Suffolk Poll Finds Coakley Leading Democratic Primary In 2 Bellwether Towns
BOSTON (CBS) – A Suffolk University poll taken over the weekend found Attorney General Martha Coakley leading in two bellwether communities in the three-way Democratic primary race for Massachusetts governor.
According to Suffolk University pollster David Paleologos, Coakley leads Steve Grossman 40 percent to 28 percent in Hull and 42 percent to 35 percent in Randolph.
Poll results show the third Democrat in the primary, Don Berwick, garnering 14.67 percent in Hull and 9.6 percent in Randolph.
Candidates were making their last-ditch efforts to appeal to voters before they head to the polls on Tuesday.
Candidates Make Final Push For Votes
WBZ-TV's Ken MacLeod reports
In the last two Democratic primaries without an incumbent governor in the race, 2002 and 2006, results in Hull and Randolph tracked closely with statewide results.
The poll of 300 very likely Democratic voters in each town was taken Sept. 6 and Sept. 7, and has a 5.65 percent margin of error.
Paleologos said there has been slight movement for Grossman, but said he needs to grab additional support from independents, undecided voters and Berwick supporters if he is going to win the primary.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face the winner of the Republican race between Charlie Baker and Mark Fisher.
Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin predicts low voter turnout for Tuesday's primary. He anticipates about 550,000 Democratic primary ballots will be cast and 165,000 to 170,000 Republican ballots.
Those numbers of ballots cast would equal a turnout of 15 percent to 20 percent of voters, Galvin said.
MORE POLITICAL NEWS FROM CBS BOSTON
