The Virginian Pilot has profiles of Thelma Drake and Glenn Nye today, in addition to the aforementioned Voter Guide. Can’t say there is a lack of information on this race 😉
Also, the Nye campaign released some poll numbers yesterday which show that the race is within 5 points, with Drake at 47% and Nye at 42%. The entire memo is below the fold.
M E M O R A N D U M
To: Nye Campaign
From: Bennett, Petts & Normington
Date: October 16, 2008
Re: VA-02 Survey Results
The following is a summary of findings from a telephone survey conducted among 400 likely voters in the Second Congressional District of Virginia. Interviews were conducted October 14-15, 2008. The sampling error for this survey is plus or minus 4.9 percentage points. Party Identification: 39% Dem, 13% Ind, 47% GOP.
FINDINGS
Challenger Glenn Nye remains in a strong position to defeat Thelma Drake. Specifically:
- With less than three weeks to go, Glenn Nye continues to grow his vote and trails by just five points, 42%-47%.
Now, Nye leads 47-34% among Independents, the critical group of swing voters.
- Nye has also improved his name identification to 69%.
Additionally, perceptions of Drake have grown even worse since September and remain far below the critical 50% for an incumbent:
- A majority now Give Drake a negative job rating-51% rate Drake’s performance as a member of Congress as “only fair” or “poor” while just 40% rate her performance as only “excellent” or “good.” Among Independents, her job rating is even lower at 29%-59%.
- Drake’s favorable rating is also low. She has a favorable rating of just 42% positive and 35% negative. In May, her favorable rating was 48%-29%.
Glenn Nye’s message – he is an independent voice for Hampton Roads who has volunteered to serve in conflict zones in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Iraq – is clearly resonating with voters. Moreover, Drake’s personal attacks have fallen flat.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 