TimesLeader.com

October 8
Barletta poll shows bigger lead

Susquehanna Polling and Research poll conducted for Barletta shows him ahead by 8 percentage points.

BILL O ’ BOYLE boboyle@timesleader.com

An internal poll conducted for the Lou Barletta for Congress campaign shows the Republican challenger stretching his lead over 12-term incumbent Democrat Paul E. Kanjorski.

The poll, conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research, shows Kanjorski’s negatives reaching all-time highs while his “re-elect” numbers reach new depths.

The poll had a sample size of 400 likely voters and was conducted on Oct. 2.

The ballot matchup had Barletta leading, 47 percent to 39 percent, an increase over the 45-percent-to-41-percent margin in the two previous polls Susquehanna conducted. The new poll also shows a decrease in the number of undecided voters.

The poll shows Kanjorski’s “re-elect” number has dropped to 32 percent, down from 39 percent in March, 37 percent in July, and 33 percent in September.

Ed Mitchell, spokesman for the Kanjorski campaign, said the Susquehanna poll results are not consistent with other polls. Mitchell did not produce any polls – internal or otherwise – to support his claim.

“We can’t trust Lou Barletta and his polls,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said Kanjorski intends to win the only poll that matters – the one on Election Day, Nov. 4.

“While Lou Barletta viciously and personally attacks Paul Kanjorski, the congressman has been doing his job and trying to fix the economy – an economy that is the way it is because Barletta worked twice to elect George Bush and still supports his disastrous policies that have led to today’s economic meltdown,” Mitchell said. “A vote for Barletta is a vote for continuing these bankrupt Bush policies: tax cuts for the wealthy, outsourcing our jobs overseas and no tax on the windfall profits of oil companies.”

Barletta said the voters in the 11th Congressional District are seeking change.

He said it was Kanjorski who was in Washington for the past 24 years.

“I was in Hazleton,” Barletta said. “The truth is that the voters don’t want to elect the same people that got us into this mess; they want a new congressman.”

Barletta said he is pleased with the poll results.

“The intensity of support is getting stronger every day,” Barletta said.

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