Democrats say Sen. Jeff Atwater vulnerable

A Florida Democratic Party internal poll shows that Sen. Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, has low re-elect numbers. They polled people in his district, asking if Sen. Atwater should be re-elected, and only 27 percent said yes.

Most safe incumbents poll around 50 percent, when it comes to re-election numbers, party spokesman Mark Bubriski said. Bubriski said the re-election poll was done in the past three months.

When the pollsters compared the incoming Republican senate president to Democratic challenger Skip Campbell, Campbell lead Atwater by a few points within the margin of error, according to the internal poll. No detailed numbers were available on that poll, but that was done in the past few weeks.

Sen. Jeff Atwater's campaign spokesman Rick Wilson responded: "Their numbers are in no way in touch with reality whatso-ever."

Comments

No detailed numbers or questions of the push poll?

Exactly what he deserves - he and the Republican leadership abandoned the middle class and worked hard to turn them into the working poor. They were too busy last session trying to give CSX $700 million and protecting the beach-front vacation homes of multi-millionaires at the expense of the average taxpayer.

He had plenty of time last session for truck nutzzz, baggy pants, and a state reptile - but NO TIME for tax reform.

Remember in November!!!!

Every incumbent, from Congress, to Senate, to Governor, to County and City Commissions are in trouble. This season is not about R-v-D, so much as it is about anyone-v-Incumbents.

[Zorro]

If the best Campbell can do is get to even in a push poll the guy is cooked.

Atwater is a joke - fake and patronizing, just like his campaign. You ever talked to him? It's like whatever you have to say is going in one ear and out the other.

Time to get throw out!

Skip Campbell doesn't even live in the district and can't even vote for himself.

[Jason Straight]

Wheres my insurance relief Allstate is killing up with Atwaters blessin...Skip haTES INSURANCE COS..tIMES UP!We need to send a message if you put special interests ahead of middle class folks you are toast!

Don't like Campbell, but don't like Atwater either... 5:02 is right... he's just too "politician" for me.

I suppose Campbell is ok...

Suppose Campbell is ok. He is a drunk and someone who is only out for himself. Term Limits mean something, they mean serve your time and then go back to your life. An ego maniac like Skip just can't handle that.

If your numbers are so good Bubriski release the numbers let us all see them. Truth is your numbers are made up.

50% re-elect show me one state legislator with a 50% re-elect. Any pollster that can show you a 50% re-elect is obviously smoking crack.

5:11, stop the ad hominem arguments. Like you've never had a drink before. Makes your boss Atwater look bad when you attack Skip the person... try attacking Skip the senator.

Guess you can't let the voters decide... re-election campaigns are always about the incumbents, and this is one incumbent that isn't fooling anyone anymore... he was all about taking money from big insurance before he learned it would be a campaign issue... classic sleaze.

He hasn't brought anything to his district... he's finished.

I can't believe the St. Pete times ran with this story without actually seeing the polling data. So much for being fair and honest.

5:16 Glad to see you are earning your pay Bubriski.

Skip the Senator please, how about Skip the personal injury trial lawyer. The guy is a sleaze.

Not releasing a poll but telling its numbers. Who releases a poll other than someone who realizes the numbers are made up.

LOL!

I remember the Democrats claiming to have a poll showing Jim Davis winning the Governor's race. Oh yeah he got beat by 400,000 votes. Great polling or great lying you decide.

[AtwaterWinsHandsDown]

I'm a dem pretty familiar/involved in S. FL politics, and I'd have to think that this poll is way off. It just doesn't even make sense. I'd like to see it, but it sounds pretty bogus. At least they got a story though...

[Campaign Manager]

There is a reason the Florida Democratic Party is at play in this district.

Also, whether or not these exact numbers are very accurate, the fact is, the people of the district voted for Campbell in 2006 (he won the precincts in the district in his Attorney General camapign) more recently that they voted for Atwater. If he can get his fundrasing back on track, Campbell can win the seat.

Atwater has been on TV and been campaigning door to door and meeting voters. Skip has been slamming drinks at his local pub. Not sure how many voters would be at a pub outside of the district where Skip lives.

I met Skip at an event once and he did smell like bourbon.

rich heffley says he can pull this off for atwater and he never loses.

His fundraising has never been on track. Atwater is gonna swamp him. Sorry Skippy, you're done...

[A very fed up Republican]

Anyone other then Atwater could win that seat. When Atwater's opponent starts to show people the bad bills Atwater voted for, bills that go against his constituents, bills that actually hurt the people he is supposed to be protecting, the poll margins will change in Campbells favor even further. It is evident that the Senate money grabbers, Haridopeolis and Atwater, are frantic. They are calling all the lobbyist and squeezing and squeezing them for money. They are threathening anyone that might even think about funding Atwaters opponent. Lobbyist better watch out because Campbell could really win. They should tell lil boy Hari that they don't like being threathened. It would be interesting to see the lobby core finally grow some and stand up. A friend of mine got a call from the lil boy Hari and was told to think of a number that may match what he was thinking of. They intimated that it would not be good for them and they wouldnt get anything they needed if they did not contribute, and hell would break loose if they funded Campbell. I don't care if you like Campbell or not, this kind of extortion should not be taking place. But what it tells me and many others, is that they are very frightened that Atwater is going to lose. They need to re-invent this loser Atwater and that will take big money. They will spend millions to make him look like Christ himself. My friend will not be contributing to the thugs who called and I am so very proud of him.

6:09 Ha. Sure, inbetween the drinking.

7:06 is about as Republican as Skip is sober

The one thing we know for sure is Atwater has the best bloggers money can buy !!!

7:14 Been a Republican all my life and worked for Barry Goldwater. Many of todays R's don't have a clue what the Republican platform really is. You think because a Republican disagrees with what these idiots are doing to the party that makes them not Republican.. How wrong you are. Wait for election time.

Atwater is not Senate President material at all.

Atwater will not win. Too Many bad votes. He sold himself and now it is going to catch up to him. He will be new Sam Bell, but he will have spent far more to try to win then Sam did.

If the Democrats dont get aggressive about taking this seat, then they are really retarted. If they knock out the designated President, wow, what a shot. Go for it with everything you got. This is the only seat I would even put money into if I were them. This is the big one and is so very winnable.

[Jason Straight]

The district will go strong for Obama..its foreclosure rates are some of the highest in the state unemployment exploding statewide..I think skip has a slim chance..Itd a new world out there all the old FGOP formulas dont work any more..Id rather has a successful trial lawyer fighting the insurance industry than a friend of the industry like Atwater..ya think!

05:59 PM - but could anything smell as bad as the bills passed by the Republican members last session???

I think not!

Remember in November!

Atwater's campaign people are not very good... I've heard of people talking to four, five, six different people about the same thing!

Poor campaign org... it's a blessing to Atwater that Skip won't try at all.

[Atwater Blogger]

"The one thing we know for sure is Atwater has the best bloggers money can buy !!!"

Nothing about Atwater equals "the best".

Would love for the lobbyists to get burned in this one. LOL.

The distict will go for McCain there is no way an anti-semite like Barack Hussein Obama plays well in this district.

Add his tax plan that raises taxes on every American and its a no brainer.

[Icecold]

7:59am. Anti-Semite?? We can see who the biggot really is

One does not have to be a Democrat to know how vulnerable Atwater is. All the Republicans know too.