Georgia: Competing Polls

​Two Republican pollsters released data for the new Georgia gubernatorial run-off election that will be decided July 24th.  Both polls were conducted over the same two-day period.  McLaughlin & Associates (5/29-31; 500 GA likely Republican run-off voters) finds its poll sponsor, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, leading Secretary of State Brian Kemp, 52-42%.  Both men have very favorable images among the Republican poll respondents.  Mr. Cagle’s rating is 71:20%, while Mr. Kemp’s index is 64:13%.
 
Public Opinion Strategies, for the Kemp Campaign, (5/29-31; 600 GA likely Republican run-off voters) found a much closer race: Cagle leading 46-45%.  In the actual primary vote, Mr. Cagle placed first with 39%, followed by Mr. Kemp with 26%.  Since neither came close to garnering majority support, the two were forced into the statewide run-off. 
 
The July 24th winner will face former state House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, who won the Democratic nomination outright in the May 22nd primary.  Gov. Nathan Deal (R) is ineligible to seek a third term.

--Jim Ellis