MPR Poll shows Boschwitz ahead of McKasy
Karen Boothe, 5/24/96

Even though there's no clarity about who'll emerge from the state primary as Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone's opponent, it's virtually neck-and-neck right now between Wellstone and Republican Rudy Boschwitz in terms of public opinion.

Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports on the latest results of a poll by Minnesota Public Radio--KARE-11--and the St.Paul Pioneer Press:

According to the poll...if the election were held TODAY, 42 percent said they'd support Paul Wellstone and 40-percent said they'd favor Rudy Boschwitz. It gives Boschwitz campaign manager Jon Lerner, reason to feel optimistic:

BITE: 6322 POLL #1 :24-secs "...in the senate"

But Wellstone Campaign Manager Jeff Blodgett is more cautious. HE says a poll THIS early in the campaign season cannot possible predict what voters will be feeling five MONTHS from now:

BITE: 6336 Poll #2 :18-secs "...Republican opponent."

Blodgett says there is ONE aspect of the poll results that DOES affirm his campaign tactics. The poll shows that when asked, respondents said the issues of the ECONOMY, JOBS, TAXES and GOVERNMENT SPENDING rate highest on the list of concerns. Blodgett says the beating Wellstone has been taking by the Republican National Committee over policies governing the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, is off the mark.

ANOTHER key finding in the poll, shows the likely Republican ENDORSED candidate, Bert McKasy might be in political trouble. He has virtually NO name recognition in the state. His campaign manager Pat Rosensteil (rosen-steel) isn't worried:

BITE: 6325 Poll #3 :22-secs "...can defeat him."

Rosensteil strongly REJECTS the notion that McKasy's primary support lies with the party's social conservatives while Boschwitz has a better chance of gaining votes from the party's majority of MODERATES. But he CONCEDES that so far, the McKasy campaign strategy has focused on convention delegates. He says that'll change after next weeks convention.

The poll data reflect views of 812 registered Minnesota voters who were contacted by telephone last weekend. The margin of error is plus or MINUS three-and-a-half percentage points.