Posted on 10/18/2002 5:04:33 AM PDT by BlackRazor
Poll: Few get Ryans confused
By Kurt Erickson
Statehouse bureau chief
SPRINGFIELD -- For months, Republican Jim Ryan has complained that more people would support his bid for governor if they realized he was not related to the scandal-plagued predecessor with the same last name.
But a poll that sought to clarify his perceived problem shows that only 1 percent to 2 percent of those surveyed were confused about the two Republicans.
The survey, conducted for The Pantagraph and WEEK-TV of Peoria, found Democrat Rod Blagojevich is favored by voters over Jim Ryan 53 percent to 39 percent.
Once voters were told Jim Ryan is not related to Gov. George Ryan, who is not seeking reelection, Jim Ryan gained 1 percentage point. Support for Blagojevich dropped 2 percentage points.
The Libertarian candidate, former state Rep. Cal Skinner, received support from 2 percent of those polled.
The poll of 600 likely Illinois voters, overseen by Research 2000 of Rockville, Md., was conducted Oct. 13 through 16. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.
The results of the gubernatorial matchup are similar to a poll done by Research 2000 in early September. Those results showed Blagojevich leading 52 percent to 36 percent.
In the race for attorney general, Democrat Lisa Madigan and Republican Joe Birkett remain in a statistical dead heat, with 15 percent of those polled undecided. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin continues to lead Republican Jim Durkin 55 percent to 37 percent.
For Jim Ryan, concern over being confused with George Ryan -- who has been dogged by the federal investigation of the licenses-for-bribes scandal -- has led him to create billboards that just say "Jim." He also has distributed yard signs that show his last name significantly smaller than his first name.
Pollster Del Ali said the poll shows that Illinoisans are well aware that Jim Ryan and George Ryan are not the same people.
"It puts to rest that there is confusion," Ali said.
A Jim Ryan spokesman said Thursday that the poll indicates he is gaining momentum as the Nov. 5 election approaches. A survey by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch last week showed a similar 11-point gap separating the two candidates, but that support for Ryan is on the upswing.
"People are starting to pay attention to the race," said Ryan spokesman Dan Curry.
A spokesman for Blagojevich said the poll results reinforce the congressman's belief that voters are ready for change after a quarter century of Republican rule in the governor's mansion.
"To be up by that margin with just over 2 1/2 weeks left in the campaign is unprecedented for a Democratic candidate in Illinois," said spokesman Doug Scofield.
"It's Blagojevich's to lose," Ali said.
"I said that a month ago and it hasn't changed."
If you want on or off my poll ping list, let me know!
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