Internal Poll has Wulsin ‘within striking distance’

Congressional candidate Victoria Wulsin: Campaign photoA poll conducted by Momentum Analysis for the campaign of Dr. Victoria Wulsin (D-Indian Hill) shows Wulsin within single digits of U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) in the race for Ohio's 2nd Congressional district.

The poll has Schmidt leading Wulsin 41 percent to 33 percent in the district, which Momentum Analysis called "within striking distance" in a memo to the Wulsin campaign.

The poll also showed Schmidt with both a 45 percent favorable and 45 percent unfavorable rating amongst the 500 likely voters polled in the district. Interviews were done over the telephone between June 24 and June 26, with a margin of error of +/- 4.4 percent.

When asked whether they would vote to re-elect Schmidt, 36 percent said they would, while 33 percent would replace her and 15 percent are willing to "consider someone other than Schmidt."

One-third of respondents had a positive view of Schmidt's performance in office, while 53 percent had a negative view of her job performance.

Wulsin communications director Kevin Franck said the poll results showed voters don't trust Schmidt.

"This poll shows that people in the second district just don't trust Jean Schmidt to tell the truth and who can blame them," he said. "Jean Schmidt lied about her resume, lied about writing an editorial that was published in a newspaper, lied about being endorsed by fellow Republicans and just recently lied about China drilling for oil off the coast of Florida."

Franck also hit Schmidt for voting for a six-cent increase in Ohio's gas-tax in 2003, a measure that was also supported by former Ohio Republican Gov. Bob Taft, and has been the subject of a melee in Ohio's first Congressional district.

"Jean Schmidt voted to raise the gas tax while she was in Columbus and in Washington she has consistently voted against measures that would lower the price of gas, all the while cashing in on tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions for oil and gas companies," Franck said. "With gas more than four dollars a gallon, Jean Schmidt's record is catching up with her."

Franck's comments come as the DCCC announced radio advertisements targeting Schmidt, along with 12 other Republicans, for "standing with George Bush and Big Oil" while "middle class families are squeezed by gas prices." U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Westwood) is also being targeting in a similar advertisement.

Franck said the advertisement is a sign the DCCC thinks the race is worth the investment of advertising dollars.

"It's a sign that the DCCC has confidence that Vic can beat Jean Schmidt in November, and they think that our campaign is running well," he said. "Jean Schmidt's record in Congress has been disappointing. She's voted to allow $13 billion in tax breaks for oil and gas companies. She's voted against anti-price-gouging measures, all the while taking tens of thousands of dollars in contributions from the companies that benefit most from those votes."

Franck said the radio ad buy was the first investment the DCCC has made this cycle in the race for Ohio's second, and that it was an encouraging sign of things to come.

The ad being run by the DCCC against Schmidt:

"Phone Call" - 60 seconds

(Sound of phone ringing. After rings, ANSWERING MACHINE picks up):

Hi, you've reached the Office of Congresswoman Jean Schmidt. Please leave a message at the sound of the beep and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

("PRESIDENT BUSH" leaves message):

Jeannie..."W" here. Wanted to thank you for continuing to support the Big Oil Energy Agenda.

‘Preciate you voting to keep giving billions in tax breaks to the big oil companies.

Sure, gasoline is over four bucks a gallon and the oil companies are making record profits, but what's good for Big Oil is good for America, right? I guess that's why they call us the Grand OIL Party. (Bush chuckles.)

Heh, heh, heh.

Seriously, Jean, I know I can always count on you.

Gotta go. Bye now.

ANNOUNCER:

Call Jean Schmidt at (513) 791-0381 and tell him to stop rewarding the oil companies and start standing up for hard working Americans. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising. Paid for by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, dccc.org. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

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