennsylvania: Rick Santorum 44% approval
Montana: Conrad Burns 42% approval

Of the dems listed, only Bill Nelson and Akaka (who is facing a stiff primary challenge from Ed Case) are in any trouble at this point. On the Republican side, Burns is gone, Santorum is all but (never count that guy out), DeWine could see some fall out from the Ohio problems (you want to see approval rating problems, check out the Ohio governor), and Allen will have a tough race if Warner jumps in. Kyl has low approval ratings, but has no legitimate challenger at this point. That gives 4 republicans facing hard challenges and 1 democrat (we'll ignore Akaka because even if Case beats him, it's still a dem seat) facing trouble. assuming the dems hold serve in Florida and Vermont (just go ahead and give it to Bernie Sanders), and the republicans lose all 4 of those seats, then the dems have to run the table in Maryland (which is turning out to be a surprisingly close race), Minnesota, Tennessee, and New Jersey (another unexpectedly tight race) to take back control of the chamber. Even then, if I've done my math correctly, it would be a 50-50 tie and, unless I'm mistaken, Cheney would cast the deciding vote granting Republican leadership (not that it matters when you have a body split right down the middle).

[akhhorus]

Of the dems listed, only Bill Nelson and Akaka (who is facing a stiff primary challenge from Ed Case) are in any trouble at this point. On the Republican side, Burns is gone, Santorum is all but (never count that guy out), DeWine could see some fall out from the Ohio problems (you want to see approval rating problems, check out the Ohio governor), and Allen will have a tough race if Warner jumps in. Kyl has low approval ratings, but has no legitimate challenger at this point. That gives 4 republicans facing hard challenges and 1 democrat (we'll ignore Akaka because even if Case beats him, it's still a dem seat) facing trouble. assuming the dems hold serve in Florida and Vermont (just go ahead and give it to Bernie Sanders), and the republicans lose all 4 of those seats, then the dems have to run the table in Maryland (which is turning out to be a surprisingly close race), Minnesota, Tennessee, and New Jersey (another unexpectedly tight race) to take back control of the chamber. Even then, if I've done my math correctly, it would be a 50-50 tie and, unless I'm mistaken, Cheney would cast the deciding vote granting Republican leadership (not that it matters when you have a body split right down the middle).

Talent is in serious trouble in Missouri also. The Dems to gain 5 seats to win a majority(Sanders will vote with them as a independant). Right now, I have them picking up MT, PA, OH and MO. TN looks like a toss up because Frist just drags down the whole GOP in TN. If Frist is indicted this summer, or there's more scandals about him, the Dems could sneak Ford into that seat. And Maryland and Minnesota will be Dem wins at the end of the day. Too much institutional strength for them there. Steele is tied to Erlich, and Erlich is struggling. New Jersey is the interesting one to watch. Tom Keane, the 9-11 COmmission Co-Chair is running, but it looks like he's running as an Anti-Bush, Anti-GOP Republican. He would win if the RNC gives him support, the question will they with his platform?

[fent]

Talent is in serious trouble in Missouri also. The Dems to gain 5 seats to win a majority(Sanders will vote with them as a independant). Right now, I have them picking up MT, PA, OH and MO. TN looks like a toss up because Frist just drags down the whole GOP in TN. If Frist is indicted this summer, or there's more scandals about him, the Dems could sneak Ford into that seat. And Maryland and Minnesota will be Dem wins at the end of the day. Too much institutional strength for them there. Steele is tied to Erlich, and Erlich is struggling. New Jersey is the interesting one to watch. Tom Keane, the 9-11 COmmission Co-Chair is running, but it looks like he's running as an Anti-Bush, Anti-GOP Republican. He would win if the RNC gives him support, the question will they with his platform?

actually, the latest polls i've seen show erlich and steele about 10 points ahead of their opponents. i'll see if i can find it again. problem is...i don't even remember who put that poll out.

and, they actually have to pick up 6 seats total to gain a majority. if the republicans have 50 seats (which they would assuming they lose 5 in your scenario) then Cheney is the difference maker.

[CNYSkinFan]

actually, the latest polls i've seen show erlich and steele about 10 points ahead of their opponents. i'll see if i can find it again. problem is...i don't even remember who put that poll out.

and, they actually have to pick up 6 seats total to gain a majority. if the republicans have 50 seats (which they would assuming they lose 5 in your scenario) then Cheney is the difference maker.

I was not arguing in the terms of taking back the majority in the senate...just it is interesting that of the 16 senators under 50% approval, 13 ahappen to be Republicans. It lends to me feeling that some of America is having buyer's remorse right now and many "safe" congressional and senate seats could come into play. I doubt we see a repeat of 1994 because the GOP statehouses in 2000 really drew the census lines hard (not just TX) to the right, but if the Dems can take back one of the houses it will be a huge victory. Continuing their momentum in adding statehouses and governor mansions. It is a long term project to dig yourself out of over 10 years of GOP control of the statehouses and Congress. I like the chances we got.

[fent]

I was not arguing in the terms of taking back the majority in the senate...just it is interesting that of the 16 senators under 50% approval, 13 ahappen to be Republicans. It lends to me feeling that some of America is having buyer's remorse right now and many "safe" congressional and senate seats could come into play. I doubt we see a repeat of 1994 because the GOP statehouses in 2000 really drew the census lines hard (not just TX) to the right, but if the Dems can take back one of the houses it will be a huge victory. Continuing their momentum in adding statehouses and governor mansions. It is a long term project to dig yourself out of over 10 years of GOP control of the statehouses and Congress. I like the chances we got.

i know, i was just pointing out the short term realistic goals. at this moment, the winds are blowing in the right direction if you're a dem. however, i've seen those winds change on a dime.

[CNYSkinFan]

i know, i was just pointing out the short term realistic goals. at this moment, the winds are blowing in the right direction if you're a dem. however, i've seen those winds change on a dime.
No doubt. I thought 1996 would erase 1994 and it just did not turn out to be enough....and don't get me started about 2000

[akhhorus]

actually, the latest polls i've seen show erlich and steele about 10 points ahead of their opponents. i'll see if i can find it again. problem is...i don't even remember who put that poll out.

and, they actually have to pick up 6 seats total to gain a majority. if the republicans have 50 seats (which they would assuming they lose 5 in your scenario) then Cheney is the difference maker.

5 points ahead according to Rasmussen reports, but I still think both will lose. Erlich has the whole statehouse against him, and Steele isn't helped by Bush making campaign appearances in MD for him.

[CNYSkinFan]

5 points ahead according to Rasmussen reports, but I still think both will lose. Erlich has the whole statehouse against him, and Steele isn't helped by Bush making campaign appearances in MD for him.
5 p[oints is not a big lead in january for a sitting Senator. The opposition has yet to define themselves to the mass public and 5% or even 10% is all about name recognition and not true voter choice

[akhhorus]

5 p[oints is not a big lead in january for a sitting Senator. The opposition has yet to define themselves to the mass public and 5% or even 10% is all about name recognition and not true voter choice

Steele's not running for re-election, he's running for Sarbanes' seat. Steele is the only Republican running for that seat, and there's 5 Dems in the primary. Erlich has two popular people running in the Dem Primary against him. He would rather face Doug Duncan, but O'Malley is probably going to win the primary and win the Governorship.