Democrat-Leaning Public Poll Reports Republican Charlotte Mayoral Candidate John Lassister Is Ahead

Charlotte Observer----

Republican John Lassiter and Democrat Anthony Foxx are in a statistical dead heat to become Charlotte's next mayor, according to Public Policy Polling of Raleigh.

The poll suggests a highly competitive race, with Lassiter ahead 44 to 43 percent.

Both candidates are generally liked by the public. Lassiter is viewed positively by 53 percent of voters polled, with 22 percent holding a negative opinion. Foxx's numbers were 48 percent holding a favorable opinion and 22 percent viewing him negatively.

“I think there are two things that are positive for our campaign – We are leading. And my favorables are quite high,” said Lassiter, who is hoping to continue more than two decades of Republicans holding the mayoral job.

Lassiter is expected to win the Sept. 15 Republican primary against Martin Davis and Jack Stratton, who weren't included in the poll. Foxx has no Democratic challengers.

Public Policy Polling is a Democratic-leaning pollster, and nationally respected.

The Foxx campaign is hoping for a high turnout, and to get some of last fall's Obama voters to the polls. Turnout in Charlotte mayoral elections is typically about 25 percent of registered voters. Clark declined to say what the Foxx's campaign's turnout goal is.

“We are investing heavily in our ground game,” said Bruce Clark, Foxx's campaign manager. “That will drive turnout.”

Clark said he was pleased by two questions in the PPP poll.

When asked which is more important – experience or vision – 60 percent of voters said vision. Foxx is generally running on how he wants to change Charlotte, while Lassiter is stressing his experience on the Mecklenburg Board of Education and six years as a council member.

Clark also noted that 59 percent said it is “time for a change,” while 34 percent said they were happy with the current leadership. Lassiter is closer ideologically to current Mayor Pat McCrory than Foxx.

McCrory's approval rating is still, however, at 57 percent.

Dean Debnam of Public Policy Polling said higher turnout could help Foxx. But he said it will be difficult for the Foxx campaign to repeat last November's surge in turnout during the presidential election.

“Obama isn't in this race,” Debnam said. “There won't be that same grass roots organization in Charlotte.”

With 13 percent of voters undecided, Debnam said the race is a tossup.

In late July, Cornerstone Solutions, a Republican-leaning Raleigh pollster, found Lassiter leading 42-26 percent. Foxx's campaign attacked that poll's methodology, saying it underrepresented African Americans, a key Foxx constituency. The Foxx campaign said its own polling showed a tied race.

“I think this puts the Cornerstone poll in perspective,” Clark said.

Public Policy Polling surveyed 540 likely Charlotte voters from August 11 to 14. The poll's margin of error is +/- 4.2 percent.



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Sources: Charlotte Observer, Google Maps