Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann leads her Democratic challenger by nine points but falls short of the 50-percent safety zone for incumbents, according to a SurveyUSA poll.
Bachmann, a second-term Republican, is ahead of Democratic state Sen. Tarryl Clark by nine points, leading 48 percent to 39 percent. Two independent candidates draw eight percent of the vote – Aubrey Immelman takes two percent and Independence Party nominee Bob Anderson takes six – with five percent up for grabs.
Bachmann, a second-term Republican, is ahead of Democratic state Sen. Tarryl Clark by nine points, leading 48 percent to 39 percent. Two independent candidates draw eight percent of the vote – Aubrey Immelman takes two percent and Independence Party nominee Bob Anderson takes six – with five percent up for grabs.
Bachmann holds a strong advantage among men, taking the male vote by a 25-point margin. Clark has an edge among women, leading by eight points.
The sizable independent vote raises the possibility that Bachmann could repeat her 2008 election performance, winning reelection without majority support. Last cycle, she took 46 percent to Democrat Elwyn Tinklenberg's 43 percent, while Bob Anderson drew 10 percent of the vote. .
The race is already shaping to be one of the year’s most expensive. Bachmann announced last week that she raised $1.7 million in the second quarter, bringing her total haul to more than $4 million for the cycle. Clark reported pulling in $910,000 over the last three months, with an overall total of more than $2 million over the course of the campaign.
The automated SurveyUSA poll was conducted July 9-11 and tested 565 likely voters in the 6th congressional district.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0710/39649.html
The sizable independent vote raises the possibility that Bachmann could repeat her 2008 election performance, winning reelection without majority support. Last cycle, she took 46 percent to Democrat Elwyn Tinklenberg's 43 percent, while Bob Anderson drew 10 percent of the vote. .
The race is already shaping to be one of the year’s most expensive. Bachmann announced last week that she raised $1.7 million in the second quarter, bringing her total haul to more than $4 million for the cycle. Clark reported pulling in $910,000 over the last three months, with an overall total of more than $2 million over the course of the campaign.
The automated SurveyUSA poll was conducted July 9-11 and tested 565 likely voters in the 6th congressional district.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0710/39649.html