WASHINGTON -- Despite the Republican-leanings of his Seventh Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson is showing a nine-point lead on his GOP challenger Torrey Westrom in a recent poll.

Fifty percent of 545 likely voters surveyed Oct. 3 - Oct. 6 said they supported Peterson, who is running for his 13th Congressional term. Forty-one percent supported Westrom, a state senator from Elbow Lake. Ten percent were still undecided.

The poll was conducted by Survey USA by KSTP.

Among the same set of voters, 28 percent ranked health care ranked among the most important issues in the election, followed by terrorism and then taxes.