Burr 3 points behind Bowles in latest poll

Winston-Salem Journal ^ | September 23, 2004 | JOURNAL STAFF AND WIRE REPORT

[JohnnyZ]

RALEIGH - A new poll shows the race for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina tightening, with Republican Richard Burr closing to within 3 percentage points of Democrat Erskine Bowles.

In other polls so far, Bowles - who ran for the Senate two years ago against Republican Elizabeth Dole - has led by 8 to 10 percentage points.

But the poll for N.C. FREE, a trade group in Raleigh that tracks state elections, found Bowles with support from 44 percent, Burr with 41 percent and 12 percent undecided, according to N.C. FREE members who have seen it.

The statewide poll of more than 700 likely voters was conducted by Verne Kennedy, a pollster in Florida, before the Republican National Convention began Aug. 30 and before Burr released ads last week that criticize Bowles' support of a tax increase as a member of the Clinton administration.

The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

[JohnnyZ]

As many FReepers have been saying, Bowles clearly has this race locked up /sarcasm

[Gunder]

Great news! We need to SWEEP the south.

[NCSteve]

Hah!

Take that, Irksome.

I saw Richard's "attack" ad for the first time last night. Good stuff.

[ArmyBratCutie]

after we posted about this yesterday or the day before, I wrote a pal of mine that works as a editorial page editor and asked what he thought, hoping for the best.. heres his responce to me:

Unless Burr has a sudden infusion of energy, money and connection with the voters, and unless Bowles stumbles badly, it sure looks like it's going for Bowles. Every poll I've seen gives him a double-digit lead in most parts of the state. I haven't gotten to know either of them, but from what I can see from afar, neither one is going to make a great senator. A classic lose-lose election.

Tim

---

his description of Burr doesnt match mine...I think Burr is pretty good ..

[fooman]

Awesome. bush needs to pay NC and SD a visit to drum up name recognition.

[CzarNicky]

If this is the best Irksome can do at this point he is soon to be a two time defeated Senate candidate.

[jbwbubba]

Hot dang. We need a couple of more polls showing these kinda numbers, but its huge if its true. It would mean Burr has the 'Mo' and they are turning on Bowles who they already know

[JohnnyZ]

This poll suggests to me that Bowles' lead in other polls is due to leaners who aren't committed to voting for him. Clearly this poll did not push leaners as hard because of the wording.

Reported (in the press) rumor is that Burr's polls show him within 5 points of Bowles as well.

I'll say this much for Bowles, he's running a textbook campaign, avoiding missteps. However, the fundamentals are in Burr's favor and Bowles hasn't given voters anything new since he lost by 10 to Liddy.

[Littlejon]

Burr has just recently started his hard-hitting ads. The first one shows Irksome and Billy and ties the two together with Clintoon's tax increase when Bowels was COS. Bowles responded by crying that Burr was using "negative" "attack" ads. Pretty lame, if you ask me.

I have said all along that the lead Irksome had was tenuous at best. Burr seems to have decided on the right time to remind folks in this great state who gave Bowels his biggest stage - Bill Clinton. Now they have debates set up and mark my words - Burr is a DAMN good debater! Besides that, Bowels looks like a ferret and Burr probably towers over him by about a foot!

Methinks Bowels is about to start scambling!

[Abram]

This is good news, but on the www.hillnews.com today, a poll said that Majette is within 5 points of Isakson, this is concerning. How accurate/reputable is this polling firm and will this momentum build?

[DM1]

geez i had all but written that one off
Great news hope it continues

[MplsSteve]

I agree about South Dakota.

A trip to Sioux Falls (the main media market in SoDak) gives Thune publicity.

But it also gives Bush media coverage in southwest Minnesota and northwest Iowa, both battleground states.

[MplsSteve]

Really?

Majette shouldn't be that close.

Who did this poll?

[somerville]

Is Burr a good speaker ? Good campaigner ? What's his style ?

[JasonG]

I think Burr is on the right track by associating Bowles with Clinton and sKerry. More of these ads are needed to question the true motives of Bowles.

BTW, I met Bowles at a local rally and had a chance to ask him about the obstructionist methods used by Dachale's cronies for Bush's Judicial nominations and what he would do differently. He said, "How did one of Burr's followers get into this rally?" Sounds like he is following the Punk's (Mcauliffe) playbook, no matter how "nonpartisan" he pretends to be.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

I've been thinking that if Bill Jones can get w/in 2% of Boxer (CA Senate race) by Nov. 2 he may be able to pull out a win if Bush wins big and rat turnout is depressed. Could the same (wishful) reasoning apply in NC?

[Carling]

Every poll I've seen gives him a double-digit lead in most parts of the state. I haven't gotten to know either of them, but from what I can see from afar, neither one is going to make a great senator. A classic lose-lose election.

Not every Senator needs to be a star. In this case, an invisible GOP back-bencher is better than a Clinton retread voting Dem on critical votes.

[fooman]

Roger that!

[ArmyBratCutie]

amen

[JohnnyZ]

Is Burr a good speaker ? Good campaigner ? What's his style ?

Honest, straightforward, telegenic. He made his living in sales (nothing slimy) before entering politics.