Hey, you know it's bad when nearly 70 percent of those responding to an online poll on your own reelection site say they're not going to vote for you.
That's the case with Nickel Bag Joe Arpaio, who has a poll on his campaign site sheriffjoe.org,*** which asks the question, "Are you likely to vote for Sheriff Joe?" The result is a decided, "Hell, no."
Specifically, 63.5 percent of those voting, or 334 persons (as of this writing), picked, "Absolutely not!" Four percent, or 21 individuals answered with a mere, "No." That means 67.5 percent of the total said they wanted to turn old Joe out to pasture (and the number is climbing). The remainder either chose, "Definitely!" or a simple, "Yes."
Sure, there's nothing scientific about a poll like this, a point lost on many Sheriff Joe supporters who often tout online polls on right-wing radio station KTAR's Web site and others as signs of Arpaio's strength. But at least on Sheriff Joe's site, you can't vote twice from the same computer. I know. I tried.
There are probably ways around the block, but still, how embarrassing for our conceited top constable, especially since he's always telling people he has an 80 percent approval rating. In reality, the latest numbers from Rocky Mountain/BRC currently peg him at 54 percent approval. And his support falls further to 52 percent when matched up against rival Dan Saban in the same July 29 survey.
Yet, on the very page of the sheriff's site asking for your poll vote, Joe belches forth a whopper concerning his approval ratings.
"Fortunately, my polls have ranged from very good to good in the 15 years I’ve been Sheriff," Joe states, ignoring recent history and his own poll results. "Though my numbers go up and down, I haven’t ever fallen below the 62% approval percentile in any scientifically random poll taken."
Bzzt. Wrong again, oh Pennzoil noggin! The trajectory for Joe's poll numbers over the last year has been down, down, down. In March of 2007, he was riding high at 64 percent approval, according to Rocky Mountain/BRC. In November, it fell to 59 percent. And then in July, it hit 54 percent.
As a veteran GOP political operative told me recently, when an incumbent's numbers hit near 50 percent, they're in trouble. Even if the challenger has a lot of ground to make up, as does Saban, a large undecided vote will often break in their favor. Or so went this Republican's analysis of Joe's situation.
In any case, Joe's showing on his own Web site is pretty friggin' pathetic. What a sad old man Joe's become, trying to convince us all that he's still enjoying the support he had in his glory days. Sniff. I get all verklempt just thinkin' 'bout it.
I'm guessing something might change on Joe's site once his minions get a whiff of this blog post, or maybe they're too busy chasing candle makers and corn vendors to care. In any case, I have a screenshot of the poll results above, in case Joe's Webmaster tries to rip 'em down after the fact. Till then, I encourage you to go to Joe's site and rock the vote.
Update, 2:19 PM: I noticed that the poll page is down on the sheriff's site, so we can't vote anymore. (Everyone together: Awwwwwww.) But let's keep an eye on it and see if they try to stick it back up with bogus numbers. Remember, MCSO, we have updated screenshots, and we will publish them. Heh.
***Second Update, 3:55 PM: As you can see, the link is now down. To twist a line from Jack Nicholson, "They can't handle the truth!" Anyway, the poll is over. But the final results are below, and guess who the big loser is?
Third Update, 11:10 PM: It's down, it's up. Actually, the poll is back up now, and stands at 393 people voting, "Absolutely not!" 22 vote, "No." So get back at it, and vote, people, before they take it down again.