BAILOUT PLAN FAILS IN HOUSE, MARKETS CRASH; PLUS OUR USUAL DAILY DOSE OF TRACKING POLLS.

WALL STREET BAILOUT. The House rejected the bipartisan $700 billion bailout plan backed by the Congressional Democratic and Republican leadership and the White House by a 205-228 vote. The opposition was also bipartisan, with 95 Democrats and 113 Republicans voting against the plan. The Republican opponents primarily complained the plan was a governmental semi-nationalization of the private sector, while the Democratic opponents generally wanted more help for individuals facing home foreclosure. In the end, the opposition was simply too strong for the centrists who backed the plan. In response to the defeat, Wall Street recorded the largest single-day point drop in history. It was a drop of 778 points (-7%). Business experts predict another giant slide on Tuesday. Plan proponents vow to return with a revised proposal later this week ... if they think they have the votes for passage. The White House, meanwhile, is exploring options for financing the bailout on their own terms exclusively by Presidential executive order. No matter which side you're on, the coming days and weeks look rather bleak for our US economy.

P2008 - DAILY POLLING UPDATE. Here is our daily update of the latest independent state polls on the Presidential race:
COLORADO (Fox/Rasmussen): Obama - 49%, McCain - 48%.
FLORIDA (Fox/Rasmussen): Obama - 47%, McCain - 47%.
FLORIDA (SurveyUSA): McCain - 48%, Obama - 47%, Others - 3%.
NEW JERSEY (SurveyUSA): Obama - 52%, McCain - 42%, Others - 3%.
NORTH CAROLINA (PPP-D): Obama - 47%, McCain - 45%, Barr - 3%.
OHIO (Fox/Rasmussen): McCain - 48%, Obama - 47%.
PENNSYLVANIA (Fox/Rasmussen): Obama - 50%, McCain - 42%.
VIRGINIA (Fox/Rasmussen): Obama - 50%, McCain - 47%.

US SENATE. The latest independent polls for the US Senate match-ups:
IOWA (Research 2000): US Senator Tom Harkin (D) - 54%, businessman Chris Reed (R) - 40%.
NEW JERSEY (SurveyUSA): US Senator Frank Lautenberg (D) - 51%, former Congressman Dick Zimmer (R) - 38%, Others - 9%.
NORTH CAROLINA (PPP-D): State Senator Kay Hagan (D) - 46%, US Senator Elizabeth Dole (R) - 38%, postal worker Chris Cole (Libt) - 6%.
TENNESSEE (Western Tennessee State Univ.): US Senator Lamar Alexander (R) - 50%, former State Democratic Chair Bob Tuke (D) - 26%.

SEND A PIN = GET A FREE PLUG HERE. Here's my open offer for every campaign (and campaign supporter): send me a button or pin from the Governor, US Senate, Congressional, Statewide Office campaign you are involved in -- feel free to add a sticker and brochure -- and I'll place a link to official campaign site here on our home page blog in a daily "thank you" note. (FYI: Presidential coattails items always appreciated). My address: Ron Gunzburger, 409 NE 17 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301.

CONGRESS. Here are the latest independent polls for US House races.
FLORIDA CD-25 (Research 2000): Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R) - 45%, former Miami-Dade Democratic Chair Joe Garcia (D) - 41%.
NEW JERSEY CD-2 (Zogby): Congressman Frank LoBiondo (R) - 62%, Cape May Councilman David Kurkowski (D) - 26%.
NEW JERSEY CD-3 (Zogby): Medford Township Councilman Chris Myers (R) - 39%, State Senator John Adler (D) - 37%.

Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 09.30.08