A new poll for the race for Idaho governor shows a slightly closer race between Republican Gov. Butch Otter and Democrat Keith Allred, though Otter still holds approval ratings in excess of 50 percent and a 22 percent lead over Allred.
The survey of 500 likely voters on May 11 showed Otter receiving 54 percent of votes, Allred 32 percent, other candidates 5 percent, and 9 percent unsure. The last poll, comparing the candidates in March, showed a larger 32 percent gap between Otter and Allred. The poll has a 4.5 percent margin of error.
When asked to rate Otter’s performance as governor, 55 percent either strongly approved or somewhat approved. President Obama received a 30 percent approval rating from poll respondents.
Allred’s campaign said the new poll shows that the Democratic challenger is gaining ground. “With this momentum, we are on track to make this race a dead heat by September,” said Shea Andersen, Allred’s communications director.
The statewide poll also asked likely voters two questions on immigration. Sixty-five percent of respondents said they support laws similar to one recently approved in Arizona that would authorize police to stop and check the legal status of any person they suspect is an illegal immigrant. A similar percentage agreed that all immigrants should be welcome, except for people who are criminals, national security threats, or would come to the U.S. to live off the American welfare system.
