Democrat in sex scandal trails by 26 now

The Hill:

A new Republican poll indicates Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-Fla.) is the most endangered incumbent in the country days after a news report showed he paid a former mistress hush money.

The poll, released Friday and conducted for Republican Tom Rooney’s campaign and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), shows a big shift in the race, which Mahoney had been leading. He is now behind Rooney, 55 percent to 29 percent, with 16 percent of voters undecided.

ABC News reported Monday that Mahoney paid former aide Patricia Allen more than $120,000 and arranged work at a consulting firm after she threatened to sue him. The poll was conducted Wednesday and Thursday.

Mahoney apologized for hurting his family but has said the issue is private and that he did nothing illegal. He has called for the House Ethics Committee to investigate, but voters will issue their own verdict in two and a half weeks.

Rooney released a poll in September showing Mahoney ahead, 48-41.

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The Palm Beach Post also has withdrawn its endorsement of Mahoney. I suspect taht Mahoney may himself withdraw from the race at this point. It looks like he is no longer a viable candidate in what should be a Republican district anyway that he won because of a sex scandal involving Mark Foley's email to Congressional pages.

While the polls seem to suggest a Democrat landslide Mahoney is not the only Democrat who won in 2006 who is in trouble. Nick Lampson in tome DeLay's old district is likely to lose and I think there are some other faux conservative Demcorats in Republican leaning districts who are in trouble.