Poll: Phil Bredesen holds double-digit lead over Marsha Blackburn in U.S. Senate race
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Here is a list of who may replace Bob Corker’s seat in the U.S. Senate.
NASHVILLE — Former Gov. Phil Bredesen has a 10-point lead over U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn in the race to succeed U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, according to a new poll from Middle Tennessee State University.Â
The poll, released Thursday, found 45 percent of 600 registered Tennessee voters said they would choose Bredesen, a Democrat and former Nashville mayor, if the election were immediately held.
Blackburn, a Brentwood Republican, netted 35 percent, with another 17 percent of respondents saying they were not sure. Three percent of respondents declined to answer.Â
The latest poll is the first survey released this year to suggest Bredesen has a double-digit lead over Blackburn.Â
The MTSU poll also found Bredesen had a considerable advantage over Blackburn in terms of support from voters on the other side of the aisle.
Forty-five percent of self-described independents said they would vote for Bredesen while only 33 percent of such voters said they would vote for Blackburn, the poll found.Â
Twenty percent of Republican respondents said they would vote for Bredesen while 5 percent of Democrats said they would vote for Blackburn.
The political makeup of the poll’s respondents included 34 percent Republicans, 25 percent Democrats and 28 percent independents. Another 8 percent said “something else.”
In an interview, Ken Blake, director of the MTSU poll, said Bredesen’s support among Republicans is hardly shocking given his popularity within the party while governor from 2003 to 2011.
“I think some of that goodwill or social capital that he built up as governor may be paying dividends for him now,” Blake said.Â
On the other hand, Blake said Blackburn is trying to appeal to more “core conservatives.”
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“If she ends up having to kind of attract some moderate Democrats or Republican-leaning independents, it could be a challenge,” Blake said.
The MTSU poll is the latest survey indicating Bredesen would beat Blackburn in a head-to-head matchup. Last month, a poll from a Democratic-leaning firm showed Bredesen had a 5 percent lead over Blackburn.Â
But other polls have shown Blackburn would beat Bredesen.
With so many respondents still undecided on the race, Blake surmised that many Tennesseans are distracted by the consistent flow of news and developments out of Washington, D.C. Â
The MTSU poll did not include questions about other Republican candidates seeking the nomination for U.S. Senate, or favorability and name recognition for Blackburn and Bredesen.Â
In MTSU’s last poll, conducted in October, respondents weighed in on the favorability of Blackburn and Bredesen, and others.Â
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Phil Bredesen would be one of the richest members of Congress if elected to Senate
More: Sen. Bob Corker won’t seek third term
Follow Joel Ebert on Twitter: @joelebert29
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