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New poll shows tight governor's race

E-mail|Link|Comments () March 10, 2010 03:12 PM

By Globe Staff

A new poll has found that Democratic incumbent Governor Deval Patrick faces a tight race in November against Republican Charlie Baker or independent Treasurer Timothy Cahill.

The Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters found Patrick earning 35 percent of the votes, compared with 32 percent for Baker, and 19 percent for independent Treasurer Timothy Cahill. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.

If businessman Christy Mihos wins the Republican nomination rather than the former health care executive Baker, Cahill would come in second place, according to the poll. Patrick would garner 34 percent, Cahill 30 percent, and Mihos 19 percent.

"Scott Brown’s upset GOP Senate victory in January clearly hasn’t rubbed off on either of the Republicans since neither is surging in support, suggesting that the race for now is still largely a referendum on the incumbent," pollsters wrote on their website.

Patrick had a small lead over the other possible candidates in a poll taken in November.

The automated telephone poll was conducted on March 8.