Posted on 09/24/2002 5:54:40 AM PDT by BlackRazor
Polls show Gingrey, Kahn in dead heat in District 11
Brandon Johnson
Staff Writer
Published September 23, 2002 11:20 PM CDT
Phil Gingrey doesn't have the checkbook of Roger Kahn, but that isn't keeping the 11th Congressional District GOP candidate from attempting to grab the front-runner position early in the race.
Gingrey announced poll numbers showing the Marietta state senator in a dead heat with Kahn while the National Republican Party showed its commitment to Gingrey, giving $80,000 to the race.
The poll showed Kahn ahead 43 to 39 percent, well within the 4.9 percent margin of error. Among likely voters, Gingrey led by 1 point.
The Kahn campaign hailed the poll, and questioned why Gingrey would release a poll showing him trailing by four points.
"Candidates generally don't crow about losing, but I suppose Mr. Gingrey is just happy to be in the race," Kahn spokesman Jay Honeycutt said.
The Gingrey camp believes the funds from the national GOP is a sign that Republicans in Washington think Gingrey can beat Kahn, despite the new 11th District favoring Democrats after redistricting.
The GOP feels an upset by Gingrey might play a role in deciding which party controls the House of Representatives.
I've had this race as Likely Democrat, so it's a bit surprising to see the poll numbers this close. However, it is a partisan GOP poll, so take with a grain of salt. Still, it might indicate a closer race than anyone was anticipating.
If you want on or off my poll ping list, let me know!
This was the district where the GOP wanted him to run, yes. He had defeated Kahn in 2000, 54-46, though the new district was not as favorable as his old one.
You're probably right. Barr only drew 54% of the vote in his old 7th district in 2000, while George W. Bush was pulling in 61%.
The new 11th district only went 51-49 for Bush. Had Barr run there, it's quite possible (if not likely) that he would have been defeated.
I can see both sides on this one. I understand why the GOP wanted Barr to run in the 11th. Linder was going to win his district, anyway, and Barr probably would have been a better general election candidate than Gingrey.
However, I can certainly understand why Bob Barr wanted no part of the reconfigured 11th district.
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