Tuesday, September 21, 2010
With New Poll Suggesting She's Far Behind Cohen, Bergmann Opens HQ
Posted by Jackson Baker on Tue, Sep 21, 2010 at 11:58 PM
- JB
- Bergmann addressing supporters Tuesday night
A new poll by Yacoubian Research suggests that the 9th District congressional campaign of Republican nominee Charlotte Bergmann is essentially no more viable than a primary challenge to incumbent Democrat Steve Cohen by former mayor Willie Herenton had been.
Herenton lost to Cohen by the margin of 4 to 1. Bergmann fares better, but just barely, in the Yacoubian survey, which was completed on September 7. In a sample of 205 “likely” 9th District voters, varied by race, sex, gender, age, and income in proportion to district ratios, 66.2 percent said they would vote for Cohen if the election were held today, while 22.9 percent opted for Bergmann. Answering “not sure” were 10.9 percent."
The finding didn’t’ seem to faze Bergmann, who opened her campaign headquarters on South Yates in East Memphis Tuesday night with a largish and overwhelmingly white and Republican crowd in attendance. “In order for us to win, we need all the Republicans to get out, and we need at least 15 percent of the Democrats,” Bergmann told the attendees, who included state Republican chairman Chris Devaney of Nashville.
The Yacoubian poll, exclusive to the Flyer, has Cohen winning large majorities among Democrats and independents, with Bergman predominating only among Republicans. The incumbent also was preferred by voters in all income categories except those making more than $70,000 a year. African-American voters chose Cohen by large majorities, and Caucasian females also liked him by a narrow margin. Bergmann had more supporters among Caucasian males. Cohen was the favorite in all age and education categories.
“I find it especially striking that Bergmann, an African-American female, polled only 1 percent in that category. That fact should weight very heavily on November 2, “pollster Berje Yacoubian said.
Looking for a silver lining, Bergmann and her supporters might be encouraged by the fact that white males favored her by 45.5 percent to Cohen’s 39.4 percent, and that her edge over Cohen among declared Republicans was 76.4 percent to 15.9 percent. Yacoubian also found the latter statistic noteworthy.
Comments (22)
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Ms. Bergmann is the Memphis equivalent of Christine O'Donnell. Die-hard Republicans are backed into a corner, and will support her (albeit tepidly) despite knowing she's unqualified for the job and will lose in a landslide. What's the Republican equivalent of a "yellow dog Democrat?"
And, speaking of Ms. O'Donnell, I'd like to have someone explain to me why what Ms. Bergmann is reportedly doing with some of her campaign contributions in paying herself a salary out of them is, at its most basic level, any different than what the watchdog organization CREW has accused Ms. O'Donnell of doing by using campaign contributions for personal expenses.
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Does she have a paying job? Other than running for this office? I thought that's one of the big criticisms local Republicans (and I share that criticism fully) have historically had for local Dems who run for office b/c they need a good-paying job. Just wondering. Doesn't appear she's breaking any laws, it's just indicative of how tough it is to find a strong GOP candidate to run in the 9th.
I saw a guy wearing a "Charlotte Bergmann can win" T-shirt at CY Fest.
I mentally added a few lines:
"...in a different district."
"...against a different opponent."
"...in an alternate universe."
Mick: I'm not accusing Ms. Bergmann of breaking any law. However, CREW (whose CEO, Melanie Sloan, is nobody's fool) has accused Ms. O'Donnelll of breaking the law by using campaign funds for personal expenses. http://www.citizensforethics.org/crew-call…
Which begs the obvious question, namely what is Ms. Bergmann doing with the "salary" she's taking out of her donated campaign funds http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/… if not using it for personal expenses. I can't think of a use for that money that wouldn't constitute a personal expense. Can you? Anybody?
I know it sounds like splitting hairs, but my reading of FEC law is that it's legal to pay a candidate a salary, but not legal for the candidate to, say, cut MLGW a check from the campaign fund to keep the lights turned on at home.
That being said, it's really quite ugly. It creates the appearance of a party sending out to Central Casting and paying someone to run.
It also annoys donors, I believe. I know I would be far less likely to give, thinking "Of course she's having a fundraiser. The cable bill is due."
TJ: This is worse than splitting hairs; it's a distinction without a difference. This must be why no one ever seems to get nailed for violating election law (that plus the toothlessness of the FEC).
What's she doing with her "salary," and what's the purpose of paying it to her? Can you think of a single thing she could do with it that wouldn't constitute using it for personal expenses? Even giving it away (e.g., to charity) constitutes a personal expense. What am I missing?
I am no fan of the FEC. Just another Federal commission that needs to be defunded. Let freedom ring! Maybe she is spending the money on gas to drive to events, keep the lights on at her new HQ?
"Cohen winning large majorities among Democrats and independents..." and, one might add, moderate Republicans. This week, because Memphis does not have a funding source and the use of public transportation is increasing, Steve is leading the effort to increase public funding for mass transit. Congressman Steve Cohen continues to work for the good of all Memphians. Vote to re-elect Congressman Steve Cohen for District 9 in November!
I don't like the woman, and there is no way I would vote for her. But paying yourself a salary seems acceptable to me. Running is a full time "job" and I don't want a ballot packed with people of means. So if we need to cut her some slack so a teacher or a fireman can run someday, so be it.
3: you haven't answered the question, and neither has Mick. Gas for travel to election-related events and lights at her HQ are legitimate campaign expenses, not something she needs a salary for.
If personal expenses are verboten, what difference does it make if you call what she's getting a salary if what she uses it for is to pay personal expenses. I'm sorry for beating this dead horse, but I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me what a salary is for if not for personal expenses, and why a salary is legal if personal expenses aren't. I'm as familiar as anyone with the inanities of statutory and regulatory language, but this sets a new standard in that category.
Oh, and mayfield: to answer your question about why she's running; it's a terrible job, but someone's gotta do it. I think the better question would be what could the Republicans have possibly been thinking, running her, and why couldn't they have found someone more credible. Even Jerry Lawler would have been better (and probably gotten more votes). Putting this token black woman up was a cynical ploy by the Repubs, not unlike Glenn Beck's featuring black speakers and singers at the otherwise lily-white Tea Bagger show-gathering in D.C. was.
1. Divide the people.
2. Create the appearance of popular support.
3. Neutralize the opposition.
4. Precipitate mob violence.
5. Create the semblance of revolution.
Someone asked me a question?
Marty you know the difference. It is an accounting question. Also, the salary levels have rules. A CEO can't write company checks to pay his bills. He can up his salary (pending board approval maybe) and then pay his bills. He can submit expense reports for reimbursement and see if the CFO approves.
As a lawyer could you write checks to cover personal expenses from your Awesomeberger PLLC account?
Gas for travel to election related events is probably fine, with a submitted expense report. A check for gas with a verbal explanation, not so. Covering the light bill personally and then getting reimbursed would also need to be documented.
I imagine the IRS, Sarbane Oxley is as much to blame for this as the FEC.
The FEC sets limits for salary - I don't remember exactly, but I think the limit is the actual salary of the position sought.
I'm guessing the rule against paying personal expenses is to keep donors from paying a candidate's salary and also setting them up in a sweet apartment with a lease on a sweet car.
The limit is previous years salary, or salary of office sought. Whichever is lower.
3: didn't the phrase "lies and damn lies" have something to do with accounting? Back when I worked in D.C. (when my agency's reputation was still intact), we busted more than a few Fortune 500 companies that had two sets of books. There's no less of that going on now, IMO, than ever, SOX to the contrary notwithstanding.
Why is everyone more concerned about the salary issue that the fact that the democrats have bankrupted this nation? Cohen is one of Nancy Pelosi's puppets. We need to repeal Obamacare, cut taxes, cut spending, drop cap and tax, and drill for oil.
I see one of those silly "Charlotte Bergmann Can Win" yard signs on my daily commute. And I think “only in your anti-Semitic Rethuglican dreams!”
Awesomeberg....
I'm having difficultly hearing you through the wind drag sir....
I do have a suggestion, slide the glasses a bit down the nose, and maybe add some kind of attachment for hanging them on your neck, it would accessorize your adopted role of sage adviser and all round condescending faux academic.
You shattered the illusion though, something like hoisting with your own petard when you borrowed the expression "tea-baggers". That's way too pedestrian for you, esquire, it bends you under its own low brow weight.
I like it though when, by counting colors, you pronounce your own diversity endorsement or lack thereof, worshiping at the alter of the zebra....which makes me wonder, is it black with white stripes?
"Steve is leading the effort to increase public funding for mass transit."
Funding isn't going to fix our public transportation system. MATA would have all the money they need if they provided a service people needed. Istead they provide a service where it takes me 3 hours to go 10 miles, which I can drive in 20 minutes. MATA ought to look at themselves planning effecient routes, better schedules, safer commutes and cleaner buses instead of the looking for federal government to intercede.
The misuse of federal and local dollars is the main agruement that the Tea Partiers have and they're right on that issue. The Main St trolley was amd is a big waste of money, building a downtown hub and operating a american way hub instead of having something centralized is where the problems start with MATA. In this country we continue to see money being spent poorly and the result local, state and federal deficits with nothing to show for it. The money has been allocated and it was allocated poorly. As the old saying goes poor planning on your part doesn't consitute aan emergency on my part.
I could continue put typing is not me greatest forte. Great discussion lets us remain civil.
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