Tennessee Governor's Race Polls Diverge Sharply; Independent Hatley a Wild Card
Tennessee's governor's race has produced an unusual polling split. Two surveys released this week point in very different directions, the Nashville Banner reported on October 21. A Spry Strategies poll of 635 likely voters conducted October 10-16 showed Republican U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn leading Democratic State Representative Jerri Green about 44% to 32%, with independent David Hatley near 12%. A poll released by Green's campaign, by contrast, showed Blackburn ahead only narrowly, under 36% to 34%, with Hatley up to about 19%.
The gap also contrasts with a September Beacon Center poll that had Blackburn up 55% to 34%. Hatley, an East Tennessee businessman who calls himself a conservative, was barred from the Republican primary because of a criminal record and is running as an independent. Vanderbilt University poll co-director John Geer cautioned that both new polls have flaws and voters should view them skeptically, while noting Blackburn is under 50% in both. Her campaign responded that she will be the next governor.
Early voting is underway in Tennessee, with Election Day on November 3 to succeed term-limited Governor Bill Lee.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：田纳西州议会大厦（Nashville）。摄影：w_lemay，CC BY-SA 2.0（Wikimedia Commons）。Photo: the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville. Photo by w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
