Klein’s pollster says negative ads work, shows Dem with 48-40 lead over West
by George Bennett | September 22nd, 2010An internal poll taken last week for Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Klein shows him with a 48-to-40 percent lead over Republican challenger Allen West, Klein’s campaign announced today.
Klein, whose TV ads have attacked West without mentioning Klein’s own record, has driven up West’s negatives and is “clearly getting the better of the paid communication battle,” says a memo from Anzalone Liszt Research.
West’s campaign manager Josh Grodin said the race is closer, but wouldn’t release West’s internal polling.
The Klein campaign’s poll of 500 likely voters in Palm Beach-Broward congressional District 22 has a 4.4 percent margin of error and was conducted Sept. 14-16, so it doesn’t measure any blowback from a Florida Democratic Party mailer that revealed West’s Social Security number and is now being used by West to slam Klein.
The Klein camp released its pollster’s one-page executive summary of its survey today. The memo says two-term Democrat Klein has built a “strong connection” to District 22 voters and is in “an excellent position to hold this seat, provided he continues to have the resources for a strong paid communications program.”
The one-page memo says West’s negatives have tripled to 26 percent since May. West’s positive score isn’t mentioned, nor are Klein’s positive and negative ratings.
Grodin said the West campaign’s internal tracking numbers show Klein is viewed favorably by 41 percent of voters and unfavorably by 40 percent. West’s favorable/unfavorable percentages are 42/23, Grodin said.
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September 22nd, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Desperate times call for desperate measures. The poll results are a RUSE in hopes to change the perception that he is, IN REALTY behind.
Ron Klein never discusses with his constituents what is IMMINENTLY going to happen to their MEDICARE COVERAGE if a democratic majority is maintained; nor that the country is operating WITHOUT A NATIONAL BUDGET!
As a Jew, he will no longer receive my vote. He will go the way of Wexler: all fluff and NO SUBSTANCE.
If he could make a living, he would be practicing Law in Boca or Shaker Heights or wherever he could be an ambulance chaser.
MY VOTE: ALLEN WEST FOR SELF-DISCIPLINE AND AN ANNUAL FEDERAL BUDGET.
ALL THOSE ELECTION CONTRIBUTIONS COULD BE BETTER USED AS A DONATION TO REDUCE OUR PRECARIOUS DEBT.
ANY ONE WHO VOTES FOR A WIMP INSTEAD OF A COLONEL/WAR HERO needs to join the armed forces or get a frontal lobotomy.
That’s my position and I’m sticking to it!!
September 22nd, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Patriot Says:
September 22nd, 2010 at 1:21 pm
While serving in Taji, Iraq, on August 20, 2003, as commander of the 2d Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel West was in charge of an interrogation of a civilian Iraqi police officer who was suspected of having pertinent information regarding attacks on American soldiers in the area. Interrogators had learned that the detainee had information about a planned ambush. When the interrogators were unable to extract the needed important information for some time, LTC West was asked to come try to obtain the important information. As the detainee continued to hold back the information, LTC West fired his pistol past the detainee’s head into a clearing barrel, frightening (but not physically harming) the detainee and getting him to finally give the information. LTC West and his men were able to use the information and thwart several planned attacks on his men.
LTC West, who at the time was just short of having 20 years of service, was charged with violating articles 128 (assault) and 134 (general article) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. West was processed through an Article 32 hearing in November 2003, where he admitted wrongdoing, was fined $5,000 over two months for misconduct and assault. He then submitted his resignation, and was allowed to retire with full benefits in the summer of 2004.[3]
At a hearing, West was asked by his defense attorney if he would do it again. “If it’s about the lives of my men and their safety, I’d go through hell with a gasoline can,” he said.[3] Apparently not knowing West’s gun was aimed into a barrel, “Hamoodi cracked and gave information about the planned ambush on West’s convoy, thwarting the attack.” West said there were no further ambushes on U.S. forces in Taji until he was relieved of his leadership post on October 4.” [4] “After West’s resignation was brought to public attention the next fall, he received over two thousand letters and e-mails from the American public offering him moral support. In addition, a letter was drafted to the Secretary of the Army, its signatories being ninety-five members of Congress in West’s support.
September 22nd, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Yahoooo going negative works. Yahooooo. What an accomplishment.
September 22nd, 2010 at 6:02 pm
If it was a ruse then west’s campaign would have released their figures but they didnt…
if it was a ruse then republican national congressional committee would have tagged fl district 22 as a target distric in their latest round of tv ads that started running last week. they didnt…
If the republicans in the district wanted to win this seat they should have voted for David Brady
The republicans in this distric are centrists not far right like most of wests campaign donaters. 1/3 of his $ comes from outside the district compared to kleins 1/6.
September 22nd, 2010 at 7:29 pm
Allen West is as far behind in the polls as he is on paying his taxes.
September 22nd, 2010 at 7:37 pm
Like I always said – Let’s continue the politics of personal destruction. Like my friend Ron’s campaign guy says: It works!
And we Dems are great at it. Clarence Thomas, Gingrich, Ken Starr, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Palin. For cryin’ out loud we invented a whole term for it when we Bork’d that guy in the ’80′s!
Slime ‘em!
September 22nd, 2010 at 9:15 pm
What sdid West say to his troops after the Torture incident in Iraq?: ‘This Night Stays Within 2-20 And 2-20 Only’
-ALLEN WEST
An American officer has been stripped of his command after pleading guilty to assaulting an Iraqi detainee during interrogation
Army Lieutenant Colonel Allen B. West, who brandished a pistol and threatened to shoot an Iraqi police officer while interrogating him in 2003.
Before that August night he had never conducted or witnessed an interrogation. He was a commander, overseeing an artillery battalion of some 650 soldiers and officers.
Many months before the Abu Ghraib prison scandal raised questions about whether the military was permitting or tolerating the mistreatment of detainees, the Army pointedly rejected Colonel West’s aggressive tactics during that single interrogation.
West fired his pistol near the head of the prisoner, threatened to kill him, and allowed his troops to beat the man.
Said West: “Yes, there had been sporadic body punches and shoving to the individual, which I witnessed but did not allow to get too brutal.”
“In my anger I do not know if I fired two shots in to the barrel or one into the air and another into the barrel,” said West in his sworn statement.
West admitted to pushing Hamoodi’s head into a clearing barrel full of sand, which is typically used for clearing weapons. West then put his gun into the same barrel, near Hamoodi’s head and fired.
Q: When you heard the first shot did you think the LTC had shot the detainee?
A: Yes.
Q: Why did you think he shot the detainee?
A: He seemed very frustrated he wasn’t getting the right answers. He was getting more and more upset. It was like it was the last straw.
A: How many times did LTC fire his weapon near the detainee’s head?
A: 3
Q: After the incident, did LTC tell you not to talk about the incident?
A: Yes.
No plans for attacks on Americans or weapons were found. Colonel West testified that he did not know whether “any corroboration” of a plot was ever found, adding: “At the time I had to base my decision on the intelligence I received. It’s possible that I was wrong about Mr. Hamoodi.”
Soldiers set up surveillance in hopes of catching those involved in the ambush, which was supposedly scheduled for the next day. But the attack didn’t occur. A search of Hamoodi’s home reportedly turned up no evidence of the plot.
Hamoodi, who was interviewed by the New York Times nine months after the interrogation, said that he was never involved in any assassination plot and that the information he gave was induced by fear of death.
Hamoodi was detained for 45 days, then released without having been charged. West told the Times, “It’s possible that I was wrong about Mr. Hamoodi.”
During a closed-door tribunal Friday in the town of Tikrit, West was found guilty of three counts of aggravated assault and a single count of communicating a threat. The ruling was issued after West pleaded guilty to misconduct.
When disciplinary proceedings were commenced against West, senior congressional Republicans, including Senator John Warner and Congressman Duncan Hunter — who as chairs, respectively, of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, had their hands on the Pentagon’s pursestrings — intervened aggressively to protect him. The result: instead of facing punishment that could have included prison time, West got off with a fine, a reprimand and early departure from the service.
If he were to be found guilty at a court martial of the two articles against him, West could have faced 11 years in prison, a military prosecutor told CNN.
The investigation found probable cause that West violated two statutes of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which forbade threatening a prisoner and assaulting him. The army initially moved forward with a criminal prosecution of West, until a hearing officer dismissed the case, fining West $5,000.
The military decided against court-martialing Colonel West. He was fined $5,000, and he submitted his resignation, which becomes effective this summer, when he will retire with full benefits.
Army to instead relieve West of his command, fine him $5,000, and order him back to the United States, where he will be allowed to retire.
The Army filed criminal charges against him, an article 32 hearing was conducted at which West admitted wrongdoing, and ultimately he was fined $5,000 for misconduct and assault and then allowed to resign from the military. The Army concluded that his actions were criminal and that “his crimes merit a court-martial.” Had West been prosecuted and convicted, he could have faced as much as 11 years in prison, a dishonorable discharge and forfeiture of pension and benefits.
His case not only began as a criminal proceeding, as Pincus notes; it ended with a finding that his actions were criminal. He avoided prison only because powerful members of Congress intervened.
West received a nonjudicial punishment — the path that accounts for 90 percent of infractions of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
The military said that through his actions against the detainee, West “disobeyed laws, ignored orders . . . and mortgaged future discipline in his unit. Without discipline, there is no trust, no cohesion, and no higher purpose for which we fight.”
relieved of his command
Lieutenant Colonel West’s actions compromised his ability to command and maintain good order
and discipline within his unit,” the Army official said. “Every soldier under his command now
believes it is OK to abuse detainees for information.”
And what became of Allen B. West? He was lionized by right-wing talk radio and named the “Man of the Year” by FrontPage Magazine, a vehicle of radio talk jock David Horowitz.
September 22nd, 2010 at 9:21 pm
So, why is it that we never hear word one about anything Klein’s achieved in Congress?
Perhaps because he’s just a Pelosi/Obama puppet who’s voted the party line 98% of the time.
Sorry Ron, we don’t need any more clueless Career Politicians
Your smear campaign, especially releasing West’s social security number, will absolutely get you a new job after November.
Count on it!
September 22nd, 2010 at 9:22 pm
It’s WEST for me. No to Klein.
Klein’s just too dirty. Purposely publishing West’s social security number.
Klein failed to show up at a townhall meeting, he TELEPHONED in. The guy is a sham. He’s not strong enough to show up at a local meeting, and Klein criticizes West for his military service?!?! What’s with that?
What the hell is wrong with Klein? He is a chicken. West served OUR country. He protected his soldiers and this wimp couldn’t even show up to talk to constituents because he was AFRAID of the questions!!!!!
Ron Klein is an embarrassment. We need change. WEST is the BEST. Remember that when you vote on NOVEMBER 2nd.
September 22nd, 2010 at 9:31 pm
If you would like to read the actual military investigative report of West’s Interrogation/Torture incident you may find it here BETH:
http://www.aclu.org/torturefoia/released/105_167.pdf
September 22nd, 2010 at 9:43 pm
what the heck are you going to do after this election cycle. youare a failure and you father knows this. go toschool, find a job and then discover how hard it is to ake a living. you must do for yourself. i sense that you did poorly in school or were on drugs for a while. take care of your own future and find a place for yourself. I will pray for you. I know you can ot find a girl or boy and tht makes you sad. but you have to start somewhere.
September 23rd, 2010 at 8:42 am
Hey NOWEST! When are you going to update your resume’ and get a job? You should consider music — percussion instruments in particular. All you’re good for is beating a drum.
Know West, Know Peace — No West, No Peace
September 24th, 2010 at 10:35 am
RON KLEIN IS THE WOKINGMAN’S FRIEND. RON KLEIN REPRESENTS ALL PEACE LOVING PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF THEIR RACE, COLOR, AND CREED.
ALLEN WEST IS A HATE MONGERING MILITARIST WHO SEEKS TO EXPAND OUR ILLEGAL AND IMMORAL MILITARY ADVENTURES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ALLEN WEST BELIEVES IT IS PROPER AND JUST FOR AMERICA TO MAKE WAR FOR OIL.
ALLEN WEST IS A WAR CRIMINAL WHO MURDERED THOUSANDS OF IRAQI AND AFGHANI MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN.
ALLEN WEST IS BAD FOR AMERICA.
VOTE FOR RON KLEIN. HE IS TRULY THE WORKINGMAN’S FRIEND.
September 24th, 2010 at 10:42 am
IF YOU LOVE ISRAEL VOTE FOR RON KLEIN.
IF ALLEN WEST IS ELECTED TO CONGRESS HE HAS VOWED TO PUSH FOR LEGISLATION THAT WILL FORCE THE USA AND THE UNITED NATIONS TO DISARM AND DISMANTLE THE STATE OF ISRAEL.
ALLEN WEST BELIEVES THAT PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST CAN BE REACHED ONLY AFTER ISRAEL IS DISARMED AND DISMANTLED.
September 24th, 2010 at 10:49 am
Jose Ortega = Che Guevara.
Peddle your Marxist crap someplace else. Viva’ la Revolucion!
Know West, Know Peace — No West, No Peace.
September 25th, 2010 at 7:25 am
ALLEN WEST BELIVES THAT EUGENICS IS THE CURE ALL FOR POVERTY.
IF ELECTED, ALLEN WEST HAS PROMISED TO PUSH FOR LEGISLATION THAT WILL REQUIRE ALL WOMEN (OF CHILD BEARING AGE) WHO APPLY FOR PUBLIC WELFARE ASSISTANCE, TO UNDERGO MANDATORY DRUG TESTING AND MANDATORY STERILIZATION AS A PREREQUSITE FOR RECEIVING ANY BENEFITS INCLUDING FOOD STAMPS AND SECTION 8 HOUSING ASSISTANCE.
ALLEN WEST IS TOO EXTREME.
ALLEN WEST IS TOO DANGEOUS.
November 3rd, 2010 at 10:25 am
Desperate times call for desperate measures. The poll results are a RUSE in hopes to change the perception that he is, IN REALTY behind.
Ron Klein never discusses with his constituents what is IMMINENTLY going to happen to their MEDICARE COVERAGE if a democratic majority is maintained; nor that the country is operating WITHOUT A NATIONAL BUDGET!
As a Jew, he will no longer receive my vote. He will go the way of Wexler: all fluff and NO SUBSTANCE.
If he could make a living, he would be practicing Law in Boca or Shaker Heights or wherever he could be an ambulance chaser.
MY VOTE: ALLEN WEST FOR SELF-DISCIPLINE AND AN ANNUAL FEDERAL BUDGET.
ALL THOSE ELECTION CONTRIBUTIONS COULD BE BETTER USED AS A DONATION TO REDUCE OUR PRECARIOUS DEBT.
ANY ONE WHO VOTES FOR A WIMP INSTEAD OF A COLONEL/WAR HERO needs to join the armed forces or get a frontal lobotomy.
That’s my position and I’m sticking to it!!