I think I’ve been pretty clear about my utter lack of enthusiasm for a potential Senator Hoeven, but I can’t help but be surprised by the outcome of this poll even if it is sponsored by Republicans:

Hoeven Crushes Dorgan in GOP Poll: North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven (R) led Sen. Byron Dorgan (D) 53 percent to 36 percent, according to a poll conducted for the National Republican Senatorial Committee and obtained by the Fix. Both Dorgan and Hoeven have extremely strong profiles in the eyes of the state’s voters. Hoeven had a stratospheric 86 percent favorable ratings while just five percent viewed him unfavorably; Dorgan had a 69/24 fav/unfav. Hoeven, who was overwhelmingly re-elected to a third term last November, has said he will make a decision on whether to challenge Dorgan by September. Earlier this week, Hoeven was asked about a Senate bid during an appearance on Bloomberg Radio and said only: “I haven’t made any decision in that regard.” Hoeven has been heavily recruited to run against Dorgan and Sen. Kent Conrad (D) in cycles past but has resisted. If he decides to run—and this poll is designed to sweeten that proposition—the North Dakota race would immediately become a toss up.

Hoeven is, at best, a liberal Republican who promotes big government and opposes tax cuts.  He is no champion of conservative ideals, and would do little to help the conservative cause in Washington DC.

That being said, getting one of North Dakota’s “big three” out of office would cut the flow of national liberal money into the state (the state Democrat party gets about 85% of its money from out-of-state contributors) and would open up new channels of fundraising for Republicans in the state.  Some of whom might be pretty conservative.  The problem?  Hoeven would likely be the gatekeeper for that money, and would direct it to his preferred candidates.  Who, frankly, would probably be about as conservative as he is.

Which, as I’ve already pointed out, isn’t conservative at all.

Having Hoeven in the Senate instead of Dorgan would be a marginally better situation for North Dakota and the limited government movement.  But only just barely.  I want to see Dorgan out of office as much as anyone, and Hoeven may just have the political clout to do it, but conservatives won’t have a whole lot to cheer about.