TGIF faithful readers! We are now 25 days from Election Day 2012. You can do a lot in 25 days.
If this is your first time visiting The Western Word, the “Caught My Eye” column is posted every Friday morning right here! It’s where I take a quick look at some of the stories I did not have time to write about during the week – and I often throw in a touch of sarcasm just to make you smile. So, get ready to head into your weekend armed with knowledge and a smile.
Today I write about an MSU-Billings poll, Rehberg visiting Big Sandy, Toss-Ups, the Scott Walker visit, the Vice Presidential debate, a Dixie Chicks birthday, I share the contents of my political inbox, and there’s a lot more so read on…
MSU-Billings Poll:
MSU-Billings released the results of their poll yesterday showing Congressman Denny Rehberg with 42.6% of the vote and U.S. Senator Jon Tester came in with 39.7%. Libertarian Dan Cox came in with 5.8% and amazingly 11.9% were undecided. There were 477 people polled and the margin of error is +/- 4.6%. You can read about the poll results HERE.
By the way, in October 2006 an MSU-Billings Poll had Tester up by 11 over Senator Conrad Burns.
One interesting thing about this newest MSU-Billings poll is a column posted on the Montana Cowgirl blog. Cowgirl reports, “The poll is conducted every year by MSU-B political science professor Craig Wilson, the father of Evan Wilson, who is currently the political director of Rehberg’s Senate campaign.” You can read the Cowgirl column HERE.
If that is correct it kind of taints the results of the poll. I did not see a disclosure of this relationship in the poll.
Big Sandy:
The Associated Press published an almost 800-word story about Congressman Denny Rehberg campaigning in U.S. Senator Jon Tester’s home town of Big Sandy. Exciting stuff! (Not really).
Big Sandy has a population of 598 according to the 2010 Census. Tester lost Chouteau County (which is where Big Sandy is located) by about 57 votes in 2006.
Montana Statewide Races – Many Toss-Ups:
Public Policy Polling released the poll results of many statewide races and ballot issues yesterday. One thing for sure is I can predict a long night for many candidates on November 6. You can read about the poll results HERE.
Time is wasting – the campaigns need to shift into high gear and work like there is no tomorrow!
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker:
Walker visited Kalispell on Thursday to campaign and fund-raise for Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Hill. According to the Daily Inter Lake, around 200 people showed up to protest at the event.
Hill has recently angered teachers and state workers. Bullock is framing Hill as a cantankerous old man who is down on Montana. I don’t know how Hill can overcome this and pull out a victory…
Jack’s Political Inbox:
I subscribe to receive updates from candidates, elected officials, and/or groups (from all political parties). Several others just send me their info without me asking just hoping they get mentioned (in a kind and gentle way) here at The Western Word! So each week I select a few that “Caught My Eye” and share them with my readers – and sometimes poke fun at them. This week I picked six that I think you will enjoy…
–The campaign of U.S. Senator Jon Tester sent me an e-mail on Thursday with the subject, “Your interests” in which they wrote, “In the last 26 days of this election, I need all of you to work with me. $10 million in outside special interest attacks don’t fight themselves. It’s up to all of us to call out the lies for what they are. It’s up to us to make sure the people of Montana know what I am really about.”
That amount of special interest money just keeps growing with each and every e-mail…
–Brock Lowrance, who is the Campaign Manager for Rick Hill (Montana Republican Governor Candidate), sent me an e-mail with the subject, “Have you seen our new ad?” Lowrance writes, “With all the political noise out there, Rick wanted to take a different approach – plus, he’s been so busy on the campaign trail, it was about time he got an opportunity to get on his bike.” You can watch the ad HERE.
I was not that excited after seeing it…but it is a different approach…
–Kevin O’Brien, the Campaign Manager for Steve Bullock (Montana Democratic Governor Candidate) sent me an e-mail with the subject, “Big Endorsement & New Ad.” O’Brien writes, “I wanted to let you know about a new and important endorsement in the gubernatorial race. Yesterday, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle wrote: ‘Bullock’s experience carries the day. He has been a first-rate attorney general for Montana, and we believe he will serve similarly as governor.’” You can watch the ad HERE.
I can say that as one who is married to a great public school teacher, the comments from Rick Hill saying that here in Montana, “we are second to last in quality of teachers” was terribly wrong.
–Jim Messina, the Campaign Manager for Barack Obama, sent me an e-mail on Thursday with the subject, “How elections are lost:” in which he wrote, “Whatever happens at the vice presidential debate tonight, we need to respond quickly and forcefully. With 26 days to go, we can’t just sit and wait for someone else to set the record straight. That’s how elections are lost. We won last time because people like you stepped up and chipped in what they could to move the country forward. The stakes are even higher this time, so what are you waiting for?
Well Jim, I guess I am waiting to win the lottery…
–Vice President Joe Biden sent me an e-mail last night after the debate with the subject, “Hey.” In the e-mail he said, “I did my best to make you proud tonight. But I hope you remember one thing: This debate wasn’t about me, or Congressman Ryan. It was about you, and what we’re fighting for together.”
They don’t make em like Joe Biden any more…
–Congressman Paul Ryan sent me an e-mail this morning with the subject, “Let’s do this” in which he writes, “Mitt and I are grateful for your continued support. Thanks to you, we’re on our way to delivering a brighter future. As evidenced in last night’s debate, the Obama-Biden campaign neither has a record to run on nor a plan for the future. Mitt Romney and I do.”
By the way Paul, nice pics in Time magazine…
Vice Presidential Debate:
Vice President Joe Biden stopped the bleeding for Team Obama last night in the Vice Presidential debate with Congressman Paul Ryan. The Western Word poll showed Ryan beating Biden 65% to 34%. One percent thought it was a tie. Thanks to the hundreds who took part.
According to many, Biden lost or tied Ryan in the debate. But, he fought back and made a stronger showing than Barack Obama did in his debate. Biden’s laughing and smiling went overboard and Ryan drank so much water I hear he is still in the bathroom. I watched the debate on C-SPAN which showed both candidates on a split-screen throughout. The Associated Press has a Fact Check story posted HERE.
I specifically liked Biden’s response to the abortion question, which is an issue that Mitt Romney has flip-flopped on. By the way, both Biden and Ryan are Catholics:
“Life begins at conception in the church’s judgment. I accept it in my personal life. But I refuse to impose it on equally devout Christians and Muslims and Jews, and I just refuse to impose that on others, unlike my friend here, the — the congressman. I — I do not believe that we have a right to tell other people that — women they can’t control their body. It’s a decision between them and their doctor.”
So now the only VP debate is in the books and soon we will forget about it…
Happy Birthday:
Happy birthday to Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks (43). Enjoy the video “Without You” (It is Friday so it’s OK).
Also, Kirk Cameron turns 42 and Chris Wallace turns 65.
One More Thing:
Don’t forget to stretch…
The Western Word 
One thing. You attack th MSU-Billings poll as not being able to be objective due to familial relationships between the pollster and the Rehberg campaign.
Then, you say you are qualified to comment on the quality of teachers in MT because you are married to one. Sorry, that dog won’t hunt.
I was educated in public schools in this state and frankly our teachers as a whole are not producing very good results. Teachers need to get real about the forced unionization and the product it creates. Hill is correct. I went to a private college, a top tier one in fact and the quality of preparation I received versus my classmates that went to charter, private And even public schools in other states was drastic.
Unless educators are going to stop the sanctimony over their jobs that allow for bad teachers to continue on due to seniority, and allow for merit pay and other normal and beneficial evaluating mechanisms, Rick Hill will always be accurate in attacking the dismal quality of MT public school educations.
Maybe you should look at it less as evaluating your wife, and more like providing competitive environments that incentivize good teachers and getting rid of sadly the most common problem, an uninspired teacher in a system in which their talents are ignored in favor of unionized leveling of the talent pool.
Hey Ryan – As always, thanks for your comments. I would like to make three points:
-I did not “attack” the MSU-B poll – all I said was, “If that is correct it kind of taints the results of the poll. I did not see a disclosure of this relationship in the poll.”
-At least I disclosed I was married to a teacher in my commentary unlike the professor (if it’s true about the relationship with Rehberg’s staff).
-Also, it appears you were educated well enough in Montana public schools to get into a private college – so congrats on that achievement. I am proud of you!
In closing, you are correct – my “dog won’t hunt” – my dog is a Beagle that’s more of a city dog instead of a hunting dog…
-Jack