Poll: Deal holds 7-point lead over Barnes

ATLANTA - A new poll released Sunday shows Republican Nathan Deal with a 7-point lead over Democrat Roy Barnes in Georgia's gubernatorial race heading into Tuesday's general election.

Deal pulled 47 percent of the vote compared with 40 percent for Barnes, according to the poll by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research Inc. Libertarian John Monds garnered 6 percent of the vote. Seven percent of voters were undecided.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Deal is below the 50 percent plus one of the vote needed to avoid a runoff under Georgia law.

But a spokesman predicted undecided voters would break in favor of the former congressman from Gainesville.

"As poll watchers can tell you, the undecideds will break evenly, and probably more heavily toward Nathan in this election because of the backlash against Democratic policies," spokesman Brian Robinson said. "Nathan is well situated to pick up enough votes for the majority."

The Barnes camp maintained the ex-governor from Marietta is picking up support in the campaign's closing days.

"The only poll we trust is the one on Election Day by voters," Barnes spokesman Emil Runge said. "Roy is gathering momentum from across Georgia including from Republicans, independents and women."

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. of Washington, D.C., interviewed 625 random likely Georgia voters by phone Oct. 26-28 for the poll that was paid for by 13 daily newspapers with readership across Georgia.

The polls showed Republican strength across all statewide races in Georgia, though a couple could also be headed to a runoff with the leaders pulling less than the 50 percent plus one vote required.

Republican U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson pulled 56 percent of the vote in his bid for a second term. Democrat Michael Thurmond, the state's labor commissioner, had 33 percent of the vote, and Libertarian Chuck Donovan had 4 percent, the poll found. About 7 percent were undecided.

In the race for lieutenant governor, Republican incumbent Casey Cagle led Democratic challenger Carol Porter 51 percent to 33 percent. Libertarian Dan Barber pulled 4 percent, and 12 percent were undecided.

Republican Sam Olens held a lead in the race for attorney general with 46 percent of the vote. Democrat Ken Hodges pulled 34 of the vote, and Libertarian Don Smart had support from 4 percent of voters. Sixteen percent of respondents said they were undecided.

In the race for school superintendent, the poll pegged Republican John Barge's support at 39 percent, while Democrat Joe Martin pulled 29 percent and Libertarian Kira Wills 5 percent. A full 27 percent of respondents said they were undecided.

Georgia's hotly contested governor's race has been receiving the most attention, with a steady barrage of ads still flooding the television airwaves in the final days. Both campaigns are also ramping up their get-out-the-vote efforts.

The polls showed Barnes with a lead among women, whom he has targeted heavily in recent weeks by attacking Deal's record on domestic violence and protections for rape victims. Barnes leads among women 44 percent to 40 percent, the poll found.

But Deal dominates among men and white voters. Fifty-one percent of men and 62 percent of white voters polled said they are supporting Deal.

Barnes has solid backing from black voters. Eighty-four percent said they support the former governor.

However, the margin for error is higher for any subgroup, such as regional or gender groupings.