ATLANTA,None — An InsiderAdvantage/WSB-TV poll conducted in the race to be Georgia's next governor showed Republican Nathan Deal with a 4 point lead over Democrat Roy Barnes.
The poll, the first since the state primary election, asked voters if the election to determine the governor of Georgia were held today, which candidate would they vote for?
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The results showed former former Rep. Deal with 45 percent and former Governor Barnes with 41 percent. Libertarian candidate John Monds is polling at 5 percent, with 9 percent still undecided. The poll had a margin of error of 4 percent.
InsiderAdvantage CEO Matt Towery told Channel 2's Richard Elliot he believes independent voters are more numerous in Georgia than ever before and Towery believes they will play a critical role in the election.
"Interestingly enough, Roy Barnes and Nathan Deal are splitting independents virtually even," said Towery. "So that's where the battleground is going to be. If one of those candidates can take control of those independent voters, then they have a good shot at winning."
New Poll Shows Deal Leads Race For Governor
Towery also expected one of the most bitterly contested elections in state history. "This race will turn into a vicious, tough, mean battle the likes of which we've never seen in Georgia politics," said Towery.
InsiderAdvantage also released a poll on the U.S. Senate race in Georgia. Incumbent Johnny Isakson holds a sizable lead over Michael Thurmond. Isakson, a first-term senator, received the support of 47 percent of those polled. Thurmond, who is Georgia's labor commissioner, received 35 percent. Chuck Donovan, the Libertarian candidate, polled at 7 percent with 11 percent of voters undecided. The margin of error in the poll was also 4 percent.
The general election will take place Nov. 2.