Daily Election Update-1994 Elections

09/27/94 11:47 NO.019 P002/004 Daily Electionly date DEMOCRATIC David Wilbelm, Chairman CONFIDENTIAL GUIDANCE DAILY ELECTION UPDATE September 27, 1994 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Whitney (202) 479-5118 MORE ON THE REPUBLICAN CONTRACT Today, Republican congressional candidates - incumbents and challengers alike gather on the Capitol Steps to sign the Republican congressional leadership's "Contract With America." Then, they head off to their special interest fundraiser. The "contract" is a wonderfully Republican document: it gives middle class Americans the shaft by cutting Medicare and Social Security, it gives tax breaks to the rich and once again we see the financial gimmicks that made trickle-down economics infamous. Tax cuts, increased spending and miraculously, a balanced budget. No budget cuts are specified. It is estimated that balancing the budget and making good on the tax cuts promised in the contract would cost $1 trillion over five years or $1.6 trillion over seven. Writes E.J. Dionne in this morning's Washington Post, "Specifics on the tax cuts, gimmicks on the spending cuts... If the Republicans really support the balanced budget amendment, where will they get the money to balance the budget?" so WHO WROTE THE "CONTRACT"? GINGRICH'S CONTRIBUTORS? FRANK LUNTZ? In a letter to GOPAC contributors, Newt Gingrich asked, "Will you help me draft the Republican legislative agenda for the 104th Congress?" prompting a headline in the Atlanta Journal Constitution (9/22) that read, "Letter Promises Influence on GOP Agenda." And Republican pollster Frank Luntz, in a memo to Republican leaders, detailed the elaborate and exhaustive research process used to test every word in the "contract." In his testing of words, phrases and formats, Luntz discovered the people in his focus groups didn't like the word Republican. And now it's not in the title, appears only infrequently in the document and Republican leaders were cautioned to use the word sparingly. WYNIA LEADS GRAMS FOR DURENBERGER'S SENATE SEAT In the first poll conducted since the September 13 Minnesota primary, Democratic nominee Ann Wynia leads Congressman Rod Grams (R-06) 44-38 among likely voters. The Star-Tribune's poll, conducted 9/16-22, shows Wynia leading 52-29 among moderates and with an overall favorable/unfavorable rating of 53/24. Grams' favorables are at 46 while 30 percent of the voters view him unfavorably. BRENNAN HAS COMMANDING LEADING IN MAINE GUBERNATORIAL RACE Democratic nominee former Governor Joseph Brennan has a 13 point lead over independent candidate Angus King in a Portland Press Herald poll released Monday. Brennan leads King 36-23, with Republican Susan Collins coming in at 12 percent. In the seat (ME-02) left open by Republican Olympia Snowe, Democratic state senator John Baldacci leads his opponent 31-14. The survey of 542 likely voters has a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percent. DEAD HEAT IN THE BATTLE FOR GOVERNOR OF RHODE ISLAND A poll of 527 likely Rhode Island voters shows Democratic nominee Myrth York locked in a tight race with Republican Lincoln Almond who surprised Ron Machtley in the September 13 primary. York, a state Senator, promises to bring fiscal accountability back to the state in her Blueprint for the Future of Rhode Island. The poll was conducted Sept. 20-24 by the John Hazen White, Sr. Public Opinion Laboratory (margin of error +/- four percent). The same poll shows a Democratic pick-up likely in the U.S. House. State Representative Patrick Kennedy has a twenty point lead over opponent Kevin Vigilante in the race to fill the seal left open by Machtley. Democratic Party Headquarters 430 South Capital Street, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20003 202.863.8000 FAX: 202.863.8091 Paid for try the Democratic National Committee. Contributions is the Democrate National Committee are not tax deductible.