Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole’s campaign acknowledges that outside advertising from the Democratic Senatorial Congressional Committee could be hurting their candidate.
But they are disavowing new poll numbers showing Dole now slightly behind Democratic challenger Kay Hagan, a state senator.
“I think the DSCC’s ads are definitely having an impact on the race,” said Dole spokesman Hogan Gidley. “When an outside group comes in and spends millions of dollars … it’s got to affect the race somehow.”
Public Policy Polling, a Democratic firm in Raleigh, released new numbers today showing Hagan edges Dole 42-39 among likely voters. That’s right at the margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.
Gidley also slammed the company for its survey style of push-button polling, a method considered less reliable among some polling experts than live interviews.
“I think the poll’s a bunch of junk for many reasons,” Gidley said.
More after the jump.
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Tom Jensen at PPP attributes Hagan’s bump to outside advertising from the Democrats’ Senate campaign committee, based in Washington. Two ads, including one showing two elderly men in rocking chairs, question Dole’s effectiveness in Washington and accuse her of voting with President Bush 92 percent of the time through 2007.
(Dole’s vote-with-Bush record is 88 percent through this summer.)
“Our ads confirm what people already know about Elizabeth Dole,” said Matthew Miller, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “They don’t see much of Dole and they don’t know what she’s done.”
The DSCC just launched a third advertisement Monday that again questions Dole’s effectiveness and ties her to President Bush.
Hagan spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan said Hagan’s ads, too, are having an impact. Hagan has two ads airing right now, one a biography about her, another that talks about the middle class.
“Elizabeth Dole did not expect a tough race,” Flanagan said.
Other outside groups, including MoveOn.org, also have attacked Dole in advertising.
“We’re prepared dollar for dollar here, but we’ve got to raise some money,” Gidley said. “And when you have outside groups coming in and attacking you, we’ve got to be prepared for it.”
Comments
Re: Dole: Outsider ads hurting our campaign
August 27, 2008 - 9:29am — zoobatmaniaYou know the key to what you just said. You were at an event, in NORTH CAROLINA, where Kay Hagan spoke. When is the last time you were at an event in NORTH CAROLINA and Elizabeth Dole spoke?
Seriously?
As for George Soros, aka the Boogeyman, he gave $2000 to Kay Hagan. So, what you are saying is that Elizabeth Dole will execute the agenda of anyone from who she received $2000?
These are just the NEW YORK Bankers and Lawyers and such.
Re: Dole: Outsider ads hurting our campaign
August 27, 2008 - 1:29am — CarolinaJeanieI hope those ads keep on hurting her campaign. The first time I saw the old men in rockers, I laughed for five minutes. Whether she is 93 or 92, she is and always has been out of touch with North Carolina. She hasn't been here since she graduated college. Kay Hagan is wonderful! As she says, Liddy just needs to click those ruby red slippers and head on back to Kansas.
Re: Dole: Outsider ads hurting our campaign
August 26, 2008 - 10:34pm — bnartistIn this election cycle so far there are a 1,000 people who have given Elizabeth Dole more than the amount that George Soros has given to Kay Hagan's campaign ($2,000). If anyone is "under the influence" of money it's Elizabeth Dole.
Re: Dole: Outsider ads hurting our campaign
August 26, 2008 - 7:18pm — KatalinaI'm not at all impressed with Hagan. I listened to her speak at an event a couple months ago and there was nothing new, creative, different. Just rote Obama-esque non-specific language. Any candidate, like Hagan, who accepts large campaign contributions from George Soros is expected to execute his agenda once in office. This is NOT the kind of "change" we need in NC.
Re: Dole: Outsider ads hurting our campaign
August 26, 2008 - 3:08pm — AllanLangElizabeth Dole has proven that she is not a Senator from North Carolina.
She has voted NO six times against expanding health care for our children here in North Carolina.
She has voted NO to give health benefits for North Carolina Veterans.
Elizabeth Dole worked against the interests of North Carolina Working Familes with her NO vote to increase the minimum wage.
Voters in North Carolina should retire Elizabeth Dole and send her back to Kansas.
Re: Dole: Outsider ads hurting our campaign
August 26, 2008 - 12:49pm — zoobatmaniaActually, the DSCC is based in D.C.
Elizabeth Dole lives full-time in Washington, D.C. and has for 45 years.
Ergo, they are out-of-state for us, but not for her.
Re: Dole: Outsider ads hurting our campaign
August 26, 2008 - 12:44pm — pirminwhat??? a carpet-bagger senator complaining about out-of-state interests? give me a freaking break.