Polling data on governor’s race, U.S. senate race

KCCI is releasing new polling data today on the two statewide races that will be decided in the June 8th Primary Election here in Iowa. 

Here’s the short version:

Republican primary for governor

Terry Branstad 44 percent

Bob Vander Plaats 29 percent 

Rod Roberts 12 percent

Undecided 15 percent

Democratic U.S. Senate primary

Roxanne Conlin 48 percent

Bob Krause 13 percent

Tom Fiegen 12 percent

Undecided 27 percent

UPDATE:  Reaction now, from some of the campaigns involved.

NEW POLL SHOWS CONLIN CLOSING GAP

(DES MOINES)- Nearly five months away from the general election, KCCI/Research 2000 has released another poll confirming that Democratic US Senate candidate Roxanne Conlin continues to gain on Senator Grassley in a head-to-head match-up. Conlin trails Grassley by only eight percentage points in the latest poll released today by KCCI/Research 2000. This is the second poll that shows Senator Grassley at or below fifty percent, a 30 year low for the senior Senator.  This race has become one of the closest democratic challenger races in the nation.
 
“Iowans know that we can’t send the same guy to do the same job and expect different results,” said Roxanne Conlin. “This poll echoes what we have been hearing across the state, Iowans want a senator who will stand up to the big banks, oil and insurance companies and I have made my life’s work taking on the special interests.  Senator Grassley voted to bailout Wall Street and five times to give tax breaks to companies who ship our jobs overseas.  It’s time for change.”
 
KCCI/Research 2000 also conducted a poll in the Democratic primary race and Conlin held a commanding thirty-five percentage point lead over her closest opponent.

NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN NEW KCCI POLL

DES MOINES – Culver/ Judge Campaign Manager Donn Stanley released the following statement on the new poll:

“Despite our opponents spending more than $2.5 million dollars on ads attacking the Culver/Judge Administration, the numbers have barely moved since the last KCCI poll in May. These attacks against Governor Culver have been misleading and downright untrue.

“We are very encouraged that, despite not airing a single ad in support of Governor Culver, the margin in this poll remains within the margin of error from the last poll. Governor Culver is ready and able to defend his record against whomever wins the Republican primary. He welcomes the chance to offer the voters a choice between two very different philosophies and visions for the future.

“We are confident that Iowans will choose to move forward, not backward, and they will vote to re-elect Chet Culver and Patty Judge.”