* I told subscribers about this poll earlier today, but had a brain freeze and wrote something which I then had to correct. Been one of those mornings…
Daniel Biss today released a new poll of a general election audience, showing that Biss withstands JB Pritzker’s hypocritical attacks and is polling stronger than any other candidate in the race against Bruce Rauner, despite Pritzker’s historic spending, so far at more than $20 million. In head-to-head matchups, Biss leads Rauner by 17 points (47% Biss / 30% Rauner / 23% not sure), while the race is narrower between the two billionaires (48% Pritzker / 35% Rauner / 17% not sure).
Meanwhile, billionaire politicians are remarkably unpopular in the state, with Pritzker nine points underwater at 33% favorable / 42% unfavorable, Donald Trump down 21 points (37% favorable / 58% unfavorable) and Bruce Rauner down a whopping 37 points, with 26% favorable / 63% unfavorable.
“This confirms what we’ve known all along: voters prefer a middle-class governor in Daniel Biss rather than having to choose between billionaires Pritzker and Rauner,” said Biss campaign manager Abby Witt. “Despite Pritzker outspending Daniel 20-to-1 on TV ads, Daniel continues to build momentum and is the strongest candidate to beat Bruce Rauner.”
The poll, conducted February 5 - 6, 2018, samples a general election audience and comes on the heels of a public poll and JB Pritzker’s own polling showing Biss surging into second place.
See the PPP summary memo here, and the full poll results here.
* The numbers…
Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Donald Trump?
Favorable 37%
Unfavorable 58%
Not sure 5%
Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Bruce Rauner?
Favorable 26%
Unfavorable 63%
Not sure 12%
Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of JB Pritzker?
Favorable 33%
Unfavorable 42%
Not sure 25%
If the candidates for Governor this fall were Democrat Daniel Biss and Republican Bruce Rauner, who would you vote for?
Daniel Biss 47%
Bruce Rauner 30%
Not sure 23%
If the candidates for Governor this fall were Democrat JB Pritzker and Republican Bruce Rauner, who would you vote for?
JB Pritzker 48%
Bruce Rauner 35%
Not sure 17%
Aside from the fact that Pritzker is having so much trouble with traction, those Rauner numbers are spectacularly awful.
