HT News

July 5, 2008

New GOP survey: Barletta would beat Kanjorski

Poll says Hazleton mayor favored over incumbent 47 percent to 42 percent.

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
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Republican Lou Barletta would defeat 12-term incumbent Paul Kanjorski by 5 percentage points if the election were held today, according to an internal poll released Monday by the Barletta campaign.

Conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research, a Harrisburg-based Republican polling agency, the results show Barletta would receive 47 percent of the vote compared to 42 percent for Kanjorski.

The poll shows 39 percent of voters believe Kanjorski deserves to be re-elected.

Hazleton Mayor Barletta is challenging Kanjorski, a Democrat, for the 11th Congressional District seat. The two faced off in 2002 and Kanjorski defeated Barletta by 22,000 votes.

Kanjorski campaign manager Ed Mitchell would not comment verbally on the poll. He declined a request to share any internal polling results.

“It’s our policy not to comment on polls,” Mitchell said in an e-mailed statement. “We will be happy to discuss with Mr. Barletta his strong support for the Bush policies in Iraq, against the raise in the minimum wage and for privatization of Social Security.”

The Barletta camp was encouraged by the findings.

“They mirror the response Mayor Barletta receives when he travels throughout the district,” said Barletta campaign manager Vince Galko.

James Lee, president of Susquehanna Polling and Research, said the poll was conducted March 27-29, with 400 likely general election voters. Only voters with prior voting history in key election years 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004 were contacted, he said. The margin of error is 4.9 percent.

Galko said the numbers “give real hope to the citizens of Northeastern Pennsylvania” and said the results indicate constituents are “tired of Mr. Kanjorski’s antics and want real change.”

Galko said the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee paid $26,000 to do a poll for Kanjorski on March 6, 2008.

“I am sure their numbers paint the same picture for the incumbent,” Galko said.

DCCC spokeswoman Carrie James said the organization commissioned a poll but would not release the results. She said the party would not “discuss internal strategic documents.”

Lee said the results show Barletta has a strong positive image and high name recognition in the district. Those polled gave Kanjorski low marks for job approval.

Bill O’Boyle, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at 829-7218.

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