The Polling Report [6.13.12]

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Ron Barber, former aide to the nearly assassinated and critically injured Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), defeated right wing teahadist Jesse Kelly, famous for his obsession with guns and for campaign events where he and his fellow right wing terrorists would shot at pictures of Giffords and Obama, last night by a healthy nearly landslidish margin of 53% to 46%. The PPP poll on this race we talked about yesterday basically nailed the result, which is very difficult in House races, and which is why we consider it the most accurate poll in the business.

Kovach’s Hesitation

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In our latest unscientific tracking poll, Congressman John Carney (D) leads Republican Tom Kovach, 50% to 28%. But a sizeable chuck - 18% - voted Neither. Now, the question is, are these Rose Izzo voters or Democrats disenchanted with Carney's Carper-Junior schtick? I think its the latter, as I doubt Rose Izzo will make much of an impact in her primary with Kovach. By the way, has Tom Kovach filed yet? I just checked and he has not. July 10 is coming up. Very soon. What is he waiting for? Perhaps he has, or is in the process of, changing his mind.

The Polling Report [6.12.12]

Arizona voters in Gabby Giffords' former district held to the polls today in a special election to name her replacement. The winner today will serve out the remainder of the House term, or until January 3, 2013. The candidates are Giffords' 2010 Republican opponent, Jesse Kelly, and a former aide, Ron Barber (D). As you will see below, PPP has come out with an election eve poll showing Barber leading by 12. I will be surprised if it is a blowout like that, but we will see. Here is an update to our electoral college tracking map:

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., June 12, 2012

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The payday loan bill passed the Senate and the Governor says that he will sign it! No amendments, and only one no vote (Mike Katz, whose actions get more inscrutable by the day). Congratulations to sponsor Helene Keeley, Paul Calistro, and to a dedicated and politically-savvy group of supporters. If you contacted your elected officials on this bill, consider yourselves congratulated as well. No, the bill doesn't have everything supporters would have liked in it, but it's a major improvement, and it's more than I thought would get through this General Assembly. A rare victory for progressivism in Dover. Savor it.

So Who DIDN’T Think This Was Coming?

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On Sunday, the NJ wrote a long piece detailing the some of the multiple fights going on between the Governor's Office and the Office of the Treasurer. The article is an interesting inventory of some of the BS swirling around the Treasurer's office, but when I finished reading it, I wondered who -- exactly -- was surprised that Chip Flowers and the Governor were butting heads over turf?

Sign Wars Update: Lopez 1 – Urquhart 1

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The 1's above are not points. They are the total number of yard signs I saw on a recent trip from Rehoboth to Lewes and back. I don't know if the campaign hasn't really kicked in, or if this is just going to be a low spending primary, but as of now nobody is bolting out to the lead in terms of yard signs.

ASBC Business Summit for a Sustainable Economy Starts Tonight

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As part of getting the Delaware Business for Social Responsibility (DBSR) going, I'll be your representative at the ASBC Summit this week. The agenda includes a keynote by Hilda Solis, Secretary of the Department of Labor, as well as panels on Sustainable Economic Growth & Innovation with panelists like Jonathan Greenblatt, Director, White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Engagement.