Haslam leads Republican primary by double digits

[marauder]

source


NASHVILLE - Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam leads his rivals for the Republican nomination for governor by double digits, but 17 percent of voters statewide still are undecided on their Aug. 5 choice, according to a new poll conducted for the Tennessee Newspaper Network and WBIR, Channel 10.

The Mason-Dixon Polling & Research survey found 36 percent of 400 likely Republican primary voters saying they support Haslam, who has dominated fundraising and television advertising in the contest.

That compares with 25 percent who supported U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Chattanooga. Another 20 percent chose Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, the state Senate speaker.

Ninety-one percent of likely Republican voters recognize Haslam and Wamp while 79 percent recognized Ramsey.

Brad Coker, managing director of Mason-Dixon, said Haslam has a "decent lead," but he noted the contest remains volatile as charges and countercharges fly.

"Things can happen fast if bad news comes out," Coker said. "I wouldn't hand it to him (Haslam) unless we were taking this poll the Friday before the primary." The survey, conducted Monday through Wednesday, had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent.

Haslam led in East Tennessee with 43 percent of voters. Ramsey was on top in Middle Tennessee with 35 percent.

Haslam also had the most support - 28 percent - in West Tennessee. But West Tennessee also held the largest percentage of undecided Republican voters at 29 percent.

Coker said West Tennessee appears "wide open," but he cautioned the margin of error in any subcategory of voters is above 5 percent.

The poll showed that Ramsey, who courted the Tea Party vote, has the backing of 43 percent of them. But again, the margin of error in subcategories is higher.

Democratic candidate Mike McWherter, a Jackson businessman, faces no opposition in his primary.

Early voting is under way.

The Tennessee Newspaper Network is a coalition that consists of the News Sentinel, the Tennessean in Nashville, the Times Free Press in Chattanooga and the Commercial Appeal in Memphis. WBIR in Knoxville is a coalition partner for the poll.




as I have said all along wamp and ramsey have split the conservative vote paving the way for haslam to win. the only question that remains is "which democrat will you vote for in the general election?"

[macville]

You know, a poll is pointless unless you can see the questions asked and more information about how it was conducted and who was contacted. I could probably rig a poll that would have most americans saying that they think the moon is made out of cheese. Of course, most Americans are too stupid to spend a minute and look at the actual poll to see if it was done properly.

Matthew