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September 21, 2009 —

Inglis vs. Wilson -- and others

When the roll was called in the US House of Representatives on a resolution to disapprove of US Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) for shouting “You lie!” during President Obama’s health care speech, one of the surprise votes in favor came from fellow Palmetto State Republican Bob Inglis. Inglis, who faces four opponents in the 2010 GOP primary who don’t think he’s conservative enough, took the position that Wilson should also apologize to the House for violating its rules.

Rules or no rules, his GOP foes immediately began blasting him, with one challenger, history professor Christina Jeffrey, telling the Greenville News that Wilson “has not only lost touch with the people of the 4^th  Congressional District, he has become openly hostile to their values.” However, Chip Felkel, a Greenville political consultant (R), tells SPR that he’s “been a little surprised by the people I hear say that [Inglis] did the right thing.” He wasn’t so sure the publicity helped Inglis, however: “He’s got to be smart about creating problems in the primary.”

Inglis, meanwhile, has tried to change the subject, joining colleagues in the House and Senate in calling for the defunding of ACORN, an organization of liberal community activists recently videotaped giving questionable legal advice to prostitutes. “We can hope that ACORN has drawn its last federal check,” says Inglis.

Georgia: More ACORN

ACORN is in the news in another Southern state. Mike Evans, one of nine Republican candidates hoping to succeed US Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA), who is stepping down to run for governor, has urged Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker (D) to investigate ACORN’s activities in Georgia. The request puts Baker on the spot. He’s also running for governor and if ACORN has any friends in the Peach State, it will be among some of the liberals in the Democratic Primary electorate.

Virginia: McDonnell, Deeds continue close battle

The latest Rasmussen Poll in Virginia shows Republican Bob McDonnell with 48% to Democrat Creigh Deeds’ 46%. The two-point lead for McDonnell is a substantial decline from his nine-point lead two weeks ago. The reversal in the trend in the race resulted from revelation of the strong socially conservative views expressed in a master’s thesis McDonnell wrote some 20 years ago.

In the money chase, each has bragging rights. Deeds raised more than McDonnell in July and August, $3.5 million to $2.9 million. Labor unions are a major source of Deeds’ funds, reports the Washington Post, amounting to some $1.4 million. But McDonnell has $5.8 million cash on hand, to Deeds’ $4.4 million. Meanwhile, in their latest debate, Deeds stumbled, says Washington Post columnist Robert McCartney, on a key question about paying for transportation improvements in populous Northern Virginia, sounding “vague and two-faced.” McDonnell, however, whose transportation proposals may be less do-able than Deeds, sounded “controlled and crisp,” even if evasive. Election Day is on fast-approaching November 3.

Texas: Hutchison edges Perry

Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) has 40%, Gov. Rick Perry 38% (R), in the latest Rasmussen Poll of Texas Republicans. A recent entry, TEA (Taxed Enough Already?) Party activist Debra Medina, received 3%.  In the Rasmussen poll taken in July, Perry led 46% to 36%. In recent weeks, Perry and Hutchison have clashed publicly over a number of state issues, including border security.

North Carolina: Burr leads foes

The third Rasmussen survey of Dixie voters released last week, this one in North Carolina, shows first-term US Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) leading three Democratic challengers in the 2010 election. Burr, whose approval ratings and fundraising have been tepid lately, led North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall (D) by 48% to 38%. Burr also led US Rep. Bob Etheridge (D), a potential contender who has not yet announced, by 48% to 34%, and led Durham attorney Kenneth Lewis, an African American who has not sought public office before, by 48% to 32%.

President Obama carried North Carolina last year by a slim 50% to 49%; today a slim majority of 52% to 47% disapprove of his performance in office. A similar result was found by a poll taken for the Civitas Institute, a conservative group, with 46% disapproving of Obama’s performance to 44% who approve.