Baskingwood campaign projects calm as allies panic at disappointing polling

RAWLINGSWORTH, Asl. -- The calm governor of Ansleigha is holding steady, despite disappointing poll numbers that were released this week.

Gov. Sam Baskingwood (C) is running behind in his attempt at reelection. The latest poll numbers came out Thursday, released by the University of Ansleigha (UA) and the Association of Ansleigha Newspapers (AAN), and they weren't in Baskingwood's favor.

The governor trails Nationalist opponent Agatha Houndsler 34%-37%, while Independent candidate Rosamond Burkes receives 27%, respectively.

The Baskingwood campaign was hoping the governor would be leading in the new poll, as Burkes had taken time off the campaign trail in recent weeks and cut back on advertising, and first-time candidate Houndsler became better known to voters. 

But instead, the independent firebrand Burkes has surged to her best polling result yet, still far from leading, but the best showing she's had all year in the polls.

And support for Houndsler has dropped somewhat, but the self-described "hippie college professor" from Danaecke is still leading the three-way race.

Baskingwood was asked Friday about the latest poll results.

"Your campaign predicted you'd be leading in the polls this week. There have been a lot of folks suggesting you might slip into first place at this point. How does it feel to still be behind in the race, and why do you think you're still trailing Agatha Houndsler?" asked reporter Karen Handley from Ansleigha Public Radio.

"Well first of all, I've never thought I was leading this race. I am running like I am the underdog, like I am way behind. I am campaigning literally every day, in all 40 counties of the state, in every town and neighborhood and village. I am not taking this race for granted," said Baskingwood.

"Secondly, this is one poll. And the polls are notoriously not accurate. So I don't put much stock in them. The only poll that really matters is what the voters decide on election day," said Baskingwood. "So I am tuning out the polling, I'm tuning out what the media is predicting or saying, because ultimately it's the voters of Ansleigha who will decide who their next governor is. I hope it's me, but if it's not me, I respect their decision and I will make the transition with grace."

Richard Davry, a close advisor to Baskingwood and the governor's communications director, told the National Press Federation (NPF) that the governor remains unperturbed by poor polling.

"Anyone who knows Governor Baskingwood knows that he is a very calm, level-headed guy. He doesn't get rattled easily. He doesn't freak out. He doesn't panic. He's a strong leader. He's stable, he's solid, he's steady-handed when the waves get big and the boat rocks. He is not panicked by these poll numbers, and our campaign isn't either. We are so focused on visiting every part of Ansleigha and reminding voters of Governor Baskingwood's promises and policies, and how they've helped Ansleighans," said Davry.

"We're also focused on reminding voters who Agatha Houndsler is, and how her radical, left-wing, extreme agenda will damage Ansleigha irrevocably," said Davry.

When asked what the campaign thought of Rosamond Burkes' strong poll numbers, Davry dismissed the question.

"First of all, these are 'strong poll numbers,' like you suggest. She's only getting 27 percent of the vote. That's not a winnable amount. That's very much a minority. She has no path to victory. Poll after poll shows that, and the last election proved that," said Davry. "At the same time, while 27 percent isn't enough to win, it is enough to alter the race and to tip the scales in favor of Agatha Houndsler. We are aware of that. And we are aware that many voters appreciate and like Rosamond Burkes and her policies. Unlike Agatha Houndsler, we don't denigrate Rosamond's voters. We welcome them into our tent. We need all Conservatives on board to beat Agatha Houndsler, and I think at the end of the day, a lot of voters who are maybe leaning toward or consider Rosamond Burkes, they will realize that she just doesn't have a shot at winning. She doesn't have a chance. But Sam Baskingwood does. He's the only thing standing between normal, common-sense, conservative leadership, and Agatha Houndsler's radical, hardcore liberal, lunatic policies."

While the Baskingwood campaign might be projecting calm, allies of the governor, behind the scenes, are quietly panicking.

One source whom GNN spoke with, who asked for anonymity so they could speak freely, said the campaign believed Baskingwood would be in first place by now.

"There was this idea among the campaign's leadership, and top Conservatives, that after the public got introduced to Agatha Houndsler, and after she and Rosamond Burkes said more crazy things and adopted more crazy policies publicly, the voters would be turned off by the radicalness of both of them and turn to the 'adult in the room,' so to speak, Sam Baskingwood. But the polling shows that hasn't happened yet, and now people are freaking out," said the source.

"It could still happen. People could still shift to Sam, and some probably will. But it's not going the way we thought it would, it's not looking as hopeful as people expected or wanted, and that's disappointing," said the source.

Another source confirmed that Baskingwood was "surprised and a little deflated" by the poor polling numbers.

"He was hoping to be in the lead this time, to turn the narrative of the race in his favor, and to put Rosamond Burkes to rest once and for all, make her irrelevant, etc. But that's not what the poll numbers are showing," said the source.

The Burkes campaign, understandably, was elated about the polling numbers.

"This poll shows that Ansleighans are on the same page as Rosamond. They want lower crime, less red tape, they want politicians who actually do what they'll say instead of just giving empty promises," said Sarah Jenning, a deputy campaign manger for Burkes. "Ansleighans want a strong leader, and they're seeing that in Rosamond Burkes."

The Burkes campaign capitalized on the poll, sending out emails and text messages asking for donations. The campaign says it raised "well into the triple digits" after the poll came out, though the campaign declined to release a specific amount.

Conservative allies of Baskingwood have largely dismissed Burkes as unable to win, though not a non-factor.

"She is a factor, but she's not a contender," said Bill Richards, a Conservative businessman and fundraiser who has close ties to Baskingwood. "She can't be ignored completely, but we can put her over here on the side of the page, because really, she has no hope of winning this race."

The Houndsler campaign similarly dismissed Burkes as a contender, but also acknowledges Burkes' level of support is significant.

"Do I think Rosamond Burkes will win? Absolutely not. I hope not. And I really don't see that happening," says Susan Shannen, a close friend and advisor to Houndsler. "But, at the same time, hundreds of thousands of voters are supporting her [Burkes]. So you have to acknowledge that and recognize that, even though she probably won't win, she is definitely getting a significant chunk of the votes."

Shannen said the polling released this week is "confirmation that Agatha Houndsler is firmly in the lead."

"There's one common denominator among all the polls that have been conducted in this race, and that is that Agatha Houndsler has led all three-way polls. Every single one. She has always maintained the lead, and she continues to do so because Ansleighans are hungry for change," said Shannen.

Indeed, Houndsler has led all polls that have included herself, Baskingwood and Burkes.

But, Houndsler's support has dropped by two percent overall in the polling averages. And in two-way polling, in which pollsters only ask voters to choose between Baskingwood and Houndsler, Baskingwood significantly leads Houndsler 57%-38%, respectively.

There's been mixed polling on the race because Burkes has implied that she may drop out of the race and throw her support to Baskingwood.

Rumors were circling all over Ansleigha last week the wealthy heiress would possibly drop her bid for governor. But after the positive poll numbers buoyed her campaign, Burkes made clear she is in the race to win.

"We can win this race. And I love when the media says we can't. Or the Nationalists and Conservatives say we can't. Because that just fuels my supporters even more. And then the money pours in, the attention pours in, and people get fired up," said Burkes at a campaign stop in Chadwick County, Saturday.

"We are fired up, and we are going to fight to win this thing," said Burkes. "All we need is 33, 34 percent to win. And we can get there," she added.

As she hopped into a waiting town car, she looked at the cameras and the gaggle of reporters and said "we're climbing the ladder, baby," as she flashed two thumbs up.

Conservatives may be disheartened, but they are still raising money. Baskingwood privately called North Ceona Gov. Ty Jaimeson, the head of the Conservative Governors' Association (CGA), and asked for additional funds.

Jaimeson agreed to dispatch more funds to Baskingwood, but neither men nor their spokespeople would disclose the exact amount.

Advisors to Baskingwood still maintain that voters will come around to their side on election day.

"I really think voters will look at the three choices, and they'll see that there's really only one reasonable choice, and that's Sam Baskingwood. You can either vote for a stable, common-sense, conservative leader, which is Sam. Or you can vote for a radical left-wing lunatic, Agatha Houndsler, who will release convicted felons from prison early and teach radical transgender ideology to our kids in public schools. Or you can vote for a kooky old lady who is all over the place with her positions and policies, and who frankly, is probably not firing on all cylinders," said Davry, referring to Rosamond Burkes.

"At the end of the day, I think voters will make the right choice. They want someone normal and calm and level-headed at the wheel. They don't want a reactionary person like Rosamond Burkes driving the train. Or a liberal activist like Agatha Houndsler," added Davry.

Most political pundits are now rating the Ansleigha governor's race as either a "Toss Up" or "Leans NAT."