Alabama: Head-to-Heads

The RHH elections blog surveyed the upcoming Alabama Senate special Republican primary and found similar results to what we’re seeing from other polling entities.  This data (7/31-8/3; 426 AL Republican likely primary voters; 369 via Interactive Voice Response system; 57 from online questionnaire) again finds Sen. Luther Strange and former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore pulling away from the pack of seven other candidates.  In this poll, one that has no live surveyor input thus bringing its reliability under scrutiny, Judge Moore has crept into a 31-29% lead over Sen. Strange.  Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) trails with 18%.  Again, there is a clear delineation between this group of three contenders and the remaining six also-rans.  And, likewise, this survey finds Strange and Moore advancing into a September 26th run-off election.
 
This is the first poll that tested the eventual run-offs, however.  If Sen. Strange and Judge Moore do advance, it would be the latter man who clings to a 34-32% slight advantage, with another 35% undecided.  If Strange and Brooks were to qualify, the appointed Senator would lead 42-22%.  Judge Moore would easily outdistance Rep. Brooks if these two advanced, 43-20%.  The primary election is a week from tomorrow, August 15th.

--Jim Ellis