KY: Fletcher, Chandler in dead heat (new poll)

[goobergunch]

Poll suggests Republicans have edge in governor's race

By AL CROSS
[e-mail]
The Courier-Journal

The Kentucky governor's race is too close to call, but Republican Ernie Fletcher appears better positioned than Democrat Ben Chandler to win the Nov.4 election, according to The Courier-Journal's latest Bluegrass Poll.

In the Sept. 19-24 telephone survey among 630 likely voters, Fletcher and running mate Steve Pence had 44 percent of the vote, while Chandler and running mate Charlie Owen had 43 percent.

That was a statistical tie, because the poll's margin of error was plus or minus 3.9 percentage points. Other results of the survey, however, indicated that Fletcher and Pence had some advantages.

Voters had a better impression of Fletcher, and his supporters were more likely to say their support was strong.

more...http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2003/09/28ky/wir-front-poll0928-10166.html

This race is a toss-up IMHO. I would also give Fletcher a teensy lead, but not enough to make it a toss-up/possible Leans GOP.

[jiacinto]

1. Well

From what I've read it seems like Chandler is running an aggresive campaign and making the best out of what is a difficult situation. What that article says is that Chandler hasn't nailed down his base. With one out of every four Democrats supporting Fletcher that is a BIG problem. I do think that many of them will come home in the final days.

However, what does surprise me is that Fletcher hasn't been able to put this one away convincingly yet. Given all the problems surrounding the Patton Administration, plus KY's increasingly Republican trend, he should be ahead by a much larger margin.

Chandler still has hope because obviously Fletcher hasn't been able to put this one away yet. But he has to fight very arggressively.