Poll shows GOP candidates have an edge over challengers

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2006

By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer
Staff Writer

HICKORY A week before the Nov. 7 election, Catawba County GOP candidates are leading their Democratic challengers by substantial margins, a poll shows.

The survey was conducted by Lenoir-Rhyne College political science professor Lowell Ashman and some of his students.

The pollsters called 300 randomly sampled Catawba County residents between Oct. 10 and Oct. 23 and asked participants for information about their household income and level of education. But they did not ask respondents about party affiliation, voter registration or citizenship.

Lyndon Helton, a Democrat running for the N.C. Senate District 42 seat, said the lack of information about the respondents diminished the survey's value.

"I have a hard time putting so much stock in a poll that could have had illegal aliens on the phone or people who can't vote," he said.

The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Among the results:

Six-term Sheriff David Huffman was favored by 48 percent of the respondents in his bid for re-election. Challenger Steve Hunt, a Democrat, was favored by 34 percent. Eighteen percent were undecided.

Incumbent N.C. Sen. Austin Allran was favored by 48 percent to Helton's 34 percent. Eighteen percent were undecided.

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