Posted on 10/24/2002 12:42:24 PM PDT by BlackRazor
Governor’s Race Now a Toss-Up With Less Than Two Weeks To Go
October 23, 2002
BOSTON, MA -- Republican candidate Mitt Romney has rallied from a 12% deficit to pull even with Democratic nominee Shannon O’Brien, according to an exclusive 7NEWS-Suffolk University poll released today, which shows Romney with 37.2% versus O’Brien’s 36.7%. The race is considered a statistical dead heat.
Green Party candidate Jill Stein garnered 2.5%, while Libertarian Party candidate Carla Howell and Independent candidate Barbara Johnson each received 1% of the vote. There are still 22% of likely voters who remain undecided.
"This race is so close that one mistake, one slip-up, one untimely glare caught by a debate camera could make the difference in who wins or loses," said Suffolk University adjunct professor David Paleologos, a veteran pollster and author. "Since March, the lead has switched four times between O’Brien and Romney and there is still time for more lead changes."
The 7NEWS-Suffolk University poll also showed a major shift to Romney with Independent/Unenrolled voters. In that category, Romney now leads O’Brien by 19%. This sharply contrasts with a 7NEWS-Suffolk University poll released on October 7, which showed O’Brien leading Romney by 2% of Independent/Unenrolled voters.
Interestingly enough, the gender gap enjoyed by O’Brien amongst women (41% to 33%) is now offset by Romney’s lead amongst men (42% to 32%).
In other findings, Democrat Tim Cahill (40%) now leads Republican Dan Grabauskas (23%) and Green Party nominee Jamie O’Keefe (7%) in the race for State Treasurer. A total of 30% of voters were undecided.
In the ballot question breakdown, Question 1 (eliminating the state personal income tax) is failing by a 57% to 31% margin. Question 2 (English language education in public schools) is overwhelmingly supported by a 68% to 25% differential. As for Question 3 (an advisory question asking if voters support taxpayer money to be used for political campaigns for public office) the final tally showed voters rejecting the measure by a 61% to 28% gap.
The 7NEWS-Suffolk University poll was conducted from October 20 through October 22, 2002. The margin of error is +/- 4.90% at a 95% level of confidence. All respondents indicated they were likely voters in the general election.
Suffolk University has tabulated 75 pages of statistical data which can be found on the Suffolk website (www.suffolk.edu). For more information, please contact Suffolk adjunct professor David Paleologos at 781-290-9310.
The previous poll by this organization was a clear outlier, showing O'Brien with a 42-30 advantage. I wonder if they're just back in line with everyone else now, or if they might still oversampling Democrats and Romney has actually moved into a lead? O'Brien has been getting bad press over the past week or so.
If you want on or off my poll ping list, let me know!
You really do need to have a more open mind when the media is educating you. :-)
Wow, 1%. That's a landslide for a libertarian.
This is what happens when more than half a state's population works for the state government.
Yes, surprising results considering she has run statewide in the past and done lots better, has the income tax repeal plan on the ballot, and that there is about zero difference between the Repub and the Dem.
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