Chris Bell enjoys huge lead
Memo from Cooper & Secrest Associates:
Between Aug. 14 and Aug. 18, 2008, Cooper & Secrest Associates conducted a survey of 404 likely general election voters in Texas Senate District 17 (error margin: plus or minus 4.9 points).
The results make plain the excellent opportunity Democrats have to convert this open seat.
- Because of the nature of the special election, this race
will top the ballot in all six counties and will not be subject to the
cross-pressures of strait-ticket voting because of the multiple players in the field. - In the 4-way trial heat for Senate, Bell dominates: 42% Bell, 8% Huffman, 5% Furse, 4% Harpold, and 41% undecided.
- Chris Bell is the best known and best liked of any of the candidates in the field (75% i.d. 44% positive, 26% negative).
- In this district where fully 61% give President Bush negative job performance ratings, as do 67% in regards to the state legislature as a whole, Chris Bell is a clear voice for change.
- Despite the fact that the 17th District is plurality Republican (50% Republican, 33% Democratic), fully 71% REJECT the notion, “It is very unlikely I would ever support a Democrat for State Senator.”
- And fully 61% concur, “The Republicans in Austin simply haven't been effective enough; Texas really needs new leadership to solve challenges like the crisis in school funding and ethics in state government.”
Conclusion:
Only a fool counts his chickens before they’ve hatched in the political arena. But the shell here is showing lots of cracks. Chris Bell dominates this field.
