Posted on 02/22/2006 8:42:34 PM PST by LdSentinal
A new poll shows former Gov. Don Siegelman has overcome months of scandal to narrow a big gap against Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley in the race for the Democratic nomination for governor, but many voters remain undecided.
A Mobile Register-University of South Alabama poll conducted Feb. 9 through Feb. 16 showed 37 percent for Baxley and 34 percent for Siegelman, with 29 percent unsure of who to support.
The poll results reflect responses from 400 people statewide who identified themselves as registered, likely voters in this year's Democratic primary. The margin of error is plus or minus 5 percentage points, making the race too close to call.
But the results were much different from a similar poll in January 2005, when Baxley led Siegelman by 16 percentage points.
The distance between the two narrowed despite Siegelman's indictment last year in Montgomery on federal corruption charges. Siegelman, who has called the charges "absurd," is set for trial May 1.
In a statement, Siegelman's campaign said it expected him to win the Democratic primary "by a large margin."
Baxley said she was pleased with the results and gave little credence to the idea she should be leading by a larger margin.
"I am confident when election day comes around that we're going to be in very good shape," Baxley said. "I have raised money to spend on paid communication between now and then. I have been working on and plan on getting endorsements.
Keith Nicholls, a political science professor and head of the USA Polling Group, which conducted the survey, said the race appears much closer than expected.
"Even though Lucy Baxley does have some name recognition, a lot of Democrats in Alabama are still not sure who she is," he said.
A poll earlier this month showed Gov. Bob Riley leading former Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
Does the Dem candidate for governor actually have any chance at all in the general election? I imagine these Dems will find fund raising difficult. Who wants to throw money down a rathole?
Why the heck should Siegelman have a chance at getting his job back? Isn't he a crook?
Bob Riley raised taxes angering many persons in the state. However, his response to Hurricane Katrina (unlike that moron Blanco in Lousiana) boosted his poll numbers.
For some reason many Democrats like Siegelman. Perhaps they're upset on how he lost back in 2002.
If he or she can get away with running as an "old time, conservative Democrat" then they could easily win. There are still a lot of old people in the South who will vote Democrat if the candidate comes off as a Zell Miller type.
Here in Texas District 17, we have a Democrat Congressman who is undefeatable because this is how he presents himself. He runs as a pro-Bush, pro-war, pro-military, conservative Democrat. (He is pro-military because his district is close to Ft. Hood and he used to represent it before redistricting.) In 2004, his district went for President Bush by 74.5% and yet he still won reelection.
This year isn't looking better. The two Republicans running aren't going to stand a prayer no matter who wins the nomination. One acts like he doesn't really want to be a candidate and the other is a raving moonbat.
Van Taylor is which one?
Whenever I see an article that starts out with this, I am outta here. Polls are only used to push the masses one way or another - absolutely meaningless to me.
if i see another "I heart Lucy" sign i'm gonna puke
Single issue candidates who do nothing but personally attack their opponent do not win general elections, period. If a strong, well balanced conservative could not unseat Edwards in 2004, Taylor wouldn't stand a prayer. Plus, being a carpetbagger, he will be liked even less.
Democrats win elections all the time in just that way.
Siegelman ain't...
He won before on the "lottery" issue.
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