Rasmussen (1/21 & 24, likely voters):
Evan Bayh (D-inc): 44
Mike Pence (R): 47
Other: 3
Not sure: 7
Evan Bayh (D-inc): 44
John Hostettler (R): 41
Other: 3
Not sure: 12
Evan Bayh (D-inc): 45
Marlin Stutzman (R): 33
Other: 5
Not sure: 16
(MoE: ±3.5%)
Is there a Republican candidate out there sitting on a fence who needs some convincing to enter a race? Count on Rasmussen to ride to the rescue! With the news that Republican Rep. Mike Pence was thinking about a run against entrenched, moneybags Evan Bayh in the Indiana Senate race, Rasmussen did a quick poll finding that Pence is right in the thick of things, leading Bayh by 3. (They also find ex-Rep. John Hostettler, a much flakier and less disciplined presence than Pence, within striking distance of Bayh.) Pence, for what it's worth, said he'd make a decision over the weekend, but no response yet as of this morning.
Given the downturn in Democrats' fortunes lately, especially in the red states, it's not a surprise to see a Republican competitive here. Still, something's a little weird here: Bayh is well up in the safety zone, with an approval of 58% (and 38% disapprove, with a shockingly low 4% not sure). Is this a Dorgan-style result where his popularity is trumped by the state's lean? No, because there's no Hoeven-style figure looming with even greater popularity. Still, the Republicans also seem to have strangely high approvals, despite, one would assume, being little-known outside their own districts: Pence is at 54/25, and Hostettler (out of the picture since 2006) is at 44/27.
RaceTracker Wiki: IN-Sen |
