VA Dem Defying CW
Updated, 6:30 p.m.
Rep. Rick Boucher (D) is in a surprisingly good position in his race against Republican challenger Del. Morgan Griffith, according to his internal polling.
The poll, provided to Hotline On Call, found that when likely voters in VA-09 were asked who they plan to vote for, Boucher leads by a striking 55% to 32% margin. The poll was conducted Aug. 18-22.
Now, this polling should be viewed with a grain of salt since it was done by a Dem firm -- Benenson Strategy Group.
But even taking that into account, these numbers are surprising. Particularly striking are Boucher's favorability numbers. Nearly two thirds -- 65% -- view the congressman favorably while 27% view him unfavorably. An even higher number -- 68% -- approve of the job Boucher is doing in Congress.
Those numbers defy the conventional wisdom. This is a heavily Republican district that John McCain carried with 59% of the vote in '08.
Tellingly, the NRCC did not reserve ad time in this district, which may be an indication that their numbers also show Griffith trailing.
This is extremely good news. I am in the 9th district and I was very concerned by all of the Griffith signs/stickers I've seen. I was worried that he may actually win...
I'm happy that this doesn't seem to be the case!
Griffith doesn't even live in this district. He's a typical full of BS politician. Rick Boucher is a great congressman who has been fighting for the 9th for 14 terms. He deserves a 15th.
Rick Boucher votes 96.4 percent with Nancy Pelosi. He voted for cap-and-tax, the bill specifically designed to shut down the coal industry and drive up our energy costs. He is a DC insider that votes for party over principle. He has been there too long and done very little for his district, which is the slowest growing district in VA. He turns down debate after debate with Delegate Griffith, who by the way will be brought into the district to make up for the lack of growth. Griffith's back fence is the 9th district line...
You have a guy that votes wrong then hides from the voters, or a guy that is working tirelessly to meet the voters of the district and put them over Pelosi and Obama's liberal agenda.
Sounds like and easy choice to me...