An Emerson College gubernatorial poll puts Governor Edwards at 48%, Eddie Rispone at 25%, and Ralph Abraham at 19%.
Polling Director Spencer Kimball says Edwards is a popular figure in the state, nearly as popular as the President.
“He’s got a 48% overall approval and a 38% disapproval,” says Kimball. “To put that in comparison, President Trump, who won the state by 20 points in 2016, only has a 50% approval.”
Edwards’ initially polled at 46% in the survey but rises to 48% when you give him Edwards leaning undecided voters.
Kimball says the two Republican candidates are polling neck and neck across south Louisiana, and the race could come down to who brings out the most voters in their north Louisiana strongholds.
“Abraham has a strong group of support in the 5th district that he represents, but if you look next door up in that northwestern part of the state, that’s where Rispone is doing very well,” says Kimball.
Gary Landrieu, Patrick Landry, and Oscar Danztler combined to take 8% of the vote. Kimball says if those numbers hold it would likely force the Governor into a run-off, but that much support for non-major candidates on voting day would be unusual.
“This is a primary governor’s race in October and those who come out to vote usually know what’s going on,” says Kimball. “I think you are going to see some melt from that.”
The poll surveyed 467 likely voters and has a 4.5% margin of error.
