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July 22, 2009 — Virginia: McConnell leads Deeds in polls, cash-on-hand

Two recent voter surveys in Virginia show Republican Bob McDonnell, former state attorney general, is leading Democrat Creigh Deeds, a state senator, in this November’s contest for governor. A Public Policy Polling (D) survey of likely voters taken June 30-July 2 showed McDonnell with 49% to Deeds’ 43%. A Rasmussen Reports poll released July 15 showed McDonnell with 44% to Deeds’ 41%. The Rasmussen result showed a significant shift from the firm’s June survey, just after Deeds’ Democratic Primary victory, which showed Deeds’ leading with 47% to 41% for McDonnell. In the money chase, Deeds out-raised McDonnell significantly in the latest financial reports, but still trails badly in the amount of money in the bank as of June 30. From May 28 to June 30, Deeds raised $3,375,000; McConnell brought in only $1,818,000. But when cash-on-hand is considered, McConnell is much richer, with $4,921,000 in his war chest to Deeds’ $2,721,000. Another money fact worth noting: Republican candidates for Virginia’s House of Delegates raised a total of $1.56 million during this period, to $1.42 million for the Democrats. In cash on hand, the GOP candidates had $4.4 million to $2.6 million for the Democrats. This does not augur well for the Democrats, who are hoping to win six new Delegate seats and take control of the legislature’s lower chamber

Texas: Perry leads in poll, Hutchison in money

It’s 46% for incumbent Gov. Rick Perry to 36% US Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, his challenger in next year’s GOP gubernatorial primary, says Rasmussen Reports in a July 15 survey of likely primary voters. In the race for money, however, Hutchison raised $6.7 million in the first half of this year to Perry’s $4.2 million. At mid-year, Hutchison had $12.5 million cash-on-hand to Perry’s $9.3 million. It will be a Texas-size brawl leading up to the March 2010 Republican Primary.

Mississippi: Barbour in presidential spotlight again

Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS), the new chairman by default of the National Republican Governors’ Association after Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC) resigned, is getting in the national media again as a potential White House contender in 2012. Although being from the Deepest of Deep South states (it still has the Confederate flag on its state flag) and having some old lobbying baggage count against him, Barbour’s political skills (he gets much of the credit for the GOP’s 1994 takeover of the US House) and ebullient personality count in his favor. Thus, even the Obama-backing Washington Post gave Barbour a plug on Sunday, with a front-page story head-lined, “Barbour’s Efforts to Revive GOP May Also Boost Himself,” which featured a picture of him shaking hands with Gov. Deval Patrick (D-MA), an African American. A July 10-12 Gallup Poll of Republicans’ presidential picks showed Barbour with 2%.

Louisiana: So is Jindal

Pelican State Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) took himself out of the 2012 race last year, but he continues to get opportunities to reach a national audience. This week’s publication of  an op-ed he wrote pushing a more conservative approach to health care reform will be accompanied by his appearances on several cable news channels, including Fox, to boost his proposal. Jindal has stellar health care credentials: He served as head of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (at age 24!) and as assistant secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services in the Bush-two Administration. But Jindal’s first big entry into the national spotlight flopped when he gave an uninspired and sappy response to President Obama’s first address to Congress. A mid-May Fox News survey of Republicans’ presidential picks showed Jindal with 3%.