News

Senate polls show differing results

by Walter Pierce

In their strongest poll showing yet, three Republican challengers lead U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu by 10 points in an independent poll of likely voters - a sharp contrast to a recent NYT poll.

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu and U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy

In their strongest poll showing yet, three Republican challengers lead U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu by 10 points in an independent poll of likely voters.

The survey by Southern Media and Opinion Research shows Landrieu at 36 percent; Congressman Bill Cassidy of Baton Rouge, 35.4; Rob Maness of Covington, 7.1; state Sen. Paul Hollis of Mandeville, 3.9; and undecided, 16.6.

The sample of 600 likely voters was taken April 28-30, with a margin of error of +/- 4 percent. The poll was financed by the firm's subscribers, according to partner Bernie Pinsonat.

The survey results contrast to a recent New York Times poll in which Landrieu led Cassidy, 42-18 percent. Pinsonat said his firm used the model of recent statewide non-presidential elections that forecast an overall turnout of less than 50 percent, with African-Americans comprising 26 percent of the electorate, compared to 31 percent of registration.

The New York Times' poll was weighted toward Democrats. In that poll, 31 percent of respondents said they voted for President Barack Obama in 2012 to 28 percent who said they voted for Mitt Romney. Romney carried Louisiana, 59-41 percent.

The SMOR poll memo points out that Landrieu's approval rating has slid over the last two years to 41 percent favorable and 58 percent unfavorable, not much better than the president's 35 percent favorable and 63 percent unfavorable. She draws 79 percent of African-Americans but only 20 percent of whites.