Oxendine, Barnes Hold Leads in Georgia Gov Race

September 23, 2009 4:38 PM | | Comments (0)

John Oxendine, Georgia's insurance commissioner, leads among Republican candidates in the state's 2010 race for governor, while former Gov. Roy Barnes leads the Democratic field, according to a Strategic Vision poll of likely voters conducted Sept. 18-20.

But the large number of undecided respondents reported by the survey means it may be premature to label those candidates as the odds-on favorites for their parties' nominations in the open-seat race.

Oxendine led six other candidates for the July primary with 38 percent. Undecided respondents made up the second-largest group surveyed with 25 percent. Among the other contenders, Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel received 15 percent and Rep. Nathan Deal received 10 percent. Four other Republicans split the remainder in the poll, which has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

On the Democratic side, Barnes led the field with 45 percent support and state Attorney General Thurbert Baker came in second with 30 percent support. Undecideds amounted to 18 percent of respondents, while two other Democrats split the remainder.

The candidates are competing to succeed two-term Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue, who is barred from seeking re-election under the state's term limit law.

Hypothetical general election match-ups were not included in the survey, but a number of Democrats believe Barnes' presence in the race offers their party a strong chance of remaining competitive in the conservative-leaning -- and Republican-trending -- state.

CQ Politics rates the race Leans Republican.

To follow the 2009 and 2010 governors' races, check out CQ Politics' election map.

-- Rachel Kapochunas

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Tags: Baker, Barnes, Deal, Georgia, Governor, Handel, Oxendine, Perdue

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