In results of the Montana State University-Billings poll released Thursday, 43 percent of those questioned supported Schweitzer and 28 percent backed Brown. Twenty-seven percent were undecided.
Fewer than 1 percent supported Green Party candidate Bob Kelleher and Libertarian Stan Jones.
But major campaign developments occurred between the two surveys.
The candidates debated in Helena, Butte, Bozeman and Missoula; Brown and the Republican Governors Association aired TV ads critical of Schweitzer, and two Democratic elected officials endorsed Brown. Brown also released his income tax returns for the past 11 years, but Schweitzer rejected his challenge to do the same.
Craig Wilson, co-director of the annual poll and head of the political science department at the Billings school, said those events could be part of the reason for the results in his poll.
He also noted the poll found 57 percent of those who identified themselves as Republicans in the survey are still undecided rather than supporting Brown.
That, he said, could mean some GOP faithful are conflicted by Schweitzer's choice of a Republican for a running mate, or that wounds are unhealed from the divisive GOP primary between Brown and Pat Davison earlier this year.
The random telephone poll was conducted Oct. 7-10 by sociology and political science students at MSU-Billings. The survey questioned 411 likely voters in the general election, and the results have a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.
The two gubernatorial campaigns had distinctly different views of the poll.
Schweitzer embraced the results, saying they reflect "Montanans' desire to elect new, independent leadership that gets state government working again."
Jason Thielman, campaign manager for Brown, dismissed the poll. "I don't want to disparage the students and their polling, but this is not a professional poll and doesn't match with any of the other polling, public or private, that we've seen," he said.
The poll showed almost half of those surveyed - 47 percent - remain undecided between the two candidates running for one of two seats on the state Supreme Court. Those who have made up their minds are evenly split, with 26 percent choosing incumbent James Nelson and 26 percent favoring challenger Cindy Younkin of Bozeman.
In the secretary of state's race, Republican Brad Johnson of Bozeman is leading Democrat Bill Kennedy of Billings, 35 percent to 29 percent. More than one out of every three - 36 percent - are undecided.
Republicans continue to be favored over Democrats in legislative races. Forty-nine percent said they would vote for a GOP candidate for the state House and 35 percent said they would vote for a Democrat. Thirteen percent were undecided and 3 percent said they would vote for neither a Republican nor a Democrat.
The MSU-Billings poll in 2000 also showed 49 percent supported GOP candidates.
Voters appear divided over a ballot measure that would repeal a ban on the use of cyanide in mining operations and put into law new environmental restrictions on such mines. Forty-two percent said they oppose Initiative 147, while 41 percent support it and 17 percent are undecided.
The poll found strong opposition to a proposal to extend term limits for legislators, with 55 percent saying they would vote against the constitutional amendment and 35 percent supporting it. Ten percent were undecided.
Another constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages is favored by 65 percent of those surveyed and opposed by
28 percent. Just 6 percent are undecided.
Initiative 148, which would legalize marijuana for medical uses, is favored by 57 percent and opposed by 35 percent, with
8 percent undecided.
A ballot measure to double most tobacco taxes and use the money mostly for health care programs has similar support. Sixty-one percent said they favor Initiative 149 and 28 percent are opposed, with 5 percent undecided. On other issues:
n 60 percent said they support the use of privately owned snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park, and 28 percent said they are opposed.
n 78 percent said they are at least somewhat satisfied with their jobs.
n 25 percent believe they were safer four years ago than today, while 59 percent see no change in their personal safety.
n 70 percent reported they have at least one firearm in their homes.
n 64 percent call television their single most important source of national news.
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)