Senate poll: Giannoulias, Kirk neck and neck (IL 34-34)

[FBaggins]

Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Mark Kirk are wounded rivals running neck and neck for the U.S. Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama, a new Tribune/WGN-TV poll shows.

After a bruising summer of controversies, both major party candidates have work to do to win key swing voters while at the same time exploiting their opponent's weak spots, the survey found. Energized by the political symbolism of capturing the president's former seat, national Republicans and Democrats are expected to pour millions of dollars into an advertising war during the two months before the Nov. 2 election.

Giannoulias, the first-term state treasurer, and Kirk, a five-term North Shore congressman, both had 34 percent in the statewide poll of 600 registered likely voters conducted Aug. 28 through Wednesday. Another 22 percent of voters were undecided.

The softness in support opens the door for third-party candidates to play a spoiler role in the close contest. LeAlan Jones, the Green Party candidate, had 6 percent and Libertarian Party candidate Mike Labno had 3 percent in the survey. The poll has an error margin of plus or minus 4 percentage points.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-tribune-poll-senate-20100902,0,4525504.story

[scheming daemons]

1. That's a shitload of undecideds. n/t

[FBaggins]

2. That's consistent with the PPP poll

Some of the other polls show far fewer undecided... but still a very tight race.

[WI_DEM]

3. Probably the two candidates with the highest unfavorables jointly running for the senate from one

state.

[WI_DEM]

4. This is a key finding and one where the president might help

Giannoulias had an overwhelming edge over Kirk among African-American voters, 58 percent to 3 percent, with 26 percent undecided, providing one avenue to gain support

[Robbins]

5. IL

Due to it being one of the most democratic states Giannoulias will probally pull It out however Republicans will probally take
the governorship Inless things change.

[AngryAmish]

6. We nominated such a weak candidate, it is a shame.

Giannoulias is so personally unlikeable and the mob ties just muddy the water. But the die is cast.

[Arkana]

7. That is a LOT of undecideds. Wow. And this close to election, too.