Kratovil's poll shows him leading rematch with Harris in 1st district

[ccharles000]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/2010/06/rep_kratovils_poll_shows_him_l.html

Rep. Frank Kratovil (D) is leading in a potential rematch with state Sen. Andy Harris (R) in Maryland's 1st district, according to a new poll conducted for the Democrat's campaign.

Kratovil's survey -- conducted among likely voters June 15-16 by Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group -- gives him a 44 percent to 39 percent lead over Harris, whom Kratovil beat by fewer than 3,000 votes in 2008. Seventeen percent of respondents were undecided in the poll.

The narrowness of Kratovil's victory two years ago and the unusual circumstances behind it -- Harris beat incumbent Wayne T. Gilchrest in the GOP primary, and then Gilchrest endorsed Kratovil -- make Republicans believe they can take back this seat in November. It has traditionally tilted toward the GOP, and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) won the district by 19 points in the 2008 presidential campaign, even as President Obama captured the state with ease. The nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report rates the race as "Lean Republican."

But Democrats argue that Kratovil is doing what he must to build support in the district, which includes Maryland's Eastern Shore as well as suburbs north and south of Baltimore. Kratovil voted against Obama's health-reform bill in March, though he voted for the "cap and trade" energy bill a year ago this week.

[eppur_se_muova]

1. Great! Harris is vile. nt