Answer: People still take Politico seriously as an objective source for some reason.
Politico reporter Martin Kady II appeared on WTOP radio last night (MP3). You knew it was going to be a doozy of a segment when a host introduced Kady with, "It's not impossible that Republicans could take over the Senate after the November elections!" The other host responded, and I am not making this up, "WOW!"Kady excitedly says Republicans "putting up fairly moderate candidates who have a shot!" (As opposed to Democrats, who we're left to presume are putting up ardent socialists with no chance at winning.)
Kady then focuses on Illinois GOP Senate nominee Mark Kirk and says, "He's already up 12 in the polls!" Only one problem: It was an internal poll. That means it was paid for by Mark Kirk's campaign, conducted by a Republican-leaning firm (Magellan Data).
Why would a Politico "journalist" report an internal GOP poll like it was a piece of objective data? Good question.
Kady then cites Blanche Lincoln and Arlen Specter as two Democrats who were thought to have "safe" seats but are now facing shockingly tough re-election battles. Blanche Lincoln, who's never gotten more than 56% in a Senate race? And Arlen Specter, who actually admitted he became a Democrat in large part because he felt he'd lose his GOP primary? On what planet were those ever considered "safe" seats?
As a wise man once said ... my god, what a stupid premise.