Smith poll numbers in the tank; Now 3rd least popular senator

Smith poll numbers keep plunging; now 3rd least popular senator

Blue Oregon, Kari Chisholm, 3/6/08

Here at BlueOregon, we've been trying to shout it from the rooftops - Gordon Smith is vulnerable. The good folks at the DPO's Stop Gordon Smith project have made it a steady refrain.
Now and again, though, I hear activists wonder if it's really true. After all, the well-dressed millionaire has managed to bamboozle Oregon voters before. Well, folks, Oregon voters are on to him. And, yes, he's really vulnerable. Very vulnerable.

In the latest SurveyUSA poll, released last week, Smith is down to 48% approval and 43% disapproval - just 5% net approval.

OK, that seems bad, but how bad is it? Here's a little context: Senator Ron Wyden is at 61% approval, 30% disapproval - 31% net. Yup, twice as many people approve of Wyden as disapprove.

Here's more context:

Over at Badlands Blue, a lefty blog from South Dakota, they put together a chart with all 34 Senators tracked by SurveyUSA. I've highlighted Wyden's and Smith's numbers.

That's right: Gordon Smith's net approval is worse than every Senator but two. Absolutely abysmal.

And here's a bit more context - the net approval numbers for both Smith and Wyden. Even at his highest point (right after the Iraq-is-Criminal speech), Smith's never had a net approval as high as Wyden's - and other than that blip, it's been on a steady downward trend.

So, yes, Gordon Smith is vulnerable. Take it to the bank.

Posted March 6, 2008
In the News