A couple interesting Rasmussen polls today.
The pollster has Barack Obama leading Mitt Romney in Missouri, 47%-46%, while the two are tied in Virginia, 47%-47%.
The Missouri finding is particularly controversial, considering the Todd Akin Controversy. Here's the crux of the controversy in a few easy points.
a. Republicans have called Akin unelectable and pushed him to drop out.
Meanwhile, Claire McCaskill and Democrats want Akin to stay in the race, because he's, well, Todd Akin, and he's the only shot she has of keeping her seat (and, possibly, control of the Senate).
After the controversy broke, the Democratic polling firm, Public Policy Polling, released a survey showing Akin narrowly retaining his lead.
Dems trumpeted the results in a nudge, nudge to Akin that he could actually win and, thus, should stay in.
Meanwhile, Republicans were dubious of the poll, which seemed to fit perfectly into Democratic talking points.
b. Enter a Rasmussen poll yesterday showing McCaskill jumping to a huge 10% lead over Akin.
Conservatives, naturally, cited it as proof that Akin was toast; whereas, Democrats noted that the conservative Rasmussen had produced the results.
Rasmussen wrote:
What a difference one TV interview can make. Embattled Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill has now jumped to a 10-point lead over her Republican challenger, Congressman Todd Akin, in Missouri’s U.S. Senate race. Most Missouri Republicans want Akin to quit the race while most Missouri Democrats want him to stay.
c. Enter today's Romney vs. Obama poll of Missouri today, showing Barack Obama leading by 1% in the state -- a tie that Rasmussen, in rather dire tones, explicitly chalked up to Akin.
As the controversy over Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin’s “legitimate rape” comment continues, Mitt Romney’s lead in Missouri has vanished.
Maybe, but consider this: before this survey, Obama had led in only one out of fifteen surveys of the state since last year. Further, nobody thinks Missouri is close or will be close, and no one certainly thinks Romney is doing slightly worse in Missouri than in Virginia!
That's why you might be justified in raising a Rowan Atkinson eyebrow at this Rasmussen survey.
