Tiahrt Trampolines To Meet Moran in Middle in KS GOP Primary for Brownback Senate Seat

[ccharles000]

In a Republican Primary for US Senate in Kansas today, 12/07/09, Jerry Moran and Todd Tiahrt finish effectively tied, with Moran nominally ahead by 3 points, 37% to 34%, according to this latest SurveyUSA poll conducted for KWCH-TV Wichita and KCTV-TV Kansas City. The primary is in 8 months.

The candidates have finished inside of the survey's theoretical margin of sampling error in 4 of 5 SurveyUSA tracking polls. Only in SurveyUSA's 10/05/09 release was Moran's lead significant. Compared to 10/05/09, Moran is down 6 points; Tiahrt is up 7 points. Tiahrt, who represents Kansas' 4th US Congressional District, in Southeastern Kansas, continues to hold a strong lead in that part of the state. Moran, who represents Kansas' 1st Congressional District, which takes up most of the Western two-thirds of the state, holds an overwhelming 52-point lead in Western KS. In Northeastern KS, home to half the state's population, the two candidates today tie. In four previous polls, Moran has consistently led in this neutral ground by margins ranging between 8 and 23 points, with between 1/3 and 1/2 of Northeastern Kansas voters undecided. Today, Tiahrt holds the nominal 1-point lead here, and 41% are undecided.

Kansas political parties decide before each primary whether the primary will be open to voters who are not affiliated with any political party; SurveyUSA includes unaffiliated voters here. Moran today has a small edge among unaffiliated voters; the two candidates tie among Republicans.

Incumbent Republican US Senator Sam Brownback is running for Kansas Governor, and is not seeking reelection to his Senate seat.

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=fc12c8b0-0839-4e95-8061-ace8398d10d0