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Poll Shows Beshear With Big Lead Over Williams

In the first poll of the 2011 Kentucky gubernatorial election, Democratic Governor Steve Beshear holds a strong 21-point lead over Republican challenger and state Senate President David Williams.During the primary campaign, early polls showed Williams trailing the governor by a smaller margin, but since then Beshear has launched a number of radio and television advertisements and observers had been highlighting the GOP nominees high negatives.Many are saying this is a prelude to a blowout.From cn|2 Pure Politics:But Luke Marchant, Williams’ campaign manager, said the poll results “do not reflect the reality of the campaign.”

“Interestingly enough, in the last two cycles, Republicans seeking governorships against Democrat incumbents in numerous states had deficits in early polling only to win election after communicating the facts about their opponents,” Marchant said. “The case will be the same in Kentucky.”

Marchant said voters will change their minds once they “learn just how badly the current administration has attended to critical issues.”

For instance, he echoed criticism the campaign has consistently levied against Beshear – that he has failed to lead on revamping the state’s tax code or making changes to the state’s increasingly expensive public employee pension system.

Beshear’s campaign manager, Bill Hyers, issued a statement about polling, saying “while the campaign is always pleased to see strong support for the governor’s hard work, he remains focused on his efforts to bring jobs to every corner of Kentucky.”

Independent Gatewood Galbraith polled just over five percent with 14 percent undecided.

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