Poll: Kitzhaber, Dudley tied in race for governor

By Steve Benham KATU.com Staff Published: Oct 15, 2010 at 3:53 PM PDT
Poll: Kitzhaber, Dudley tied in race for governor
Democrat John Kitzhaber and Republican Chris Dudley.

PORTLAND, Ore. - It’s a tossup.

In the latest KATU News/Survey USA poll, gubernatorial candidates John Kitzhaber and Chris Dudley are essentially tied. But for the first time in a SurveyUSA poll, Democrat Kitzhaber leads Republican Dudley by one percentage point, 46 percent to 45 percent. But the pollsters note the one-point lead may not be significant.

According to the poll, Kitzhaber is polling strong with women and seniors while Dudley’s strength with independent voters has weakened.

SurveyUSA determined 652 Oregonians it polled out of 900 were likely to vote Nov. 2. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percent.

In SurveyUSA’s four polls conducted since the May primary, this is Kitzhaber strongest showing and Dudley’s weakest.

On June 10, Dudley led Kitzhaber 47-40. On July 28, he led Kitzhaber by only two points, 46-44, and Sept. 15, he widened his lead over Kitzhaber by six points, 49-43.

The poll also found that Democrat U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden leads his Republican opponent, Jim Huffman, by 22 points,  56 percent to 34 percent.

The polls were conducted Oct. 12 through Oct. 14.

Ballots for this election began going out to voters today.