Alaska pollster Ivan Moore shares a new poll with the Swing State Project that tests the candidates on both sides of the aisle in Alaska’s at-large US House race next year.
The poll, conducted over “this last weekend” (10/19-10/21), shows Don Young with some very lackluster numbers in the Republican primary for a guy with three and a half decades of incumbency:
Don Young (R-inc): 61%
Gabrielle LeDoux (R): 33%
Undecided: 5%
(n=238)
If Young is losing that much of the Republican base against a low-profile candidate (LeDoux is a state Rep and former Democrat), you know that things aren’t looking so hot for the scandal-plagued incumbent.
Among potential Democratic primary voters, former state House Minority Leader Ethan Berkowitz holds an early edge:
Ethan Berkowitz (D): 45%
Diane Benson (D): 19%
Jake Metcalfe (D): 14%
(n=328)
The poll also shows that Berkowitz has nearly 80% name recognition in the state, while Benson has 66% and Metcalfe 65%. If that seems slightly high, remember that Benson was the ’06 nominee while Metcalfe has already begun airing campaign commercials — and that this is a pretty small state with a cheaper-than-average media market.
It should be mentioned – and not merely in passing – that Ivan Moore has been fundraising for Berkowitz on Act Blue. The page appears to no longer be there. Although Moore’s methodology in this poll appears to be solid, his polling for Berkowitz and other candidates in the past hasn’t always proven to be accurate enough to be reliable.
this is as shady as some of the republican tactics. ethan and ivan moore are slimes. I was on the fence about who I was giving my vote to. ethan or jake. now it is definately jake. I am really sickened by this “fake poll.” if they wanted it to mean something they should have had an independent source conduct the polling. Ahhhh, Jake Metcalfe for Congress 08!! Thanks for helping me make up my mind Ivan.