Mark Udall made himself into something of a laughingstock in Colorado by focusing so strongly on certain social issues, even the media began referring to him as Mark 'Uterus,' instead of Udall.
Now, a new Associated Press-GfK poll suggests it was a disastrous strategic choice for his campaign, even if it had been done effectively. For candidates "trying to rally voters around traditional wedge issues such as abortion and gay marriage. This fall, voters just have other matters on their minds."
Along with a general dissatisfaction with all things Washington, D.C. - often personified as disapproval of Barack Obama - the economy, health care, ISIS, or the Islamic State group and the Ebola outbreak are more on people's minds, than social issues.
Only 32 percent of likely voters called gay marriage an important issue, compared with 91 percent ranking the economy important, 78 percent with similar concerns about health care and 74 percent naming Ebola important. The issue that some Democrats have emphasized most of all — abortion rights — also has been a relatively low priority, with only 43 percent of likely voters in a September poll ranking it important.
Yet women's health and reproductive rights have been at the center of campaigns for U.S. Senate in Alaska, Iowa, North Carolina and especially Colorado. There, half of the ads aired by Democratic Sen. Mark Udall and those backing his re-election have criticized his GOP opponent, Rep. Cory Gardner, on women's health issues. They include a contention that the 40-year-old congressman from eastern Colorado wants to ban some forms of birth control.
"Democrats this year clearly think that all that you need is that silver bullet of social issues," said Katy Atkinson, a GOP political consultant in Denver. "It's not. You need more." Reported by Breitbart 9 hours ago.
Now, a new Associated Press-GfK poll suggests it was a disastrous strategic choice for his campaign, even if it had been done effectively. For candidates "trying to rally voters around traditional wedge issues such as abortion and gay marriage. This fall, voters just have other matters on their minds."
Along with a general dissatisfaction with all things Washington, D.C. - often personified as disapproval of Barack Obama - the economy, health care, ISIS, or the Islamic State group and the Ebola outbreak are more on people's minds, than social issues.
Only 32 percent of likely voters called gay marriage an important issue, compared with 91 percent ranking the economy important, 78 percent with similar concerns about health care and 74 percent naming Ebola important. The issue that some Democrats have emphasized most of all — abortion rights — also has been a relatively low priority, with only 43 percent of likely voters in a September poll ranking it important.
Yet women's health and reproductive rights have been at the center of campaigns for U.S. Senate in Alaska, Iowa, North Carolina and especially Colorado. There, half of the ads aired by Democratic Sen. Mark Udall and those backing his re-election have criticized his GOP opponent, Rep. Cory Gardner, on women's health issues. They include a contention that the 40-year-old congressman from eastern Colorado wants to ban some forms of birth control.
"Democrats this year clearly think that all that you need is that silver bullet of social issues," said Katy Atkinson, a GOP political consultant in Denver. "It's not. You need more." Reported by Breitbart 9 hours ago.