Merkley Leads Smith 45-40 in New Research 2000 Poll

"OR-Sen, Pres Polling: Good News All Around Hotlist"
Dailykos.com
9/26/08

Research 2000 for Daily Kos. 9/22-24. Likely voters. MoE 4%

Merkley (D) 45
Smith (R) 40

A new SUSA poll out today reinforces this one, with Merkley with a slim lead, 44-42. The significance of that poll, however, is that it shows Merkley gaining seven points and Smith losing seven since their previous poll, conducted in early August.

The momentum is definitely on Merkley's side. Independents have definitely not been swayed by Smith's "I'm really a moderate" shtick and continue to give him high unfavorables (see the crosstabs below the fold). He also hasn't managed to convince many Democrats who got used to the idea that you could vote for a Republican back in the days of Tom McCall and Mark Hatfield.

The news on the Presidential front is very good: Obama leads McCain 53-39, with just 3 percent undecided.

Full crosstabs below the fold.

Posted September 26, 2008
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