Kernan has early lead in polling (Kernan 49% v Mitch Daniels 36% )

indystar.com ^ | January 16, 2004 | Mary Beth Schneider

[KQQL]

Democratic Gov. Joe Kernan has an early advantage over his expected Republican challenger as voters begin to choose who will lead the state during the next four years, according to the Indianapolis Star-WTHR (Channel 13) Hoosier Poll.

Kernan leads Republican Mitch Daniels 49 percent to 36 percent, the statewide poll showed.

[KQQL]

Governor's race

Question: If the election for governor were held today, would you vote for Democrat Joe Kernan or Republican Mitch Daniels?*

Joe Kernan:

49%
Mitch Daniels:

36%
Not sure:

11%
Would not vote or would vote for someone else:

4%


Our direction

Question: Is Indiana headed in the right direction, or has it gotten on the wrong track?

Wrong track:

48%
Right direction:

40%
Not sure:

12%


Candidate impressions

Question: What are your feelings toward Gov. Joe Kernan?

Mostly favorable:

33%
Not sure:

26%
Very favorable:

24%
Mostly unfavorable:

10%

These responses do not tally to 100 percent because of rounding.

Question: What are your feelings toward Mitch Daniels, a former aide of President Bush?

Not sure:

47%
Mostly favorable:

19%
Very unfavorable:

12%
Very favorable:

11%
Mostly unfavorable:

11%

Question: What are your feelings toward Eric Miller, an Indianapolis attorney and activist?

Not sure:

67%
Mostly favorable:

10%
Mostly unfavorable:

9%
Very unfavorable:

8%
Very favorable:

6%

*Responses to this question are from 517 likely Indiana voters and have a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.

Responses to other questions are from 704 Indiana residents and have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.

[KQQL]

#

[ilgipper]

damn, I thought Daniels would kick some booty on IN. The former governor's death really threw a money wrench in this race.

[JohnnyZ]

I think Kernan got a big boost in goodwill after taking over for O'Bannon; perhaps that will have subsided some by November, when the focus is on the future. It's gonna be a really close race, but Daniels is running a great campaign. He's criss-crossing the state in a campaign RV and is well on his way to visiting all 92 counties TWICE.

[JohnnyZ]

[ClintonBeGone]

Nearly half of voters said they don't have an opinion yet on Daniels, the former budget director for President Bush, and 67 percent of voters say they don't know Daniels' chief opponent for the GOP nomination, conservative activist Eric Miller.

Daniels just doesn't seem that exciting. I'm sure they'll try to tar him with the explosive growth in spending under GWB, even though he had the reputation as one willing to say no to congress. Unfortunately, his former boss never used his veto pen.

[comebacknewt]

The former governor's death really threw a money wrench in this race.

You got that right.

Before O'Bannon's untimely death, I thought we were in great position to pick up the governorship. Now, I would rate Daniels as the underdog in the race.

[Kuksool]

Sadly, my neighbor to the east, IN, is becoming a Yellow Dog Democratic State. IN will vote for a Republican for President, but vote for RATS on a local level.

[Clintonfatigued]

Not entirely. Republicans hold the offices of Secretary of State, state Treasurer, and state Auditor, and have for several years. They also have a substantial majority in the state Senate. The state House is only 'Rat controlled because they have well-liked moderates in Republican-voting districts.

[Pubbie]

"Sadly, my neighbor to the east, IN, is becoming a Yellow Dog Democratic State."

Calm down people!

The Candidate with the Highest Name ID, in this case the Democrat, is under 50%.

There is a lot of room for Daniels to build support.

[JohnnyZ]

It's basically the Bayh show on the Democrat side. Bayh begat Bayh, Bayh begat O'Bannon, O'Bannon begat Kernan. Interrupt the line of succession and we'll be in good shape.

[Kuksool]

The legacy of Evan Bayh as Governor was to build a lasting RAT coalition of NW IN and South IN. This has enabled Frank O'Bannon, State House RATS, and perhaps Kernan to assume power.

[hoosierboy]

I am backing miller, even though I doubt he will pull it off. Kernan has alot of baggage and skeletons in his closet. Kernan was a vietnam pow who spent his time in the hanoi hilton with john mccain. Kernan and Mccain were one of the few prisoners who actually gained weight as prisoners. Kernan lied to the taxpayers of south bend and we got hosed into funding the college football hall of fame, which we are still paying for even though he promised it would be privately funded. Another thing is kernan is anti gun, which is a big no no in indiana. Even though obannon and bayh were rats they were pro gun, kernans stance on guns will come out and he will lose based on that issue. Its still too early the primary is in early may, after that I expect mitch to come out and release the goods that will hopefully sink kernan and start indiana back on the path of recovery.

[Impy]

Just a few Faux Conseratives like Bayh.

I think this one is a tossup.