Minnesota Public Radio/Humphrey Institute (5/13-16, adults):
Mark Dayton (DFL): 35
Tom Emmer (R): 31
Tom Horner (IP): 8
Undecided/Other: 25Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL): 29
Tom Emmer (R): 31
Tom Horner (IP): 10
Undecided/Other: 30Matt Entenza (DFL): 28
Tom Emmer (R): 32
Tom Horner (IP): 11
Undecided/Other: 29
(MoE: ±5.8%)
DFL primary:
Mark Dayton (DFL): 38
Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL): 28
Matt Entenza (DFL): 6
Undecided/Other: 28
(MoE: “higher than” ±5.8%)
MPR and the wonks at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs have teamed up for the first public poll of the Democratic gubernatorial primary since state House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher won the DFL endorsement in late April. Their results give ex-Sen. Mark Dayton a reason to smile, as he’s coming out on top in the DFL primary, and is the only Democrat to lead Tom Emmer in the general election. Bear in mind, though, that MPR didn’t screen for likely voters, and their less than forthcoming attitude towards the primary sample’s margin of error suggests that the DFL-only sample size may be smaller than we’d see from other pollsters.
But I’d gladly take him if only to drive nail in that goofus DFL process.
He’s been in and out of different offices a few times, takes a few years off, then runs for something else.
I shouldn’t he be like Norm Coleman in terms of popularity? Although to be fair I live far away from Minnesota so I have no idea of the political situation there, except that the Governor’s race seems to be as tight as it ever was. I suspect the Republicans would be doing much better under a Likely voter screen however.
so not at all shocking at this point. But MAK is doing surprisingly well, if Dayton only has a 10 point lead now he’s screwed.
dayton is one of the best known politicians in MN in the last 20 years. He has run statewide in primaries 4 times and as a nominee 3 times…and she only trails him by 10 points before she has even started campaigning to the likely primary voters.
it will be a low-voter turnout primary determined by good direct-mail and strategic tv and radio. while i was a strong Rybak supporter before, I was very impressed by the MAK campaign’s command of data and information and sense of who they needed to talk to, when.
as the PA and KY primaries reminded us once again, what happens in the last two weeks in a primary can decide the whole thing so i don’t think there’s much to be learned from this poll other than most people don’t know who these candidates are or, in dayton’s case, have their doubts.