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U.S.
President — We
helped Barack Obama win the Democratic nomination, and the general election
against Republican John McCain.
- Harstad Research polled in the critical Iowa
caucuses. Our research showed Obama more than doubling his share of
the caucus vote from early 2007, moving from a distant third place to the
decisive win that launched his history-making victory in November.
- We polled in a total of 12 Democratic primary
and caucus states.
- We polled in 11 general election Battleground
states, including 8 of the core Battleground states.
U.S. Senator and Governor
— We
have won 15 out of 18 races for
U.S. senator and governor:
- U.S.
Senator Mark Udall of Colorado in 2008
- U.S.
Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri in 2006 –
providing the 51st vote for majority control of the U.S. Senate in
2007-08
- Former
U.S.
Senator Barack Obama of Illinois in 2004 –
including a tough 7-way primary in which
Obama won 53% of the vote
- U.S.
Senator Ken Salazar of Colorado in 2004
- U.S.
Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa in 2008, 2002, 1996, 1990 and 1984 – defeating an
incumbent U.S. Senator and three incumbent congressmen in the process
- U.S.
Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island in 2008, 2002 and 1996
- Former
Governor
Tom Vilsack of Iowa in 2002 and 1998 – the first time his party won Iowa’s
governorship in 32 years, since 1966
- Lt.
Governor Bill Halter of Arkansas in 2006 (including a tough 4-way primary
and 2-way primary run-off, as well as the general election)
WE ALSO INDEPENDENTLY
HELPED ELECT IN CLOSE RACES:
- Governor
Bill Ritter of Colorado in 2006
- U.S.
Senator Jon Tester of Montana in 2006
- Governor
Jim Doyle of Wisconsin and 2006 and 2002
- Governor
Brian Schweitzer of Montana in 2004
- U.S.
Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington in 2000
U.S.
House of Representatives
- U.S.
Representative Walt Minnick of Idaho in 2008
- U.S.
Representative Mark Udall of Colorado in 2006
- U.S.
Representative Betty McCollum of Minnesota since 2000
Referenda
— We
have won 14 of our last 15 statewide referenda
campaigns:
- State TABOR (Taxpayer Bill or Rights) initiative to
restrict state government taxing and spending powers.
Nebraska. (DEFEATED)
- Statewide school voucher program. Utah (DEFEATED)
- State constitutional restrictions on school
spending. Colorado. (DEFEATED)
- Gay marriage ban. Arizona. (DEFEATED)
- Increase in the state minimum wage. Montana. (PASSED)
- State constitutional amendment to require 10%
renewable electric energy. Colorado. (PASSED)
- State ballot initiative to increase the state
tobacco tax for health care coverage. Montana. (PASSED)
- State constitutional amendment to enact sweeping
campaign finance reform. Colorado. (PASSED)
- State ballot initiative to dedicate half the
state's tobacco settlement funds for tobacco prevention and other health
purposes. Montana. (PASSED)
- Two state constitutional amendments to sharply
restrict tax
increases. Iowa. (DEFEATED, despite
overwhelming initial support)
- Statewide ban on animal trapping.
Colorado. (PASSED)
- Statewide referendum to allow video lottery,
with funds going to public education. (PASSED)
- Statewide referendum initiated by the
Religious Right to ban existing video lottery program that funds public
education.
South Dakota. (DEFEATED)
Primaries
and Run-offs
— We
win tough primaries and run-offs for non-incumbents:
- In 2008, helped Barack Obama come from 3rd place to win the 7-way Iowa Democratic Caucuses with 38%, and polled in a dozen other key Democratic presidential
primaries
- Won a 4-way primary and a tough 2-way primary run-off for Lt. Governor Bill Halter in Arkansas in
2006
- Won a 7-way primary for U.S. Senate in 2004 in Illinois for then State Senator Barack Obama with 53% of the
vote
- Won a 4-way primary and a tough 3-way general election for Betty McCollum for Congress in St. Paul in 2000. The third candidate was former Democrat turned independent Reform Party
candidate Tom Foley, endorsed on TV by Governor Jesse Ventura
- Won a 2-way primary from 17% behind for Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack in his first statewide 1998 election
- Won a 5-way primary and a 2-way run-off for Congressman Ken Bentsen in Houston in 1994. This set-up a striking win for Bentsen in the general election despite his being outspent
4-to-1
We
win difficult elections despite being heavily outspent:
- Won
a primary election for U.S. Senate in 2004 in Illinois despite being
outspent 6-1
- Won
a Houston congressional election in 2000 despite being outspent 3-1
- Won
the general election for governor of Iowa in 1998 despite being
outspent 3-2
- Won
the primary election for governor of Iowa in 1998 despite being
outspent 3-2
- Won
an open Wisconsin congressional election in 1996 despite being
outspent 2-1
- Won
an open Houston congressional election in 1994 despite being outspent
5-1
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