Hamilton Campaigns
Memorandum - Septmber 17, 2008
To: Interested Parties
From: Hamilton Campaigns
Date: September 17, 2008
Re: Polling in Florida CD 24
Key Findings
- After two weeks of unanswered television, Democrat Suzanne Kosmas is tied with incumbent Republican Tom Feeney in the race for Florida’s 24th Congressional District (42% Kosmas – 43% Feeney – 1% Gaurav Bhola – 14% undecided). In May, prior to her Democratic primary victory and her television introduction to general election voters, Kosmas trailed Feeney by -14 percentage points (37% Kosmas – 51% Feeney – 12% undecided).
- Tom Feeney’s job rating is more negative than it was in May polling. Voters are now more split in their opinion on the job performance of Congressman Feeney (now: 37% positive – 38% negative – 25% no opinion; May: 43% positive – 36% negative – 21% no opinion). Incumbent Tom Feeney’s personal opinion rating (+7 percentage point net positive) is in even worse shape than his job rating (now: 41% favorable – 35% unfavorable – 24% cannot rate; May: 53% favorable – 30% unfavorable – 18% cannot rate).
Bottomline
Tom Feeney is one of the most vulnerable incumbents in the U.S. Congress. Feeney’s image is weak and voters view him more negatively today than in May. Suzanne Kosmas has used her post-primary communications to introduce herself and showcase Tom Feeney’s failures including record national debt, ethics violations, and lack of concern for veterans. Since Kosmas entered the race in October 2007 she has out fundraised Tom Feeney. To move from a tied race to an Election Day victory, Kosmas must continue to raise money to pay for the television communications needed to unseat an entrenched incumbent and defend against his inevitable, desperate attacks.