Baseline poll for TX-SEN

Burka reported on a Rasmussen poll last week that had John Cornyn leading both Democrats by about 20 points. Now we have another poll, by Research 2000, that gives a similar but slightly better result for Rick Noriega.

Research 2000 for Daily Kos. 9/24-26. Likely voters. MoE 4% (No trend lines)

If the 2008 election for U.S. Senate were held today, would you to reelect John Cornyn, would you consider voting for another candidate, or would you vote to replace Cornyn?

Reelect 40
Consider 15
Replace 35

If 2008 election for U.S. Senate were held today, for whom would you vote for if the choices were between Rick Noriega, the Democrat, and John Cornyn, the Republican?

Cornyn (R) 51
Noriega (D) 35

Full crosstabs are available at the link above. Not too bad a result for a State Rep making his first statewide run, if you ask me. Noriega's number corresponds to the "replace" number for Cornyn, so there's clearly room to grow. And for the purposes of comparison, the Rasmussen archives remind us that in the first poll matching up Kay Bailey Hutchison and Barbara Radnofsky, KBH led by a 64-25 margin. To say the least, this is a more encouraging beginning.

Speaking of encouraging, Noriega has blown well past $100K in ActBlue fundraising, totaling over $120K at this writing. Heck, just the Netroots for Noriega page has collected $100K+ for him. We're also at 969 contributors, so we'll need a bit more than ten a day through Sunday to hit 1000. Can you help?

And finally, Noriega has just garnered the endorsement of VoteVets.org. Here's their press release:

VoteVets.org, the leading political organization for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, today endorsed the U.S. Senate candidacy of Rick Noriega in his effort to unseat incumbent Republican John Cornyn.

Founded in 2006 by Iraq War Veterans Jon Soltz and Jeremy Broussard, VoteVets.org has endorsed eight candidates, both Democrats and Republicans, and held 11 Members of Congress accountable for failing to provide body armor and health care to active service members. The organization's Board of Advisors includes respected veterans who speak from experience, including General Wesley K. Clark (ret.) and former Senator Bob Kerrey.

"As an Afghanistan veteran, you are keenly aware that the current course we are on has not only brought our fine Army and Marine Corps to the breaking point, but has endangered our security," Soltz wrote in his letter to Noriega, noting the growing threat of al Qaeda once again in Afghanistan and Pakistan. "The dose of reality you will bring to the floor of the Senate couldn't come at a more important time."

Noriega, who serves as a Lt. Col. in the National Guard, has been an outspoken critic of the Administration's policies in Iraq, and John Cornyn's failed leadership. "The problem is, we hold a private in the US Army to a higher level of accountability than the junior Senator from the state of Texas," Noriega stated. "Real Texans don't vote against giving troops time home with their families. I've had the privilege of serving shoulder-to-shoulder with our men and women in uniform, and I'm ready to lead the fight in the US Senate to end this war."

Soltz, in his letter, called John Cornyn "one of the weakest voices on troops' and veterans' issues," and noting his refusal to allow our military to refit and rearm along with his votes against care for veterans, he added "Texans have little to be proud of when it comes to John Cornyn's record on veterans and troops." The endorsement from VoteVets.org follows on the heels of the endorsement by the State Association of Fire Fighters, and a growing number of Democratic leaders supporting Noriega's candidacy to represent the State of Texas in the United States Senate.

The endorsement letter is here. Feeling encouraged yet? I sure am.

UPDATE Nine ninety-eight as of 1 PM! Who wants to be donor #1000?

Posted by Charles Kuffner on September 28, 2007 to Election 2008