(Cross posted from Boyda Bloc)
Just as the Republican Primary campaign bursts on to the stage, all of us watching the race in the Kansas 2nd Congressional District got a very, very unexpected surprised today that throws the conventional wisdom about this race right out the window.
Results of a poll conducted in the Kansas 2nd District in May by Anzalone Liszt Research, Inc. shows truly shocking numbers- and proves Congresswoman Nancy Boyda isn't quite as vulnerable as previously thought.
Here they are as they were sent to us:
How would you rate the job that Nancy Boyda is doing as U.S. Congresswoman?
Total Positive- 68% (!!)
Total Negative- 21%
Don't Know- 10%
68% approval for a Democrat in eastern Kansas! That's currently better than either United States Senator or Governor Kathleen Sebelius!
Will you re-elect Nancy Boyda, or support someone new?
Re-elect- 54%
Someone new- 35%
Don't Know- 11%
That's what a year of hard work gives you- 54% want to re-elect Boyda in this R+7 district.
Nancy Boyda vs. Jim Ryun
Nancy Boyda- 54%
Jim Ryun- 37%
Undecided- 9%
After 10 years, the KS-2 has had enough of Jim Ryun!
Nancy Boyda vs. Lynn Jenkins
Nancy Boyda- 57%
Lynn Jenkins- 27%
Undecided- 15%
So much for the logic Lynn Jenkins is the stronger candidate against Boyda.
Lynn Jenkins vs. Jim Ryun
Lynn Jenkins- 35%
Jim Ryun- 49%
Undecided- 16%
(Link to the polling report as it was emailed to us)
Instant reactions: All the Republican posturing about how poor a fit Boyda is for her district is patently false- it's obvious the people of the Kansas 2nd Congressional district think Boyda is doing an exceptional job if 68% of people are giving her good or excellent marks.
Also, so far at least, the people of the district have no interest in trading out Boyda for the messages being peddled by either Ryun or Jenkins- and it looks like Jenkins still has a long way to go if she has any hope in the world of beating Ryun in the primary.
The only other thing- while this poll is good news for Nancy Boyda right now, all this new information means is, in the end, the fight is going to be even harder. Why? Because Ryun & Jenkins both know Boyda's winning, too, and they'll redouble their efforts to knock her out of her seat. Even though this polling shows Boyda's as strong as we had all hoped, this means the Republicans will pull out ever stop in an attempt to beat her.
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Make a contribution of $10, $25, anything- she's going to need it to stay in the lead.