Return of a Native

I’ve been traveling on business for the last two weeks, which is why I haven’t been posting much. Not that you’ve probably noticed, given how prolific Scott and Paul have been. (I’ve found that a great many people don’t distinguish among the three of us, and in some cases–Al Franken is a notable example–don’t realize that we are three different people.) I got home this afternoon in time to tape a segment on the Minnesota Senate race with Sean Hannity. The segment is scheduled to air on Hannity’s America Sunday night.

For those in the mood for good news–and what conservative wouldn’t be?–here are some interesting items from Rasmussen Reports.

Rasmussen asked respondents about the proposed gas tax holiday and, more broadly, their attitudes toward federal spending. The conclusions were interesting: voters are pretty evenly split on the holiday, which both John McCain and Hillary Clinton favor, with 46% approving and 42% opposing. It’s lower income voters who favor the gas tax holiday strongly, while upper income voters, who likely consider themselves more sophisticated–or, perhaps, realize that the gas tax is regressive–tend to oppose the holiday. This fits rather neatly with the national picture, as it is the candidate of the elite, Barack Obama, who scorns the holiday, notwithstanding the immediate and practical relief it would afford Americans who drive.

The poll’s other findings are probably more important as indicators of attitudes toward November’s election:

The survey also found that 37% of voters believe the federal government needs more tax revenue to fund important national programs such as highway repairs and health care reform. Forty-six percent (46%) disagree.

In a closely related finding, “56% of all voters are at least somewhat worried that the next President will raise taxes too much and harm the economy. *** At the other end of the spectrum, 43% are at least somewhat worried that the next President will cut taxes so much that it will harm important government programs.”

These numbers suggest that there may still be a center-right plurality, and that John McCain has a path to victory based on a commitment to making do with the revenues the government already has, and prioritizing them to meet the country’s most important needs.

Finally, in a separate survey Rasmussen finds that McCain is leading both Democratic contenders in the swing state of Wisconsin:

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Wisconsin shows John McCain holding identical leads over both potential democratic candidates. McCain tops both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama by a 47% to 43% margin.

If McCain can beat Obama in states like Wisconsin, he has a legitimate chance to win the election. Of course, November is a long way away.

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