Here Are The Results of SurveyUSA Election Poll #11879

Geography Surveyed: Kentucky
Data Collected: 03/03/2007 - 03/05/2007
Release Date: 03/06/2007 10:00 AM ET
Sponsor: WHAS-TV Louisville

Fletcher & Northup Battle for KY GOP Governor Nomination: In a Republican Primary for Governor of Kentucky today, 3/6/07, 11 weeks to the 5/22/07 Primary, incumbent Governor Ernie Fletcher faces a stiff challenge from former U.S. Congresswoman Anne Northup, according to a SurveyUSA poll of 415 likely Republican Primary voters conducted exclusively for WHAS-TV Louisville. Fletcher gets 33% of the vote today, Northup 31%, within the survey's 4.9 percentage point margin of sampling error. Fletcher and Northup should be considered effectively tied. Paducah Businessman Billy Harper is a distant 3rd. Fletcher runs strong among men and among older voters. Northup runs strong among middle-age voters age 35 to 64, among Moderates, and among those KY Republicans who think Gambling should be put to a vote. Northup receives 71% of GOP votes in greater Louisville, 5 times more than Fletcher. Fletcher receives 40% of the GOP vote in North Central KY, 38% of the vote in Eastern KY, 37% of the vote in Western KY, but just 14% of the vote in Northup's backyard. Regional turnout will be key in determining whether the sitting Governor is denied his party's renomination.

Steve Henry Atop a Crowded Field in KY Democratic Primary Contest: In a Democratic Primary for Governor of Kentucky today, former Lieutenant Governor Steve Henry runs 11 points stronger than any of 6 other named candidates, according to a SurveyUSA poll of 529 Likely Democratic Primary Voters conducted 3/3/07 through 3/5/07, exclusively for WHAS-TV Louisville. Former Lieutenant Governor Steve Beshear runs 2nd in a Primary today, with 15%, effectively tied with House Speaker Jody Richards, at 13%. Other candidates are in single digits. 14% of Kentucky Democrats are undecided. Henry has broad support among all age groups, from both whites and blacks, among voters age 50 to 64, and in particular among those who live in greater Louisville.

Filtering: 1,800 Kentucky adults were interviewed by SurveyUSA 3/3/07 through 3/5/07. Of them 1,582 were registered to vote, including 627 registered Republicans and 826 registered Democrats. Of them, 415 Republicans were identified by SurveyUSA as likely to vote in the Republican Primary and 529 Democrats were identified as likely to vote in the Democratic Primary. These likely voters were included in the survey.