Well, well. Check out how Public Policy Polling spins its latest numbers on the state’s senate race:
Richard Burr begins the month of July with a 5 point lead over Elaine Marshall, 9 points less than the advantage Elizabeth Dole had over Kay Hagan at the same point in the cycle two years ago.
Burr’s at 38% to 33% for Marshall and a surprising 10% for Libertarian Michael Beitler. Beitler’s running basically even with Burr and Marshall among independents, getting 26% to 29% for the Democratic challenger and 27% for the Republican incumbent.
I’ve been telling folks for ages now that Burr was vulnerable due to his vote for TARP and generally ineffective, aimless days in DC. Yes, the national Dems are not excited about frumpy Marshall and her proven inability to raise money, but once they see that throwing some cash against Burr might pay dividends, they’ll come around. The Hagan-Perdue public-sector core is with Marshall regardless.
And if the anti-DC trend was not clear enough, there’s Beitler scooping up independents by the fistful, hammering Burr on TARP. Burr would have a tough race on his hands even if these voters just saw him as part of the Washington establishment. But they don’t. They don’t see him as much of anything besides part of the problem.
Quick give me Richard Burr’s signature accomplishment in Congress? Besides TARP, I mean.
This sucker will be very interesting.
