What The "Beltway Insiders" Think

We've seen the opinions of the general population in numerous polls recently, and I'm sure we'll see a lot more befor this election is over. But I thought this survey done by New York Magazine was very interesting. They decided to find out what the "beltway insiders" (Washington political professionals) were thinking about the current political situation, so they rounded up 74 of them (37 Republicans and 37 Democrats) and asked them a few questions (promising to keep their identities hidden so they could get honest opinions). Here are some of the results:

WHO WILL WIN THE 2012 ELECTION?
Obama...............82%
Romney...............18%

WHO WILL CONTROL THE SENATE & BY HOW MANY SEATS?
Democrats (53 or more seats)...............11%
Democrats (52 seats)...............35%
Democrats (51 seats)...............33%
Democrats (50-50 with Biden)...............11%
Republicans (53 or more seats)...............1%
Republicans (52 seats)...............2%
Republicans (51 seats)...............4%
Republicans (50-50 with Ryan)...............1%

WILL THE DEMOCRATS RETAKE THE HOUSE?
Yes...............21%
No...............79%

WHAT WAS OBAMA'S BIGGEST MISTAKE?
First debate performance...............49%
Saying "You didn't build that"...............21%
failing to pamper his big donors...............7%
Gloating about the economic recovery...............7%

WHAT WAS ROMNEY'S BIGGEST MISTAKE?
47% remark at secret fund-raiser...............46%
Committing various "rich guy" gaffes...............15%
Selecting Paul Ryan as his VP...............7%
Refusing to release his tax returns...............7%

IS CAMPAIGN ADVERTISING WORTH ALL THE MONEY SPENT ON IT?
Yes...............71%
No...............29%

DOES JOE BIDEN HELP OR HURT THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET?
Helps...............59%
Hurts...............41%

DOES PAUL RYAN HELP OR HURT THE REPUBLICAN TICKET?
Helps...............49%
Hurts...............51%

WHO IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DEMOCRAT IN THIS ELECTION (OTHER THAN OBAMA & BIDEN)?
Bill Clinton...............78%
David Axelrod...............4%
David Plouffe...............3%
Jim Messina...............3%
Michelle Obama................3%

WHO IS THE MOST IMPORTANT REPUBLICAN IN THIS ELECTION (OTHER THAN ROMNEY & RYAN)?
The Koch brothers...............35%
Sheldon Adelson...............14%
Stuart Stevens...............13%
Rob Portman...............6%
Matt Rhoades...............4%
George W. Bush...............4%

WHO DO YOU THINK WOULD MAKE THE STRONGER LEADER?
Obama...............57%
Romney...............47%

WHO WOULD KEEP THE WORLD SAFER?
Obama...............68%
Romney...............32%

WHO WOULD BE BETTER AT FIXING THE ECONOMY?
Obama...............51%
Romney...............49%

WHICH CANDIDATE DID THE SUPREME COURT DECISION ON OBAMACARE HELP?
Obama...............76%
Romney...............7%
Neither...............17%

WHO WILL THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE IN 2016 BE?
Hillary Clinton...............75%
Andrew Cuomo...............14%
Martin O'Malley...............8%

WHO WILL THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE BE IN 2016 (IF ROMNEY LOSES)?
Jeb Bush...............35%
Marco Rubio...............24%
Chris Christie...............18%
Paul Ryan...............15%