New Survey USA Poll: Merkley Leads Smith 44 - 42

Poll shows Merkley beating Smith 44-42 percent
Britten Chase, PolitickerOR.com
9/26/08

A poll released Thursday shows U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) ahead of Sen. Gordon Smith 44 percent to 42 percent. That slim lead is within the poll’s margin of error.

The survey was conducted by SurveyUSA, and shows a 14-point turnaround from when the company last surveyed the Beaver State's senate race in August. That poll showed Smith ahead of Merkley 49 percent to 37 percent.

Merkley spokesman Matt Canter said that Smith’s strategy of attacking Merkley had been a big factor in turning voters away from the incumbent senator.

“Frankly, his attacks are offending voters who know we have serious economic challenges,” Canter said, citing ads the Smith campaign has released focusing on furniture in the state capitol, Merkley caught on tape and off guard with a question on foreign policy while eating a hot dog, and a third attack on Merkley’s public safety record. “It’s failing to distract voters from Smith’s record.”

Calls to Smith’s campaign were not immediately returned.

The poll was conducted by interviewing 900 Oregon voters Monday and Tuesday. It has a margin of error of +/- 4.4 percent.

Posted September 26, 2008
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