A sobering article from the Post on the GOP’s voter-turnout ground game.
On my mind: two polls now show at least a blip of heightened voter attention to the terrorism issue, which has in turn buoyed at least the president and possibly (depending on which poll you look at) the GOP. Not much. But a bit. They won’t have another September 11th to whoop the drums over. The right now were likely at the high water mark. But where’s the response?
I don’t find this particularly worrisome in itself. But I do think what we see over the next week or so will be a telling test case for how the Democrats are able (and prepared) to wrestle with the White House over the basic definition of the election.
Oh that’s not good.
This article in Roll Call describes how Google, preeminent search engine and purveyor of fun online gizmos, is courting Republicans in Washington, as part of their efforts to build up a bigger presence in DC.
Fair enough: they can’t afford to be completely on the outs with what is at least for now the majority party.
But buried down deep in the article it says they’ve hired the DCI Group.
If you’re a dirty tricks and slimey opps afficionado a chill most certainly just went down your spine.
DCI, if you’re not familiar with them, is an interlocking group of companies which is the phony seed bed for most noxious astroturf organizing and general bamboozlement in contemporary politics.
Here’s an old post from 2003 on DCI, here’s one on astroturf organizing in general and here’s a selection of posts on the Johnny Appleseed of GOP astroturf opps, Tom Synhorst, the main man at DCI.
“Simply stated, short of a crime, anything goes at the highest levels.” Which Bush administration official said that — and which agency was he talking about? That and other news of the day in today’s Daily Muck.
U.N. Inspectors dispute U.S. intel report on Iran nuclear capability.
For those of you who are interested in this sort of thing, TPM Reader DC passes on the latest graph of the election futures at the University of Iowa political markets site: shows a medium sized slosh back toward Republicans holding the House.
Curtains for the Count?
A new poll out of Indiana’s 2nd CD has Rep. Chris Chocola (R-IN), and a major Social Security bamboozler, down by 12 points. Challenger Donnelly has 52% to Chocola’s anemic 40%.
The Note gushes for possibility of Republicans holding House.
New Jersey senate candidate Kean holds fundraiser with Rove, can’t make time to show up in person.