Senator Saxby Chambliss leads Democratic challenger Jim Martin by five percentage points in his bid for re-election in Georgia. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the race finds the Republican incumbent with 48% of the vote and Martin with 43%. Libertarian Party candidate Allen Buckley picks ups seven percent (7%) of the vote while two percent (2%) remain undecided.
But, under Georgia law, a candidate must win at least 50% of the vote or face a run-off election in December.
If Buckley’s support stays at current levels, it would be difficult for either Chambliss or Martin to win the majority needed to avoid a run-off. It is also possible, however, that some Buckley supporters may choose instead to vote for one of the major party candidates.
A week ago Chambliss was ahead by just two points, the closest the race has been all year and the highest level of support for Martin, whose campaign has spent roughly half-a-million dollars on attack ads against Chambliss over the past month. Just three weeks ago, Chambliss held a six-point lead.
Chambliss is viewed favorably by 58% of voters statewide while Martin earns positive reviews from 48%.
Unaffiliated voters are evenly divided—39% for Martin, 37% for Chambliss, and 20% for Buckley. (Premium Members can view full demographic crosstabs).
Governor Sonny Perdue, a Republican, earns good or excellent ratings from 48% of voters in Georgia while 22% say he is doing a poor job.
The latest numbers on the presidential race in Georgia will be released today at 3 p.m. Eastern.
See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs are available for Premium Members only.
This telephone survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports October 30, 2008. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
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Georgia Trends: Chambliss vs. Martin |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Date |
Chambliss |
Martin |
|
11/18/2008 |
50% |
46% |
|
48% |
43% |
|
|
47% |
45% |
|
|
50% |
44% |
|
|
50% |
43% |
|
|
48% |
43% |
|
|
51% |
40% |
|
|
52% |
39% |
|
|
52% |
36% |
|
|
54% |
33% |
|
|
51% |
33% |
|
|
Favorable Ratings for Senate Candidates in Georgia |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Chambliss |
Martin |
|
|
Very Favorable |
29% |
26% |
|
Somewhat Favorable |
29% |
24% |
|
Somewhat Unfavorable |
17% |
22% |
|
Very Unfavorable |
22% |
25% |
|
Not Sure |
3% |
4% |
Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.
The Rasmussen Reports ElectionEdge™ Premium Service for Election 2008 offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a Presidential election.
Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, has been an independent pollster for more than a decade.
MOOD OF AMERICA
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- 5% Say Congress Doing Good or Excellent Job
