Politics

TheDC Election Outlook: $141 million down the drain for Whitman?

Jonathan Strong Jonathan Strong, 27, is a reporter for the Daily Caller covering Congress. Previously, he was a reporter for Inside EPA where he wrote about environmental regulation in great detail, and before that a staffer for Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA). Strong graduated from Wheaton College (IL) with a degree in political science in 2006. He is a huge fan of and season ticket holder to the Washington Capitals hockey team. Strong and his wife reside in Arlington.
Font Size:

With a little over a week left before Election Day, things are looking increasingly dire for former eBay exec and Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman in California — and the $141.6 million of her own money she’s spent to beat Democrat Jerry Brown.

The latest poll, by Rasmussen, shows Brown with a six point lead.

Based on past election returns, it looks like at this point Whitman will have spent at least $30 per vote, only to lose.

Meanwhile, Democratic Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland appears to be leading a late surge in his for reelection.

In the latest CNN/Time poll, Strickland is leading by one point. That’s the first time he’s led in any poll since June.

Strickland is bringing President Obama and Vice President Biden to Ohio this week to gin up enthusiasm.

Former Republican congressman and Fox News host John Kasich will bring Newt Gingrich, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour to campaign for him.

Otherwise, the governors races are holding mostly steady. Republicans are predicted to win about 27 seats, Democrats 15. Eight others are tossups.

The governors race in Georgia should be considered a sleeper race for the Democrats.

Republican Rep. Nathan Deal is leading polls, but has less than 50 percent support in most of them. Some analysts are expecting a runoff race, which would take place if no candidate achieves 50 percent on Nov. 2.

A runoff race would allow two more weeks for impending ethics and financial issues to catch up with Deal.

At least four ethics complaints have been filed against Deal. Action by state authorities on any of them could hurt his candidacy.

Deal also faces an impending financial issue regarding loans he co-signed for a failed business run by his daughter and son-in-law. Deal’s house in Gainesville is for sale to help pay a $2.3 million business loan due in February.