Minnesota Attorney General Humbert Humphrey III enjoys a double digit lead over Norm Coleman in the Governor's race as the campaign enters its final three weeks.
Statewide, 56 percent of likely voters have a favorable opinion of Humphrey, while 23 percent have an unfavorable opinion. Coleman's negatives are slightly higher, and he's not as popular.
In a match-up, Humphrey captures 44 percentof the vote, compared to 31 percent for Coleman, with 15 percent backing Reform Party candidate Jesse Ventura and 10 percentremain undecided.
QUESTION : I am going to read you the names of several individuals who are active in public life. After I mention each name, I would simply like you to tell me if you recognize that individual. If you do recognize a name, I will then ask you if you have a favorable, unfavorable, or neutral opinion of that person.
Governor Favorable Unfavorable Neutral Unrecognized Humphrey 56% 23% 19% 2% Coleman 41% 27% 27% 5% Ventura 33% 28% 30% 9%
Attorney General Favorable Unfavorable Neutral Unrecognized Hatch 27% 12% 30% 31% Weaver 25% 11% 28% 36%
QUESTION: If the 1998 election for Governor were held today, would you vote for Hubert Humphrey III, the DFL Party candidate; Norm Coleman, the Republican; or Jesse Ventura, the Reform Party candidate.STATE MEN WOMEN MPLS/ST.PAUL NON-METRO Humphrey 44% 38% 50% 46% 41% Coleman 31% 36% 26% 38% 25% Ventura 15% 18% 12% 9% 21% Undecided 10% 8% 12% 7% 13%
QUESTION : What issue will be the single most important to you when deciding how to vote in the Governor's race?
Education 28% Taxes/Govt. Spending 20% Character 10% Health Care 9% Leadership Record 7% Crime/drugs 6% Economic Development 5% Social Welfare 5% Environment 1% Candidate's Party 3% No Answer 6%
QUESTION: If the 1998 election for Attorney General were held today, would you vote for Mike Hatch, the DFL Party candidate or Charlie Weaver, the Republican?STATE MEN WOMEN Hatch 35% 28% 42% Weaver 28% 36% 20% Undecided 37% 36% 20%
COMPARISON TO PREVIOUS POLLS
Governor | Humphrey | Coleman | Ventura | Undecided |
October 1998 | 44% | 31% | 15% | 10% |
September 1998 | 43% | 29% | 13% | 15% |
June 1998 | 46% | 30% | 7% | 17% |
February 1998 | 39% |
33% |
- |
28% |