Wednesday, September 06, 2006

latest polls

Election 2006 Latest Polls
Wednesday, September 06
Race Poll Period Sample Results Spread
New Jersey Senate Race Rasmussen 08/28 - 08/28 500 LV Kean (R) 44% , Menendez (D) 39% Kean +5.0%
Florida Senate Race Rasmussen 08/28 - 08/28 500 LV Harris (R) 34% , Nelson (D) 57% Nelson +23.0%
Florida Governor Race Rasmussen 08/28 - 08/28 500 LV Crist (R) 45% , Davis (D) 41% Crist +4.0%
Connecticut-2 DCCC (D) 08/28 - 08/30 400 LV Simmons (R) 40% , Courtney (D) 41% Courtney +1.0%
Oklahoma Governor Race Rasmussen 08/15 - 08/15 500 LV Istook (R) 33% , Henry (D) 54% Henry +21.0%

Tuesday, September 05
Race Poll Period Sample Results Spread
Generic Congressional Ballot CNN/Opinion Research 08/30 - 09/02 1004 Adults GOP (R) 43% , Dems (D) 53% Dems +10.0%
New Mexico-1 Albuquerque Journal 08/25 - 08/31 410 LV Wilson (R) 45% , Madrid (D) 42% Wilson +3.0%
Rhode Island Senate Race Rasmussen 08/23 - 08/23 500 LV Chafee (R) 42% , Whitehouse (D) 44% Whitehouse +2.0%
Rhode Island Governor Rasmussen 08/23 - 08/23 500 LV Carcieri (R) 41% , Fogarty (D) 46% Fogarty +5.0%

Monday, September 04
Race Poll Period Sample Results Spread
Michigan Governor Race Detroit Free Press 08/28 - 08/30 803 LV DeVos (R) 44% , Granholm (D) 46% Granholm +2.0%

Sunday, September 03
Race Poll Period Sample Results Spread
Michigan Senate Race Detroit Free Press 08/28 - 08/30 803 LV Bouchard (R) 37% , Stabenow (D) 50% Stabenow +13.0%

Saturday, September 02
Race Poll Period Sample Results Spread
Missouri Senate Race Research 2000 08/28 - 08/31 800 LV Talent (R) 46% , McCaskill (D) 47% McCaskill +1.0%
Illinois Governor Race Research 2000 08/28 - 08/31 800LV Topinka (R) 39% , Blagojevich (D) 47% Blagojevich +8.0%
Missouri Governor Race Research 2000 08/28 - 08/31 800LV Blunt (R) 39% , Nixon (D) 52% Nixon +13.0%
Kansas Governor Race Rasmussen 08/23 - 08/23 500 LV Jim Barnett (R) 37% , Kathleen Sebelius (D) 48% Kathleen Sebelius +11.0%

Friday, September 01
Race Poll Period Sample Results Spread
Florida Governor Primary (R) Mason-Dixon 08/28 - 08/30 625 LV Crist 56% , Gallagher 34% Crist +22.0%
Florida Governor Primary (D) Mason-Dixon 08/28 - 08/30 625 LV Davis 40% , Smith 33% Davis +7.0%
Rhode Island Senate Primary (R) Rhode Island College 08/28 - 08/30 363 LV Chafee 34% , Laffey 51% Laffey +17.0%
Rhode Island Senate Primary (R) Pub Op Str (R) 08/28 - 08/30 400 LV Chafee 53% , Laffey 39% Chafee +14.0%
Minnesota Senate Race Rasmussen 08/28 - 08/28 500 LV Kennedy (R) 40% , Klobuchar (D) 47% Klobuchar +7.0%
Florida Senate Primary (R) Survey USA 08/28 - 08/30 409 LV Harris 45% , McBride 22% Harris +23.0%
Florida Governor Primary (R) Survey USA 08/28 - 08/30 409 LV Crist 57% , Gallagher 34% Crist +23.0%
Florida Senate Primary (R) Mason-Dixon 08/28 - 08/30 625 LV Harris 38% , McBride 21% Harris +17.0%
Washington-2 Survey USA 08/28 - 08/30 586 RV Roulstone (R) 35% , Larsen (D) 58% Larsen +23.0%
Pennsylvania Senate Race USA Today/Gallup 08/23 - 08/27 600 LV Santorum (R) 38% , Casey (D) 56% Casey +18.0%
Minnesota Senate Race USA Today/Gallup 08/23 - 08/27 790 LV Kennedy (R) 40% , Klobuchar (D) 50% Klobuchar +10.0%
Missouri Senate Race USA Today/Gallup 08/23 - 08/27 574 LV Talent (R) 50% , McCaskill (D) 44% Talent +6.0%
Montana Senate Race USA Today/Gallup 08/23 - 08/27 641 LV Burns (R) 45% , Tester (D) 48% Tester +3.0%
Ohio Senate Race USA Today/Gallup 08/23 - 08/27 584 LV DeWine (R) 40% , Brown (D) 46% Brown +6.0%
Ohio Governor Race USA Today/Gallup 08/23 - 08/27 584 LV Blackwell (R) 36% , Strickland (D) 52% Strickland +16.0%
Iowa Governor Race Rasmussen 08/22 - 08/22 500 LV Nussle (R) 40% , Culver (D) 42% Culver +2.0%
California Governor Race PPIC 08/16 - 08/23 989 LV Arnold S. (R) 45% , Angelides (D) 32% Arnold S. +13.0%

Thursday, August 31
Race Poll Period Sample Results Spread
Generic Congressional Ballot FOX News 08/29 - 08/30 900 RV GOP (R) 32% , Dems (D) 48% Dems +16.0%
Washington Senate Race Survey USA 08/28 - 08/29 669 RV McGavick (R) 36% , Cantwell (D) 53% Cantwell +17.0%
Maryland Senate Primary (D) Survey USA 08/28 - 08/30 510 LV Cardin 38% , Mfume 42% Mfume +4.0%
Arkansas Governor Race Survey USA 08/27 - 08/29 538 LV Hutchinson (R) 38% , Beebe (D) 55% Beebe +17.0%
Arizona Senate Race Rasmussen 08/24 - 08/24 500 LV Kyl (R) 52% , Pederson (D) 35% Kyl +17.0%
Florida Senate Primary (R) Quinnipiac 08/23 - 08/28 317 LV Harris 38% , McBride 22% Harris +16.0%
California Governor Race Rasmussen 08/22 - 08/22 500 LV Arnold S. (R) 48% , Angelides (D) 42% Arnold S. +6.0%
California Senate Race Rasmussen 08/22 - 08/22 500 LV Mountjoy (R) 34% , Feinstein (D) 56% Feinstein +22.0%

Wednesday, August 30
Race Poll Period Sample Results Spread
Minnesota Governor Primary (D) Survey USA 08/26 - 08/28 476 LV Hatch 68% , Lourey 23% Hatch +45.0%
Florida Governor Primary (R) Strategic Vision (R) 08/25 - 08/27 1200 LV Crist 52% , Gallagher 36% Crist +16.0%
Florida Governor Primary (D) Strategic Vision (R) 08/25 - 08/27 1200 LV Davis 43% , Smith 37% Davis +6.0%
Florida Senate Primary (R) Strategic Vision (R) 08/25 - 08/27 1200 LV Harris 38% , McBride 21% Harris +17.0%
Arizona Senate Race Ariz. State 08/24 - 08/29 846 RV Kyl (R) 46% , Pederson (D) 36% Kyl +10.0%
Florida Governor Primary (R) Quinnipiac 08/23 - 08/28 317 LV Crist 57% , Gallagher 32% Crist +25.0%
Florida Governor Primary (D) Quinnipiac 08/23 - 08/28 312 LV Davis 43% , Smith 32% Davis +11.0%
New Jersey Senate Race Fairleigh Dickinson 08/21 - 08/27 651 RV Kean (R) 43% , Menendez (D) 39% Kean +4.0%
Maryland Senate Primary (D) Gonzales Res. 08/18 - 08/25 625 LV Cardin 43% , Mfume 30% Cardin +13.0%
Maryland Governor Race Gonzales Res. 08/18 - 08/25 843 LV Ehrlich (R) 42% , O Malley (D) 46% O Malley +4.0%

Tuesday, August 29
Race Poll Period Sample Results Spread
California Governor Race Survey USA 08/25 - 08/27 525 LV Arnold S. (R) 52% , Angelides (D) 38% Arnold S. +14.0%
California Senate Race Survey USA 08/25 - 08/27 525 LV Mountjoy (R) 34% , Feinstein (D) 56% Feinstein +22.0%
Washington Senate Race Strategic Vision (R) 08/25 - 08/27 800 LV McGavick (R) 43% , Cantwell (D) 48% Cantwell +5.0%
Oklahoma Governor Race Survey USA 08/25 - 08/27 519 LV Istook (R) 34% , Henry (D) 60% Henry +26.0%
Michigan Governor Race Strategic Vision (R) 08/25 - 08/27 1200 LV DeVos (R) 43% , Granholm (D) 48% Granholm +5.0%
Michigan Senate Race Strategic Vision (R) 08/25 - 08/27 1200 LV Bouchard (R) 42% , Stabenow (D) 49% Stabenow +7.0%
Washington Senate Race Survey USA 08/25 - 08/27 808 RV McGavick (R) 39% , Cantwell (D) 56% Cantwell +17.0%
Generic Congressional Ballot Cook/RT Strategies 08/25 - 08/27 801 RV GOP (R) 40% , Dems (D) 51% Dems +11.0%
Generic Congressional Ballot Quinnipiac 08/17 - 08/23 1080 RV GOP (R) 39% , Dems (D) 48% Dems +9.0%
Pennsylvania Governor Race Zogby Interactive* 08/15 - 08/21 671 LV Swann (R) 44% , Rendell (D) 48% Rendell +4.0%
California Governor Race Zogby Interactive* 08/15 - 08/21 1057 LV Arnold S. (R) 45% , Angelides (D) 40% Arnold S. +5.0%
Arizona Senate Race Zogby Interactive* 08/15 - 08/21 n/a Kyl (R) 48% , Pederson (D) 44% Kyl +4.0%
Ohio Governor Race Zogby Interactive* 08/15 - 08/21 n/a Blackwell (R) 41% , Strickland (D) 50% Strickland +9.0%
Arkansas Governor Race Zogby Interactive* 08/15 - 08/21 n/a Hutchinson (R) 41% , Beebe (D) 50% Beebe +9.0%
Iowa Governor Race Zogby Interactive* 08/15 - 08/21 n/a Nussle (R) 45% , Culver (D) 48% Culver +3.0%

Monday, August 28
Race Poll Period Sample Results Spread
New York-20 Siena 08/21 - 08/23 628 RV Sweeney (R) 53% , Gillibrand (D) 34% Sweeney +19.0%
Pennsylvania Senate Race Zogby Interactive* 08/15 - 08/21 671 LV Santorum (R) 42% , Casey (D) 51% Casey +9.0%
Minnesota Senate Race Zogby Interactive* 08/15 - 08/21 n/a Kennedy (R) 42% , Klobuchar (D) 50% Klobuchar +8.0%
Virginia Senate Race Zogby Interactive* 08/15 - 08/21 n/a Allen (R) 47% , Webb (D) 48% Webb +1.0%
New Jersey Senate Race Zogby Interactive* 08/15 - 08/21 715 LV Kean (R) 41% , Menendez (D) 43% Menendez +2.0%
Missouri Senate Race Zogby Interactive* 08/15 - 08/21 831 LV Talent (R) 50% , McCaskill (D) 45% Talent +5.0%
Ohio Senate Race Zogby Interactive* 08/15 - 08/21 1045 LV DeWine (R) 39% , Brown (D) 47% Brown +8.0%
Washington Senate Race Zogby Interactive* 08/15 - 08/21 n/a McGavick (R) 43% , Cantwell (D) 51% Cantwell +8.0%
Connecticut Senate Race Zogby Interactive* 08/15 - 08/21 533 LV Lieberman (I) 49% , Lamont (D) 39% Lieberman (I) +10.0%
Tennessee Senate Race Zogby Interactive* 08/15 - 08/21 n/a Corker (R) 48% , Ford (D) 44% Corker +4.0%
Michigan Senate Race Zogby Interactive* 08/15 - 08/21 1011 LV Bouchard (R) 45% , Stabenow (D) 49% Stabenow +4.0%
Illinois Governor Race Zogby Interactive* 08/15 - 08/21 n/a Topinka (R) 38% , Blagojevich (D) 45% Blagojevich +7.0%

Sunday, August 27
Race Poll Period Sample Results Spread
Ohio Governor Race Rasmussen 08/22 - 08/22 500 LV Blackwell (R) 32% , Strickland (D) 57% Strickland +25.0%
Massachusetts Governor Primary (D) Boston Globe 08/18 - 08/23 501 LV Patrick 31% , Reilly 27% Patrick +4.0%

Saturday, August 26
Race Poll Period Sample Results Spread
Generic Congressional Ballot Newsweek 08/24 - 08/25 1002 Adults GOP (R) 38% , Dems (D) 50% Dems +12.0%
Generic Congressional Ballot Time 08/22 - 08/24 1002 Adults GOP (R) 40% , Dems (D) 51% Dems +11.0%

Monday, September 04, 2006

agassi....one of the all time greats...

U.S. will be hard-pressed to fill Agassi's void

Matthew Cronin / tennisreporters.net Matthew Cronin says tennis in the U.S. is in jeopardy if the remaining American stars can't be more like the well-loved legend ago
What will U.S. tennis do without Andre Agassi? Struggle mightily to grab attention, that's for sure. On the court, well, that's another question.
Tennis suffered a monumental loss on Sunday, when the most popular player in the sport's history retired after a 7-5, 6-7, 6-4, 7-5 loss to Germany's Benjamin Becker.
Agassi's last attempt to win the U.S. Open was on the lips of nearly every sporting fans in the world, as ear-ringing cheers for his every shot burst out of the mouths of the 23,712 fans in attendance at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Photo gallery ... Day 7 at U.S. Open

Agassi through the years

Capsules ...
U.S. Open at a glance
Women's field Men's field
Features ...
O'CONNOR: Lasting Agassi image
CRONIN: Waiting for Blake
CRONIN: Amazing night for Andre
O'CONNOR: Sultan of Slams
WEIL: 10 burning questions
CRONIN: U.S. women must step up
CRONIN: Agassi's legend cemented
Tears flowed faster than the Hudson River did on Saturday when Tropical Strom Ernesto ravaged New York. Agassi cried for a solid half hour after the loss, and it was hard to find a dry eye exiting the stadium after he delivered a heartwarming speech.
Fans took to the 36-year-old like no other player before him and didn't want to see him strike his last ball. The man personifies fan interactivity, and while cynics may scoff when he says that he truly leaned on his fans' shoulders during the tough times of his turbulent but incredibly successful 21-year career, he really meant it. No one can fake a cry that long, and when Agassi finally left the court after bowing and blow kisses to the crowds eight times, he felt closure.
"Well, I was sitting there realizing that I was saying good bye to everybody out there, and they were saying good bye to me," he said. "It's saying good bye. It's a necessary evil. But we were getting through it together. That felt amazing."
Over the past seven years, Agassi was an automatic sell out at every tournament he played at. And it's quite unlikely that any of the current U.S. pros will ever have a full day of rainy day television coverage devoted to their career highlights, but that's what occurred on Saturday. Agassi's three matches at the 2006 U.S. Open were the toughest ticket in New York, and that's saying something when both the Yankees and the Mets look World Series bound.
No other U.S. player packs them in like he does. Part of that is because of his on-court results, which were stupendous. He ended his career with eight Grand Slam titles, but moreover, since he pulled off his remarkable comeback to win the 1999 French Open over Andrei Medvedev, he's been highly competitive at every tournament in which he's played. But part of that is also because he touches the fans by recognizing them. It's not just the bows and kisses that matter, it's that he makes eye contact and touches their hearts.
"They've pulled for me,' he said. "In many cases, how they pulled for me on the court has helped me in life. In other cases, how they've pulled for me in life has helped me on the court. Over the years, it's been hard to separate the tennis from the relationships. They got me through a lot."
The other U.S. players remaining in the tournament could learn a lot from Agassi. Serena Williams is nearly as accomplished as he is and certainly has her legions of fans, but does she touch them the way Agassi does? It seems they admire her more for her fight than for her gentle humility.
Serena Williams and the rest of the American stars must learn to be more like Andre Agassi to save tennis in the U.S. (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
Andy Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champ, makes the teenage girls swoon with his good looks and his on-court bravado. James Blake is a classy guy with a touching back story who fans are beginning to take to, though he lacks an impressive resume at the majors. As a result, numerous general sports fans have no idea who he is.
Lindsay Davenport, who is nearing retirement, has never been comfortable interacting with fans. She's 30 years old now and it's taken her 12 years on the tour to throw in a fist pump or two, much less smooching the fans way. This may be her last U.S. Open, and she's taking the quiet country road to potential assault on the title. On Sunday, she requested to play on Grandstand (Court 3), far from maddening crowds that take over Ashe Stadium.
Davenport played at the same time Agassi did, guaranteeing that whichever folks went to her court would be her hardcore fans. She won a dramatic 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 decision over Katerina Srebotnik, and actually cracked a smile after the victory. As one reporter said, it was unusual to see her showing such positive body language.
"I'm really happy to be playing," she said "Just because I don't laugh or smile (and) do whatever other players do on (the) court, I've really had a great time here. The crowd was really behind me. I was trying to get myself going and feel positive and energetic. It was working."
Like Agassi, Davenport came into this U.S. Open after spending much of the year nursing a back injury. She would be well suited to try to draw the fans into her matches — to have people hanging over the rafters chanting her name and screaming in delight after every winner.
Her form is not good enough yet to warrant being called a serious contender for the title in Flushing Meadows. But with the proverbial "sixth man," helping psyche out her foes, she could make a big push.
"I don't really know how to do that," she said. "I don't know really how to manipulate people. I was just doing it for myself. I should take some lessons, though."
All the U.S. players could learn a ton from Agassi. He's a natural when it comes to forming positive relationship, even with strangers. That's because he treats everyone like friends. The fans love him because he loves them. If tennis is to remain popular in America, the remaining U.S. stars better learn that quickly.
Roddick says he's doing all he can, but he says that he alone cannot replace Agassi.
"I know I put a lot of time into it, that's a responsibility," Roddick said. "I don't know if one person can help fill that void. It's a team effort with all the stars and guys on tour. But he's pretty much irreplaceable. I think we can watch and learn, and take the example that he set and do our best."
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steve irwin...

the best thing i can say...my 9 year old daughter loved him...and shed tears for him...

© AP
Steve Irwin'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin Dies at 44Sep 4, 12:41 AM EST

"He was a wonderful character. He was a passionate environmentalist. He brought joy and entertainment and excitement to millions of people."
Irwin, who made a trademark of hovering dangerously close to untethered crocodiles and leaping on their backs, spoke in rapid-fire bursts with a thick Australian accent and was almost never seen without his uniform of khaki shorts and shirt and heavy boots.
Wild animal expert Jack Hanna, who frequently appears on TV with his subjects, offered praise for Irwin.
"Steve was one of these guys, we thought of him as invincible," Hanna, director emeritus of the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo and Aquarium, told ABC's "Good Morning America" Monday.
"The guy was incredible. His knowledge was incredible," Hanna said. "Some people that are doing this stuff are actors and that type of thing, but Steve was truly a zoologist, so to speak, a person who knew what he was doing. Yes, he did things a lot of people wouldn't do. I think he knew what he was doing."
Irwin's ebullience was infectious and Australian officials sought him out for photo opportunities and to promote Australia internationally.
His public image was dented, however, in 2004 when he caused an uproar by holding his infant son in one arm while feeding large crocodiles inside a zoo pen. Irwin claimed at the time there was no danger to the child, and authorities declined to charge Irwin with violating safety regulations.
Later that year, he was accused of getting too close to penguins, a seal and humpback whales in Antarctica while making a documentary. Irwin denied any wrongdoing, and an Australian Environment Department investigation recommended no action be taken against him.
Stingrays have a serrated, toxin-loaded barb, or spine, on the top of their tail. The barb, which can be up to 10 inches long, flexes if a ray is frightened. Stings usually occur to people when they step on or swim too close to a ray and can be excruciatingly painful but are rarely fatal, said University of Queensland marine neuroscientist Shaun Collin.
Collin said he suspected Irwin died because the barb pierced under his ribcage and directly into his heart.
"It was extraordinarily bad luck. It's not easy to get spined by a stingray and to be killed by one is very rare," Collin said.
News of Irwin's death spread quickly, and tributes flowed from all quarters of society.
At Australia Zoo at Beerwah, south Queensland, floral tributes were dropped at the entrance, where a huge fake crocodile gapes. Drivers honked their horns as they passed.
"Steve, from all God's creatures, thank you. Rest in peace," was written on a card with a bouquet of native flowers.
"We're all very shocked. I don't know what the zoo will do without him. He's done so much for us, the environment and it's a big loss," said Paula Kelly, a local resident and volunteer at the zoo, after dropping off a wreath at the gate.
Stainton said Irwin's American-born wife Terri, from Eugene, Ore., had been informed of his death, and had told their daughter Bindi Sue, 8, and son Bob, who will turn 3 in December.
The couple met when she went on vacation in Australia in 1991 and visited Irwin's Australia Zoo; they were married six months later. Sometimes referred to as the "Crocodile Huntress," she costarred on her husband's television show and in his 2002 movie.