Post-Conviction AK Senate Poll: Begich 52%, Stevens 44%

[babylonsister]

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/first_post-conviction_poll_sho.php

First Post-Conviction Poll Shows Likely Loss For Stevens
By Eric Kleefeld - October 29, 2008, 1:47PM


The first public poll of Alaska conducted entirely after GOP Sen. Ted Stevens was convicted on all counts in his corruption trial shows a probable Democratic pickup in this deep-red state -- but Stevens is doing surprisingly well for a newly-minted convicted felon.

The new numbers from Rasmussen: Dem candidate Mark Begich 52%, Stevens 44%, with a ±4.5% margin of error. Three weeks ago, Uncle Ted had taken a 49%-48% edge over Begich. So apparently getting convicted of a felony a week before the election can be quantified as taking five points off of a candidate's poll numbers.

On the one hand, this is still a deep-red state, and Stevens might have an outside shot at getting re-elected even with the conviction. On the other hand, the Democrat is up eight points a week out from Election Day, and more and more Republicans are calling upon Stevens to resign.

And those Republican leaders aren't the only ones calling for Stevens' resignation. The poll also shows that 52% of likely votes want Stevens to resign -- the same percentage as those who say they're voting for Begich.

[Florida33156]

1. Sarah Palin as the governor of that state makes more sense every day.

:puke:

[Ian David]

2. 44% of Republicans don't care if you're a convicted felon. Nice. n/t

[BOSSHOG]

3. Typical republican plan for Stevens

They want him to resign, but they want him to win the election and then resign so a republican can be appointed to replace him. Their concern for right and wrong overwhelms me.

[Betsy Ross]

7. Mentioned in posts yesterday

that an appointment by the governor can only be for 90 days. A special election must be held for a replacement.

[endarkenment]

4. 61 and Joe is Done.

We don't even need his vote for anything if he is number 61.

[d_b]

5. 6 days

hold, baby!

[Selatius]

6. Good God, it appears they're trying to make Mississippi Republicans look moderate in comparison.

If it's a race to the bottom they want, it's a race to the bottom they'll get! :sarcasm:

[Blue_In_AK]

8. Bosshog is correct.

What's being urged here now is for Republicans to go ahead and vote for Ted -- i.e., the PARTY -- and then after the election, if he wins, have him step down so that a special election could be held. Thankfully, governors don't appoint replacements to vacant senate seats anymore. While I am hopeful and optimistic that Mark will win this easily next Tuesday, I don't put anything past these Republicans up here, they're pretty shameless. What would be entertaining would be to watch the Palinistas battling it out with the Old Guard Republicans over who would be their nominee in a special election. It could get bloody.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. The smart thing for Goveror Palin to do is get Stevens to resign and appoint Begich to replace him

I know it sounds counter intuitive, but that would give Begich seniority over the other new Senators in the 111th Congress, which would give Alaska a small edge when the committee assignments are handed out.

That Begich will win the elections looks like a forgone conclusion, so Governor Palin would have nothing to lose by making such a move.

[gratuitous]

10. That would be quite smart

Which means that Palin wouldn't do it in a million years.

[Orsino]

12. And even if *she* understood that, her base wouldn't.

They'd simply feel betrayed by any hint of real bipartisanship.

[Dark]

11. And people wonder why we're not doing better in th epolls.

44 percent will vote for a felon over a dem.