Is 26 years enough?

From the Miami Herald-

Veteran U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw trails his Democratic challenger by 10 points in a Miami Herald poll that underscores the difficulties Republicans face as they try to maintain control of the U.S. House of Representatives amid increasing voter unrest.

The poll of 401 likely voters in one of the hottest congressional races in the country shows that the war in Iraq is a major factor in how people will vote. That's a problem for Shaw, who voted for the war and has labored to distance himself from President Bush.

Republicans have sought to keep the congressional races focused locally, but the survey results suggest that Tuesday's election has ''morphed into a referendum on President Bush and the war on Iraq,'' said pollster John Zogby, who conducted the survey for The Miami Herald.

The poll, conducted Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, carries a margin of error of 5 percentage points. The survey shows state Rep. Ron Klein leading Shaw 49.2 percent to 39.6 percent, with 6 percent of voters undecided.

The Miami Herald survey also shows that Klein is picking up support among critical independent voters in the district, which stretches along the Broward and Palm Beach county coastlines.

''This is not over,'' Zogby said, ``but Clay Shaw is definitely on the ropes and it may not have anything to do with who he is or how he campaigns.

I agree with Zogby, the race isn't over till tomorrow's results come in. This poll however doesn't bode well for Shaw's chances.

Also I think the Shaw campaign is getting desperate. Seen by their having people hanging signs on people's door knobs yesterday afternoon. I for one find this very annoying, and told Shaw's press secretary Gail Gitcho so in an email. Door hangers aren't going to sway people to vote for a candidate in TFM's opinion. I think its more likely they will annoy some voters for the signs can be considered an invasion of privacy.

Shaw has been running nothing but a negative campaign. So has Ron Klein, but the difference could be Shaw being seen as overstaying his welcome. After 26 years in Washington, how much is Shaw really in touch with Florida 22nd voters?

Linked to- Third World County, Bright & Early, Right Wing Nation,