IL: Half of voters undecided on Senate pick, poll finds

[goobergunch]

The race to succeed outgoing U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald is so wide open that nearly half of all Illinois voters haven't a clue who should be their next senator, a poll released Thursday shows.

Only two candidates even broke double digits, and neither got more than 10 percent.

Fox News Chicago :puke: commissioned the poll to gauge voter interest in the March primary and potentially pare down the crowded field as it prepares for an Oct. 4 debate to be televised live on its sister station, WPWR-Channel 50.

Decisions on who will be invited to the debate haven't yet been made, but no candidates should be too excited by the numbers compiled by pollsters by phone this week. KRC Communications Research surveyed 800 likely voters. The poll has an error margin of 4.8 percentage points.

more...http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-poll26.html

Dan Hynes        (D) 10%
Blair Hull       (D)  9%
Barack Obama     (D)  8%
Gery Chico       (D)  7%
Joyce Washington (D)  5%

Jack Ryan            (R) 10%
Jim Oberweis         (R)  9%
John Borling         (R)  8%
John Cox             (R)  8%
Andrew McKenna       (R)  6%
Steve Rauschenberger (R)  5%

polltrakker

[illini]

1. Thanks for the heads up :)

I am curious as to wether Nancy Skinner was part of the poll. One of the local tv "news" stations (cant remember the name)left her off of one of their polls.

http://www.skinnerthewinner.com/

[kang]

2. Obama's good

I've heard him speak before and I have friends who took his classes at Univ. of Chicago's law school. It was a mistake for him to take on Bobby Rush though. Too bad Oprah's not interested, I think she would have a good chance of winning IL. Since this seems the year of political newcomers. No problem in front of a camera with her and name-recognition off the charts...not to mention plenty of money.

[CMT]

3. it is going to be competitive

eom.

[Padraig18]

4. A very good friend of mine...

... is active in the local Rep. party, and she says the Repukes are scared to DEATH of State Comptroller Dan Hynes (the "Mr. Squeaky Clean" of Illinois politics) because of his ability to hold core Democrats and siphon off moderate and liberal Republican votes. She says Hynes is their 'nightmare come true' opponent.