Voter Anxiety May Fuel Tightening Of Polls In Mass. Governor's Race
BOSTON (CBS) – A new poll shows Democrat Martha Coakley has fallen into a virtual tie with her Republican opponent Charlie Baker in the Massachusetts governor's race.
Voters' anxiety over the state of the commonwealth and the nation may be driving the poll numbers.
Coakley received support from 39 percent of likely voters polled by the Boston Globe while Baker was backed by 36 percent. Undecided voters make up 19 percent of those polled.
When voters were asked who is better equipped to create jobs and manage the state's finances responsibly, Baker led Coakley by double digits.
"The great thing about political campaigns is you never really know what's gonna happen," Baker said of the poll.
Coakley told WBZ-TV political analyst Jon Keller that the campaign has only just begun and said she is paying more attention to what she hears from voters than from polls.
"As we go toe to toe in this race, I am confident that I can convince and will show to Massachusetts voters that I will be strong on the economy, that we will grow a Massachusetts with jobs and we'll have the workforce prepared for those jobs," she said.
Coakley was embraced by Democratic primary opponent Don Berwick and a roomful of supporters in Lexington on Friday.
But Coakley's status as a long-serving attorney general may not serve her well with voters who the Globe poll shows are not enamored with the status quo.
More voters are saying Massachusetts is on the wrong track and 57 percent say the country is on the wrong track, a sign that voters may be tiring of the Obama administration even in the nation's bluest state.
When asked if she would ask the president to campaign for her, Coakley was non-committal.
"I know our campaigns are talking about what we're gonna do moving forward. Don't know exactly who's gonna be able to come and who not, but I would always welcome it," Coakley said. "I would welcome Michelle Obama. I would welcome good Democrats who have tried their best in a very tough economy."
The Globe poll did contain some good news for Coakley, most notably a strong voter preference for her as overseer of public education and health care.
But if outside issues such as foreign policy and President Obama's slumping popularity are upsetting voters already anxious about the local economy, that could help explain the apparent closeness of this race.
A UMass/WBZ poll on the race will be out later this month.
MORE LOCAL NEWS FROM CBS BOSTON
