Richard Blumenthal Takes Dive in Poll After Story About His Military Record

[Liberation Angel]

Source: Politics Daily. Com (Poll Watch)

The revelation that Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal had told audiences he served in Vietnam when that wasn't the case has had an immediate impact on his standing in a new poll, cutting his advantage over one of his strongest potential challengers from 13 points to three.

Blumenthal had been cruising in the polls since putting on the Democratic mantle in place of Sen. Christopher Dodd, whose growing unpopularity in the state made him decided not to seek re-election.

But following the story about his military record -- Blumenthal actually stayed out of combat zones through five deferments and then getting a stateside spot in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve -- that broke in the New York Times late Monday, he found his lead over Republican Linda McMahon, the former chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment, down to 48 percent to 45 percent with 4 percent preferring another candidate and 3 percent undecided, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted May 18. The survey was taken Tuesday evening.

In early May, Blumenthal had led 52 percent to 39 percent.

Read more: http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/05/19/richard-blumenthal-takes-dive-in-a-poll-after-story-about-his-mi/

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I suggest that folks send some DU love to Merrick Alpert, the former Al Gore staffer and antwar candidate who is trying to get a primary against Blumenbthal at this weekends Connecticut Delegate Convention.

He needs 15% of the delegates to support a primary.

So far the rules committee has been too chickensh*t to even let Alpert speak.

Contact the campaign and see how you can help.

My own view is that Blumenthal is toast but that the Dem Town Committees and delegates need a huge push from the left to help them justify a primary So any calls you make may get us an actual progressive in Dodd's Senate seat and not a careerist Lieberman protege.

[FrenchieCat]

1. according to a Rasmussen Reports poll!

:rofl:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x305096

[Wickerman]

2. Dumbass

If true what a tool. Only Republicans can get away with lying about military records, or, even the absence of them. :eyes:

[ut oh]

6. QFT

"If true what a tool. Only Republicans can get away with lying about military records, or, even the absence of them. "

That was just the height of stupid... what the candidate did...

[Liberation Angel]

3. Merrick Alpert needs some DU Love to get a Dem Primary (antiwar, veteran, Al Gore staffer)

http://merrickforachange.com/

[HOLOS]

4. Those Pesky BlumenLIES....Haven't We All Had Enough of Them??

[grasswire]

5. where was the NYT when we were trying to call attention to Bush's AWOL...

...problem? This stinks.

A citizen in Iowa -- a pig farmer -- obtained through FOIA Bush's military records showing his absence from the Texas Air National Guard. This farmer took the evidence to his friends at salon.com's message boards. Those people tried for months to get the story coverage. I was one of those people. Thousands of emails, phone calls, FAXes, personal visits to members of Congress ------ NOTHING would break through the media silence.

Finally, on the Friday before the election, Senator Bob Kerrey held a press conference asking Bush to explain his absence from his duties.

That same afternoon, a FOX affiliate broke the story of George's old DUI, and the resulting hoo-ha stole the news. Rove handled that very well indeed. It is one of his special skills -- managing the day's headlines.

So why did the NYT not do due diligence where Bush was concerned? Surely the military record of the potential commander in chief is as important as that of a politician from CT.

[saigon68]

7. LOL

[sinkingfeeling]

8. No wonder Democratic candidates lose with 'fair-weather-friends' like those on DU.

The guy mis-spoke (left out a word) once, two years ago, and many here say throw the bum out.

[Liberation Angel]

10. Blumenthal is basically Lieberman, so this comment is uncalled for

He knew exactly what he was saying and he abuses all veterans of conflicts in the process.

He is and has been a schmuck for years and is Lieberman's protege (and a DINO).

Frankly I thought he was unstoppable until now.

So what we need is Merrick for a change


Merrick Alpert is a progressive antiwar Dem and he needa our support.

Connecticut does not need TWO Liebermans in the Senate. One is too many.

[still_one]

12. The best chance the Democrats have in Connecticut is Blumenthal, and that

is quite unfortunate at this stage of the game

[Liberation Angel]

14. Merrick Alpert can win this: he's a Veteran of Foreign conflict And he's for bringing troops home

he's ideal in many ways and he's smart as hell

[sinkingfeeling]

13. Too bad Merrick Alpert is such an egotist. He seems more interested in himself than in CT.

[Liberation Angel]

15. Blumenthal is a LOT worse of an egotist

but what makes you attack Merrick Alpert? On what do you base this?

He gave a stellar performance, I hear, in the debates and he did a more than 100 mile walk for peace opposing the Afghanistan war.

Hardly sounds like he cares more about himself to me.

Sounds like he cares more about our troops AND our country and about service to his fellow citizens than Blumenthalieberman.

[No Elephants]

18. Blumenthal is not interested in himself? LOL.

[still_one]

11. This guy didn't "mis-speak" On Bloomberg he admitted he distorted his record

and appologized

This misrepresentation had been going on for some time, and he didn't try to correct it, that is the problem

However, since it is far to late in the game to change horses, one hopes his damage control will work

[No Elephants]

19. Hope is one thing. Being out of reality is another. He's toast. Our only hope is another Dem

[still_one]

20. He isn't toast, it will just be a much closer election /nt

[Liberation Angel]

21. agreed 100%

thx

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. He wasn't pushed.

He jumped.

[Jennicut]

16. I am thinking Blumenthal survives this. It is Rasmussen, up 3 points.

That is probably 6 points in reality. This is early enough to survive it. Merrick Alpert is fine but no one I know knows who he is. That just cannot be overcome with all the wishing in the world.

[DarthDem]

17. Actually . . .

It's probably more like 15 points in reality. I knew Spasmussen would be out with a poll on this immediately (surprised it took them as long as it did), that it would purport to show a close race, and that someone here would get worried about it.

RASMUSSEN IS NOT A POLLING FIRM. IT IS A RETHUGLICAN FRONT OPERATION.

[StevieM]

25. More like 11 points IMO (eom)

[FBaggins]

22. Cook has moved the race back to "tossup"

I had no idea the story could possibly be so significant.

[Liberation Angel]

23. Link?

thx

[FBaggins]

24. Sure

http://www.cookpolitical.com/

Connecticut Senate: Blumenthal’s Misstatements about his Military Service Put Race in Toss Up
May 18, 2010

Democrats have long contended that they will easily hold the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Chris Dodd, but the events over the past 24 hours surrounding their presumptive nominee, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, put that assertion in doubt.


Any more than that requires a $300 subscription

[Liberation Angel]

26. Thanks - this is why we need to support a REAL Dem and not a poseur

Merrick Alpert needs DU love

www.Merrickforachange.com