Lead grows for Lunsford, Clinton in latest SurveyUSA poll

SurveyUSA's latest polls find Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford and New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton with growing leads atop their respective races. Lunsford's lead in the seven-candidate Democratic Senate primary field grew 5 percent since the last poll by SurveyUSA. That poll gave Lunsford 42 percent support among 572 "likely" Democratic voters.

It was conducted in the last week of March, shortly before Lunsford's campaign began running two statewide advertisements. SurveyUSA's latest barometer on the primary field finds Lunsford up to 47 percent among 557 likely voters. It was conducted from April 12 and 14.

A statement from the polling firm indicated Lunsford's support was strongest in Louisville and western Kentucky, where he received 49 percent support among respondents. He gathered 36 percent in eastern Kentucky and 47 percent in the northern part of the Commonwealth.

Louisville businessman Greg Fischer found his support rise slightly over the two polls, from 6 to 9 percent. That candidate started airing his first television ad on April 12. Perennial candidate David L. Williams saw his support drop into the single digits, from 11 to 8 percent. Prospect physician Mike Cassaro moved up from 4 to 5 percent. Kenneth Stepp registered at 1 percent, David Wylie had 3 percent, and James Rice gathered 5 percent. Eight percent of respondents were undecided while 14 percent selected "other."

The margin of error on the Senate poll was plus or minus 4.2 percent. New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's lead in Kentucky grew from 58 percent to 62 percent according to the latest SurveyUSA Democratic primary poll. Support for Obama dropped three percent, from 29 to 26 percent.

Clinton dominates Obama by twenty or more points across both genders and each age group. Obama only leads Clinton among African-Americans and Latino-Americans. Four percent of respondents were undecided.

The Illinois Senator's greatest strength is in the Metro Louisville area, where he trails Clinton 52 to 36 percent. Clinton leads Obama by more than 39 percent in each other region of the state. The dates covered by the two primary polls coincide with the Senate polls, as does the sample size. The lone difference is a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percent for the primary poll. SurveyUSA utilizes automated polling methods, using pre-recorded voices.

Respondents select their choice of candidate with their telephone keypad. In an earlier poll by Kentucky-based Preston-Osbourne, Clinton was shown ahead of Obama 55 to 26 percent.