Those polling figures for Davis? Only a flesh wound. The Mankato Free Press reports in Six weeks left, Walz leads Davis:
Democratic Congressman Tim Walz holds an 18 percentage point lead over Rochester Republican Brian Davis, according to a poll conducted by the challenger’s campaign.
Somehow, we don't think that was the take away message the press was supposed to relay to the public. Nor this:
The telephone survey of 300 registered voters on Sept. 17 and 18 showed Walz with the support of 50 percent of voters, down from 54 percent a month earlier. Davis was supported by 32 percent of respondents, up from 27 percent in August — prior to his primary election victory over fellow Republican Dick Day of Owatonna.
Walz campaign manager Chris Schmitter pointed to a different result in the poll: 39 percent of respondents last week said they generally preferred to see a Republican representing the 1st District, but just 32 percent supported Davis.
“From everything we can see from our campaign, Tim’s in a very strong position,” Schmitter said.
With six weeks left until election day, Davis will need to make up ground in a hurry to match Walz’s position in his upset victory over Congressman Gil Gutknecht. An independent poll of 1,000 voters conducted in the second week of October 2006 showed a virtual dead heat with Gutknecht leading Walz 47 percent to 46 percent.
In the netroots, Hal Kimball at Blue Man in a Red District looks at the Davis press release in Brian Davis Proudly Celebrates Being 18% Behind Walz. Jeff Rosenberg at Twin City Daily Liberal notes MN-01: It’s all over, thanks for playing.
Rumor has it that Davis will take to the airwaves again in October after briefly running a pre-primary attack ad; Walz is already airing his third television ad in rotation with his first two. The Blueman blogger (and Army infantry vet) also responds to the new clip in Tim Walz releases new TV ad.
The MFP article also reports that Walz and Davis will debate three times:
Both Walz and Davis have committed to participate in three debates, including one in Mankato on Oct. 13.
Following a Rochester forum on Oct. 2, a second debate, sponsored by the League of Women Voters, will be taped Oct. 4 by KSTP-TV and will be broadcast later.
The specific time and location of the Oct. 13 debate in Mankato haven’t been finalized. That debate, sponsored by the nonpartisan organization Debate Minnesota, is expected to be broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio.
A friend in Rochester leaked BSP an exclusive tape of a press conference in which Davis (in black) illustrates his aggressive campaign tactics and heroic polling numbers to a visiting freelance:
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