Raleigh, N.C. – Over the course of four months starting last October, PPP asked American voters nationally what their impressions of each state are. Hawaii came out on top, by far, with California bringing up the rear.
Americans generally have a favorable view of most states. Only five are in negative territory, led by California (27% favorable and 44% unfavorable), Illinois (19-29), New Jersey (25-32), Mississippi (22-28), and Utah (24-27). Only seven other states have net-positive ratings in the single digits, and another breaks even (Louisiana).
Over the course of four months starting last October, we asked American voters nationally what their impressions of each state are. Hawaii came out on top, by far, with California bringing up the rear.
Certain media outlets have delighted in the trio of Democratic retirements on Tuesday, declaring it the party's 'Black Tuesday.'
Well let's review...
In Connecticut where Democrats were going to lose, they're now going to win.
In North Dakota where Democrats were going to win, they're now going to lose.
Those two things even each other out.
And in Colorado a new Rasmussen poll confirms that Democrats are better off with their candidate being someone other than Bill Ritter.
Ritter had been trailing by high single digits in our polling of him against Scott McInnis all the way back to last April and I think it was clear to anyone paying attention that his getting out would help the party's prospects there.
The Bart Gordon, John Tanner, Dennis Moores of the world- their retirements were bad news for the party. But 2 of the 3 on Tuesday were addition by subtraction for Democratic prospects and the 'Black Tuesday' narrative shows either stupidity on behalf of the people pushing it or just an overwhelming desire to push 'the sky is falling for Democrats' narrative whether the facts support it or not. The party would benefit from some more retirements in places where a fresh face would make a stronger candidate than an unpopular incumbent.
I guess I just can't get that worked up about all the Democratic retirements yesterday.
John Cherry, who was clearly going to lose for Governor of Michigan, decided not to run. O well.
Byron Dorgan, who was clearly going to lose his seat if John Hoeven made a Senate bid, decided not to run. O well.
Bill Ritter, who's been trailing Scott McInnis by a significant margin in our polls since last April, decided not to run. O well.
And Chris Dodd, who was going to lose a Senate seat in one of the bluest states in the country, decided not to run. Hallelujah.
Democrats will keep the Senate seat in Connecticut now. They'll have a better chance on the Colorado Governorship. I don't see a lot of hope on the Michigan Governorship but the odds aren't a whole lot worse than they were 24 hours ago. North Dakota is the only really bad news for Democrats of the day, but the bad news is that Hoeven's running, not that Dorgan's retiring. Better to retire now than be retired in November.
I know Republicans will say, yeah, but all the retirements are confirmation that things are really bad for Democrats. Well, duh! That's not exactly breaking news. What will help Democrats is if more incumbents like Dodd and Ritter, whose departures will aid their party's chances of keeping their seats, would read the writing on the wall and decide to get out.
We're going to poll alternatives to the incumbents in Arkansas, Colorado, and Nevada over the course of the next month. I doubt any of those odds get as strikingly better with a retirement as they do in Connecticut but it's worth looking at.
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