Public Policy Polling (4/24-26, registered voters):
Roland Burris (D-inc): 19
Mark Kirk (R): 53
Undecided: 28Jan Schakowsky (D): 33
Mark Kirk (R): 37
Undecided: 30Alexi Giannoulias (D): 35
Mark Kirk (R): 35
Undecided: 29Lisa Madigan (D): 49
Mark Kirk (R): 33
Undecided: 18
(MoE: ±3.1%)
You’ve gotta figure that if Mark Kirk had a clear shot at a one-on-one race against Roland K. Burris, he’d leap at the opportunity… but the problem for him is that pesky Democratic primary, which is all but certain to weed out Burris from contention. While on the surface, Kirk polls very competitively against any Democrat for the Senate race other than Lisa Madigan (who does not appear to be a likely candidate), a disproportionate number of undecideds are Democratic voters (around 30% in the Schakowsky and Giannoulias head-to-heads), compared to only 19% of Republicans who are on the fence. In other words, once that money starts rolling, the Democratic nominee will have a lot more room for growth.
And who may that nominee be? PPP took a look at the Senate primary yesterday, too (4/24-26, likely Democratic voters):
Roland Burris (D-inc): 20
Alexi Giannoulias (D): 49
Undecided: 30Roland Burris (D-inc): 16
Jan Schakowsky (D): 26
Alexi Giannoulias (D): 38
Undecided: 21Roland Burris (D-inc): 13
Jan Schakowsky (D): 11
Alexi Giannoulias (D): 19
Lisa Madigan (D): 44
Undecided: 14
(MoE: ±4.8%)
No matter which way you slice it, Burris is done. As for Lisa Madigan, it seems that whichever race she chooses, she’s favored to win it (see David’s piece yesterday for the gubernatorial primary numbers). She’s also performing even more strongly than incumbent Gov. Pat Quinn in the gubernatorial general election against GOP state Sen. Bill Brady:
Lisa Madigan (D): 46
Bill Brady (R): 27
Undecided: 26Pat Quinn (D-inc): 39
Bill Brady (R): 32
Undecided: 29
(MoE: ±3.1%)
Lisa’s got options.