News
Rex holds substantial lead in race for Governor
October 28, 2009
New poll shows Education Superintendent handily winning primary, runoff elections next June
"Jim Rex is clearly the frontrunner among the Democrats in the race for Governor. The other candidates will have to spend vast amounts of money just to get what we've already got," said campaign director Zeke Stokes.
The poll, conducted October 26-29, shows Rex beginning the campaign with a significant advantage over the rest of the field in statewide name identification and favorability rating. Rex's name is recognized by over half of the Democratic Primary electorate – and the vast majority of those voters rate Rex favorably.
In a Democratic Primary vote preference for Governor, Jim Rex begins with a significant lead over his closest competitor. Among Democratic Primary voters, Rex leads the other candidates by double-digit margins receiving 25 percent of the vote, to State Senator Vincent Sheheen's 10 percent. Charleston trial attorney Mullins McLeod and Columbia special interest lobbyist Dwight Drake are in low single digits at 4 and 3 percent respectively.
In runoff scenarios, Rex's lead is even more commanding. In a runoff with Sheheen, Rex leads 50 percent to 14 percent. Against Drake, Rex leads 48 percent to 17 percent.
"We are encouraged by these numbers," said Stokes. "It's clear that even though most of these candidates entered the race many months ago, their campaigns have not caught fire among Democratic Party primary voters. Voters have been waiting on a winner to enter this race, and Jim Rex will not disappoint them."
