Nancy Johnson (R-CT-05) going down the tubes?

[NewJeffCT]

Maybe Johnson’s relentlessly negative campaign has turned a lot of people off to her? I mean, this woman has been in Congress for 24 years and her ads are all a barrage of attacks on her opponent, Chris Murphy. I mean, if you saw only her ads, you would think Chris Murphy advocated putting children in homes with violent criminals, was best friends with drug dealers and was on good terms with terrorists in Pakistan. Meanwhile, Murphy ran one negative ad that caused Johnson to hold a press conference & have a hissy fit – even though the Courant later confirmed that Murphy’s ad was true.

But, she is CT's most conservative representative, and has had only 1 close race in her 24 years. And, the one close race, vs Charlotte Koskoff in 1996, was kind of a surprise, as Johnson led in all the polls. I think this is the first time she has been behind in her career, that I can recall.

Johnson Losing Her Hold?
Courant/UConn Poll Paints Picture Of Vulnerable Incumbent, Gives Murphy 4 Percentage Point Lead In 5th District
October 30, 2006
By RINKER BUCK, Courant Staff Writer

U.S. Rep. Nancy Johnson's vulnerability as an incumbent - a subject of intense speculation all year in her central Connecticut district - appears to be confirmed by the latest Hartford Courant/University of Connecticut poll, which shows her trailing Democratic state Sen. Chris Murphy by 4 percentage points among likely voters.

UConn's pollsters found that among likely voters, Murphy was leading Johnson by 46 percent to 42 percent with 9 percent of voters still undecided. Murphy's lead is just outside the poll's margin of error of 3.6 percentage points. The poll of 762 likely voters in the 5th Congressional District was conducted by UConn's Center for Survey Research and Analysis between Oct. 24 and Oct. 28, just after Johnson and Murphy completed their debates.

<snip>

Among Democrats in the sample, Murphy is ahead by 77 percent to 16 percent. But the two "major" parties now represent just 55 percent of the registered voters in the 5th Congressional District, with 45 percent of voters registering as either unaffiliated or minor party members.

"These independent voters prefer Murphy over Johnson 45 percent to 36 percent," McDermott said. "That's a preference among unaffiliated voters that could well decide the outcome in this race."

http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-5thcdpoll1030.artoct30,0,6997645.story?coll=hc-big-headlines-breaking

[BlueManDude]

1. Both Johnson and Shays need to go. GOP taint is killing them.

[NewJeffCT]

2. I want to see Simmons go as well

I want all 3 to lose, but I think my order of preference would be:
1) Johnson
2) Simmons
3) Shays

Shays really turned me off with his bizarro comments on Abu Graib a few weeks back.

[LynneSin]

3. I think Lamont is going to have a big impact in CT even if he doesn't win

If his candidacy inspires a higher voter turnout, there seems to be THREE republican-held House seats in Connecticut that look to be switching over to democrat.

I really want Lamont to win; however, if his impact is to add +3 to the house, then we should all be grateful for Lamont and what he has done to change the political map of Connecticut!

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. I wish I could vote against Shays.

His remarks about Ted Kennedy were despicable, even for a republican. I hope he loses big-time.

[rpannier]

5. But don't forget

joementum is out there plugging away trrying to get those republikkans out to vote.
That could help madam wretch pull it out at the end.

[NewJeffCT]

7. Wish I had my camera with me the other day

I was driving down a busy road in either Avon or Farmington, CT - there was a big sign that said "VOTE REPUBLICAN" and below it was a "VOTE JOE" sign.

[rpannier]

9. I'd go back

get a picture from several different angles and post them everywhere I could.

[NewJeffCT]

11. good idea

I just need to remember in the morning rush to get ready to pack the camera.

[Captain Hilts]

6. Fingers crossed really tightly. nt

[PATRICK]

8. Independent voters

most likely to respond negatively to negative ads, though the trick is to defend oneself without getting tarred with that "negativity" brush. Truth or self-defense don't count among the ignorant or easily irritated. Negative ads by a further turn of the screw seek to drag down one's opponent AND rally the issue trapped faithful who can have their shaken angryman faith restored by these poisonous doses. Negative ads can also discourage or enrage Dems in negative ways. There ARE ways not to "respond in kind" and yet not weakly, meekly consume effort totally on an unjust defensive or lose the fooled by default. The GOP habit of seizing advantages from every crooked angle can be withstood by a strong wall of positive honesty, cleverness and taking advantage of their excited, desperate lies and gaffes immediately, redirecting bullets to foot and foot to mouth.

Examination nationwide of winning strategies not necessarily the accepted wisdom or common strategies must be added with zeal to all campaigns, the same way that the GOP has used cookie cutter Big Lie smears
based on attacks that mainly apply only to themselves.

[speedoo]

10. Great news. Nancy Johnson is a hack who must be defeated. nt