Republican Chip Cravaack, Rep. Jim Oberstar's challenger in northern Minnesota, is touting a new internal poll that he says shows him within striking distance of the 18-term congressman.
Oberstar's campaign begs to differ.
Cravaack, a retired Navy captain, is one of only a few serious challengers ever to make a run for Oberstar's seat, which Oberstar has occupied since 1974. Internal polls carry obvious biases, but here is what it says:
GOP polling firm Public Opinion Strategies polled 300 likely voters for Cravaack's campaign, with a margin of error of +/-5.66 percent. The firm says Oberstar led Cravaack 45-42 percent when respondents were asked who they would vote for if the election were held today.
That's a notably close margin, considering the Eighth District is a longtime DFL stronghold.
Oberstar's campaign is accusing POS of using leading or loaded questions to sway voters, also known as a "push poll." Spokesman Blake Chafee said they learned that from constituents who called their office.
"My opponent has had difficulty getting his facts straight over the past few months, but I was just chalking it up to his lack of experience," Oberstar said in a statement. "Unfortunately, this poll makes it look like he is intentionally trying to mislead people."
Cravaack's campaign would not release the poll questionnaire or the particular inquiries that preceded the "Who would you vote for" question. Campaign spokesman Kyler Nerison said, however, that there was no description of Oberstar (beyond his party) or any legislation before the head-to-head question.
