BAYH, CANTOR RISE IN VEEPSTAKES; SIX PREZ POLLS; MORE ALASKA NUMBERS ON STEVENS; SENATORS DOLE, CORNYN LEAD; NIXON LEADS FOR MO GOV; MO CD-6 RACE TIGHTENS.

VEEPSTAKES. The new buzz this weekend -- and, let's face it, even the so-called experts are all guessing here -- is that Obama plans to announce Evan Bayh as his runningmate on Tuesday. Why? Because the Obama press corps was informed over the weekend they will be in Indiana on Tuesday and Wednesday, yet there are no campaign events in the state on Obama's published schedule. On the GOP side, the media's spotlight of speculation was shining on US House Chief Deputy Minority Whip Eric Cantor. Cantor reportedly is being seriously vetted. Why? He's young, conservative, Jewish, and from the swing state of Virginia. Stay tuned.

P2008 - DAILY POLLING UPDATE. Here is our daily update of the latest independent state polls on the Presidential race:
ALASKA (Rasmussen): McCain - 44%, Obama - 39%.
ARIZONA (Rocky Mountain Poll): McCain - 43%, Obama - 38%, Nader - 3%.
FLORIDA (Florida Chamber of Commerce): McCain - 45%, Obama - 40%.
KENTUCKY (Research 2000): McCain - 56%, Obama - 35%.
MISSOURI (SurveyUSA): McCain - 49%, Obama - 44%.
NORTH CAROLINA (Research 2000): McCain - 47%, Obama - 43%.

US SENATE. ALASKA - Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell (R) told Roll Call he does not intend to switch into the US Senate race if indicted incumbent Ted Stevens (R) withdraws after the primary, nor does he expect Governor Sarah Palin (R) to become the replacement nominee if it comes open (note: Parnell doesn't expect Stevens to quit). Meanwhile ... here are the latest independent polls for US Senate races:
ALASKA (Roll Call/Ivan Moore Research): Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D) - 56%, US Senator Ted Stevens (R) - 35%.
ALASKA - GOP Primary (Roll Call/Ivan Moore Research): US Senator Ted Stevens - 59%, former State Representative Dave Cuddy - 19%, Others - 2%.
NORTH CAROLINA (Research 2000): US Senator Elizabeth Dole (R) - 50%, State Senator Kay Hagen (D) - 42%.
TEXAS (Rasmussen): US Senator John Cornyn (R) - 47%, State Representative Rick Noriega (D) - 37%.

GOVERNOR. The new independent polls for the gubernatorial contests:
MISSOURI (SurveyUSA): Attorney General Jay Nixon (D) - 48%, Congressman Kenny Hulshof (R) - 42%.
MISSOURI (SurveyUSA): Attorney General Jay Nixon (D) - 50%, State Treasurer Sarah Steelman (R) - 41%.
MISSOURI - GOP Primary (SurveyUSA): Congressman Kenny Hulshof - 45%, State Treasurer Sarah Steelman - 35%, Others - 9%.

CONGRESS. The new independent polls for the US House contests:
INDIANA CD-9 (SurveyUSA): Congressman Baron Hill (D) - 49%, former Congressman Mike Sodrel (R) - 42%, economist Eric Schansberg (Libt) - 4%.
MISSOURI CD-6 (SurveyUSA): Congressman Sam Graves (R) - 48%, former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes (D) - 44%.

Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.04.08