Some moderateish GOP Senator (who is actually a flaming conservative mouth breather but in today’s environment, he appears sane standing next to the likes of tea party), like Rob Portman, said recently that, for the GOP to win in 2016, it will have to govern between 2014 and 2016. There is just a little problem with that. Governing in a divided government means compromise with the President of the United States, unless of course your party controls enough seats to have veto-proof majorities. Even the rosiest scenario does not predict that for the GOP. And the GOP cannot impeach President Obama and Vice President Biden, for that will guarantee Democratic victory in 2016 everywhere, in every office, up and down the ballot. And yet, they are campaigning about stopping Obama if they should win the majority. You cannot stop Obama and then compromise with him.
First Read says Republicans have two big challenges to governing if they win control of both the House and Senate next week.
“One, after portraying Obama as either incompetent, ruthless, or both, how do Republicans sell any kind of deal with Obama back to their base? That’s the problem when your message, especially on the campaign trail, is entirely against the president. It makes cutting deals with him AFTER the election more difficult. Two, to pass legislation in the Senate, Mitch McConnell and Republicans will need to get 60 votes — and that means placating the GOP conservatives (including those running for president next year), the GOP moderates (Susan Collins and the folks up for re-election in 2016 like Mark Kirk, Kelly Ayotte, etc.), as well as centrist Democrats (Joe Manchin, Angus King, etc.). That won’t be an easy task.”
And here are the Governor polls I promised yesterday…
ALASKA–GOVERNOR
Hellenthal—R: Gov. Sean Parnell (R) 44, Bill Walker (I) 43
YouGov: Gov. Sean Parnell (R) 42, Bill Walker (I) 39
ARKANSAS–GOVERNOR
Marist: Asa Hutchinson (R) 47, Mike Ross (D) 44
Opinion Research Associates—D: Mike Ross (D) 44, Asa Hutchinson (R) 42
YouGov: Asa Hutchinson (R) 47, Mike Ross (D) 38
ARIZONA–GOVERNOR
YouGov: Doug Ducey (R) 50, Fred DuVal (D) 40
COLORADO–GOVERNOR
Marist: Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) 46, Bob Beauprez (R) 41
YouGov: Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) 48, Bob Beauprez (R) 44
CONNECTICUT–GOVERNOR
YouGov: Gov. Dan Malloy (D) 40, Tom Foley (R) 40, Joe Visconti (I) 3
FLORIDA–GOVERNOR
Gravis—R: Charlie Crist (D) 44, Gov. Rick Scott (R) 42
YouGov: Gov. Rick Scott (R) 46, Charlie Crist (D) 45
GEORGIA–GOVERNOR
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Gov. Nathan Deal (R) 46, Jason Carter (D) 41, Andrew Hunt (L) 5
CNN/ORC: Jason Carter (D) 48, Gov. Nathan Deal (R) 46, Andrew Hunt (L) 6
Landmark Communications—R: Gov. Nathan Deal (R) 48, Jason Carter (D) 45, Andrew Hunt (L) 5
PPP: Gov. Nathan Deal (R) 48, Jason Carter (D) 45, Andrew Hunt (L) 4
YouGov: Gov. Nathan Deal (R) 47, Jason Carter (D) 43, Andrew Hunt (L) 2
ILLINOIS–GOVERNOR
YouGov: Gov. Pat Quinn (D) 45, Bruce Rauner (R) 41
KANSAS–GOVERNOR
Gravis—R: Paul Davis (D) 49, Gov. Sam Brownback (R) 44
Marist: Paul Davis (D) 45, Gov. Sam Brownback (R) 44
Rasmussen: Paul Davis (D) 52, Gov. Sam Brownback (R) 45
YouGov: Gov. Sam Brownback (R) 43, Paul Davis (D) 40
MASSACHUSETTS–GOVERNOR
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner—D: Martha Coakley (D) 45, Charlie Baker (R) 44
SocialSphere/Boston Globe: Charlie Baker (R) 44, Martha Coakley (D) 35
MA-Gov (YouGov): Martha Coakley (D) 45, Charlie Baker (R) 41
MARYLAND–GOVERNOR
YouGov: Anthony Brown (D) 51, Larry Hogan (R) 38
MAINE–GOVERNOR
Magellan—R: Gov. Paul LePage (R) 43, Michael Michaud (D) 43, Eliot Cutler (I) 13
PPP: Gov. Paul LePage (R) 40, Michael Michaud (D) 40, Eliot Cutler (I) 17
Univ. of New Hampshire: Gov. Paul LePage (R) 45, Michael Michaud (D) 35, Eliot Cutler (I) 16
YouGov: Michael Michaud (D) 37, Paul LePage (R) 35, Eliot Cutler (I) 7
MICHIGAN–GOVERNOR
Glengariff Group/Detroit News: Gov. Rick Snyder (R) 45, Mark Schauer (D) 40
Rasmussen: Gov. Rick Snyder (R) 49, Mark Schauer (D) 46
YouGov: Mark Schauer (D) 45, Gov. Rick Snyder (R) 44
PENNSYLVANIA–GOVERNOR
YouGov: Tom Wolf (D) 52, Gov. Tom Corbett (R) 39
RHODE ISLAND–GOVERNOR
YouGov: Gina Raimondo (D) 40, Allan Fung (R) 35
WISCONSIN–GOVERNOR
YouGov: Gov. Scott Walker (R) 46, Mary Burke (D) 45