Things will tighten

The new poll numbers showing U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in a statistical dead heat in Oregon

While I was on the road to the Portland area this week I did not have time to get to this story.

I think that PolitickerOR did a pretty good job at capturing what is happening with some of the polling numbers in Oregon. That is to say that everything is beginning to tighten up and will do so all the more.

I have seen data behind polling numbers both statewide and in some cases locally. When you actually drill down deeper in the numbers you find that things are not as bad as the MSM and Democrat Dave Hunt would like folks to believe. Oh there are some challenges. However Hunt's desperate acts from last week give us a brief glimpse into the concern that I am sure the Democrats have.

Majority leader Dave Hunt has been running around the state of Oregon like he was on a victory lap. Much like Barack Obama.

Now we are seeing that Oregon is actually in play for the presidential elections. That may be one of the worst news stories for Oregon Democrats that they would have imagined.

While the public is indeed sour to the Republican brand is no argument. I have seen the polling and know all about that. However go beyond that and look at some of the issues. Then things begin to turn around a little bit. The voters are not inclined to simply check the box for the Democrat if they know certain things about both candidates.

And some of the issues that are good for Democrats do not quite register with deep emotion. Meaning it is more of a "check" item and may not actually move people to vote.

Yet there are some hot issues out there for Republicans and thus some opportunities.

I think they are making some good moves now. McCain is pouncing and Allen Alley is beginning to make some waves in Oregon as well. Dave Hunt made a big boo boo with his false charge and I think some folks in the MSM might actually look at him a little more critically because of his false accusation (with the exception of Steve Law that is).

The MSM may lean left but they still don't like it when it is obvious that a politician is being so blatantly political and doing so in a personal way. Folks in the press also don't always like it when it is pretty obvious that they were being played. That's what happened there and might be a little sour taste in their mouths for a while.

The question will be whether or not the Republicans can raise the money to take advantage of some of those opportunities. If some of the standard donors remain down in the mouth then it could be challenging.

If however some of the standard Republican donors decide "to hell with it" and begin jumping into the fray then there could be even more surprises than this latest poll. And Dave Hunt knows that and that is why he is leveling threats at donors.

Hey, sometimes you just need to stand up to a bully.

You might surprise yourself and him.

Yip Yip