Harstad Research Political Record

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:

U.S. House of Representatives

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