Why Didn’t Valley News Live Poll The PSC Race?

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Written By:
Rob Port

Oct 10, 2012
11:18am

Democrat PSC candidate Brad Crabtree makes a fair point on Twitter about recent polling from Mason-Dixon, sponsored by NBC affiliate Valley News Live, which measured every statewide race except the PSC race:

Trying to figure out why PSC race not included in poll bit.ly/VHa0xr interesting because PSC race most competitive statewide #ndpol

— Brad Crabtree (@CrabtreeforPSC) October 10, 2012

Crabtree is fooling himself in thinking the PSC race is the most competitive statewide. He’s spent more of his time acting as a surrogate for Democrat House candidate Pam Gulleson in attacks against Republican House candidate Kevin Cramer than running for the PSC. He also got a shellacking in the polls in 2010 as Cramer cruised to re-election at the PSC with more than 60% of the vote.

Crabtree might be expected to pick up some ground this time around given that he’s a) not running against a popular Republican incumbent and b) might have a name recognition advantage over state Senator Randy Christmann, but he’s certainly not the favorite to win that race.

Crabtree’s wild-eyed accusations about supposed ethics lapses by commissioners Kevin Cramer and Brian Kalk haven’t gotten any traction. They certainly haven’t hurt Cramer in his campaign for the US House where he enjoys a sizable lead over Gulleson. Crabtree isn’t going to win.

Even so, it’s strange that Valley News Live would poll every other statewide race but this one. Did someone forget about this race?