A national poll on Hawaii's Senate race shows the seat is very much up for grabs, with former Governor Linda Lingle now in the race for the Republican party.
The group Public Policy Polling surveyed 568 Hawaii voters, including 368 usual Democratic primary voters, from October 13th to 16th. The margin of error for the entire survey is between 4 and 5 percent.
The two announced Democrats, former Rep. Ed Case and current Rep. Mazie Hirono, are locked in a tight battle for the nomination.
Hirono leads with 45% to Case's 40%, but with 15% undecided.
In a hypothetical matchup, Hirono bests Lingle by six points, 48-42, but Case actually trails Lingle by two, 43-45.
"This race has become far more competitive since PPP last polled it in March," said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. "Linda Lingle's candidacy does give Republicans a chance for a pick up that would be devastating to Democratic hopes of holding onto the Senate."
PPP says the poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews. PPP is a Democratic polling company, but polling expert Nate Silver of the New York Times found that its surveys in 2010 actually exhibited a slight bias toward Republican candidates.
QUESTIONS:
"If the candidates for US Senate were Ed Case and Mazie Hirono, who would you vote for?" (Asked of 368 Democratic primary voters)
Ed Case 40%
Mazie Hirono 45%
Not sure 15%
"If the candidates for Senate next year were Republican Linda Lingle and Democrat Ed Case, who would you vote for?"
Linda Lingle 45%
Ed Case 43%
Undecided 12%
"If the candidates for Senate next year were Republican Linda Lingle and Democrat Mazie Hirono, who would you vote for?
Linda Lingle 42%
Mazie Hirono 48%
Undecided 10%
