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Maldonado takes the lead in new poll

October 9, 2012

Abel Maldonado

Republican congressional candidate Abel Maldonado surged one point ahead of Democratic incumbent Lois Capps for the first time in the campaign in a poll released Monday.

The poll, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies, shows Maldonado leading Capps 45 to 44, although well within the margin of error of 4.9 percent. Public Opinion Strategies’ previous poll placed Capps in front of Maldonado by five percent — 49 to 44.

Maldonado, who has alienated many San Luis Obispo County Republicans by not showing up to debates and speaking engagements, likewise pulled ahead of Capps in the county by a 46 to 43 margin. The poll shows the race deadlocked in Santa Barbara County at 44 percent.

In recent weeks, Capps has attacked Maldonado repeatedly over his personal and family tax disputes with the Internal Revenue Service. But, the poll indicated that voters have begun to respond negatively to her focus on Maldonado’s taxes. Indicative of Capps’ dip in the polls, 27 percent of likely voters said candidate tax issues are important and 68 percent said they are unimportant.

Maldonado and Capps each maintained slightly favorable image ratings. Forty percent of those surveyed viewed Maldonado in a positive manner while 37 percent viewed him negatively. And, 44 percent held a positive image of Capps while 40 percent held a negative one.

While Maldonado took the overall lead, the 24th Congressional District, which now consists of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, as well as parts of northern Ventura County, leans slightly Democratic. Public Opinion Strategies asked some voters only whether they would vote for a Democrat or Republican. Forty-four percent said they would vote for the Democrat, and 42 percent said they would vote for the Republican.

The Public Opinion Strategies poll surveyed 400 likely voters on behalf of the Maldonado campaign from October 1-3. It included interviews in both English and Spanish.

Capps’ campaign has yet to publicly release polling data.


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So the secret to victory for Maldonado is that he stops “showing up to debates and speaking engagements.” Guess people don’t like what he says when he actually says something.


Maybe Maldonado’s plan to get “reforms” passed through Congress (if elected) will be by not showing up to committee hearings or participating in debate. His good looks should be enough, shouldn’t they?


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Actually Maldonado bested Capps in a very recent debate held at the Tribune in SLO.


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I was there, and all Abel could do was pretend to be a Republican. If you call that a victory I feel sorry for your party.


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Maldonado is no huge prize but it would be wonderful to get ride of Capps. The ONLY reason Capps was elected is because her husband Walter passed away months before his election.


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Neither one of these candiates woud be on the ballot if I had my why. However, since this is the choice given to us, I do not want continued non=thinking independent “yes I will” Lois Capps. She votes 99% of the time for the “democrat party” and is one of the best democrats on the hill who iknows how to sell her vote. That is why she gives so much money back to the County, that we continue to borrow from China, and only buy more votes back in the County. It is one hand feeding the other: one vote = one grant = makes a special interest group happy at home who will support her = votes = reelection = one vote, = one more grant = another special interest group = etc etc. etc. Like a rat on a spinning wheel!!!


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Maldonado is a bum.


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Capps is worse than a bum…


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Maldonado is typical of whats wrong with politics, he will do or say anything including changing parties, is not qualified for the job, and has issues withpersonal finances and taxes. Yeah give this grifter a fat salary and cushy public position. Idiots can vote, Idiots get elected.


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So is Capps. They BOTH are.


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And Capps does not/will not? Capps needs to go.


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You’re in the wrong forum. The Romney comments are on another page.


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Did I really just read this right? “surged one point ahead” ?! Surging ONE (1) point ahead? I guess the definition of “surge” has been politicized here… that’s too bad.


I do not like either of these two fools, and it will not matter which one gets in, we’re all going to be the losers for “electing” them.


I have not had such a wind-out-of-my-sails moment since Bush & Gore were two choices.


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I think “surge” indicates he closed the 5 point lead Capps had.


Technically, I guess it’s a partial mini-surge for Maldo, and a partial mini-tank for Capps.


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Goota be a function of the most recent televised debate. Capps was Obama/10 with a look of “I’m in way over my head”.


Don’t like Abel, but Capps would be a continued disaster.


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So would Abel.


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Yet at some point one has to pick the best of the worst and that’s Abel.


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No you don’t. Congressional elections are a farce. Better not to vote at all; it just enables them


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Naw. It’s not “Better not to vote at all.” That pure horse manure.


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“Better not to vote at all.” is a vote for Lois Capps. Smart thinking there Crusader. Lois Capps is probable a very nice person but a politician she is not. She is totally for the Democratic Party, regardless of right/wrong, good for the people of her district. Pelosi says this is how you vote, what do you want for the vote and it’s a done deal. Nice lady gets $money$ for her district (borrowed from China) which buys her more votes since she was elected in 2003. If you want to know why we are in trouble with employment, energy resources, trading, etc. it is because congresspeople like Capps are assigned to the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce Comittee with no background in business or common sense. She also serves on a subcommitte for health which gives us Obamacare which she strongly supports altough she did not read the bill and now claims changes need to be made.

She is also a member of the New Democrat Coalition. Not surprisingly, California and New York have the most members of congress belonging to the New Democrat Coalition.


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“27 percent of likely voters said candidate tax issues are important and 68 percent said they are unimportant”…


Say what? How is a candidate cheating on his taxes not important? My frustration and disgust with our elected officials is being overrun by my frustrations and disgust with the electorate. We are doomed.


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Maybe you should ask Tim Geitner, but maybe he is too busy bailing out the banks and giving the middle finger to the middle class


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Let’s set the record straight. Capps is the tax cheat. She did not report income on her taxes, meaning that she turned in fraudulent tax returns. Not reporting income can send you to jail. Disputing tax deductions is another story. Usually, the consequence is that you have to disallow the deduction and pay additional taxes plus interest to the IRS.


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Abel is a tax cheat, too, isn’t he? Two tax cheats running for Congress. Imagine that!


That’s why elections are a farce.


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I see now…Abel’s issue is that it is just a dispute, let’s just call it a misunderstanding. He wasn’t try to score some extra deductions which would result in paying less taxes. All clear now…that was a big help…how could I be so blind…thanks for clarifying.


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Go Abel! At all costs Lois Capps must go and if Abel doesn’t work, in two years he will be out. CHANGE YOU CAN MAKE!


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