Press Releases

Oct 06, 2008

Madia Leads by 5 in New Poll

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee today released a  Bennett Petts & Normington survey of 400 likely voters in Minnesota's third Congressional district found Iraq war veteran Ashwin Madia with a solid lead over Republican politician Erik Paulsen.  The head to head shows Madia with 44 percent of the vote to Paulsen's 39 percent, while Independence candidate David Dillon takes 8 percent -- 9 percent remain undecided.  The survey was conducted September 29 - 30 and has a 4.9 percent margin of error.   

In the survey, 82 percent of respondents said that the country is "off on the wrong track" and when asked who would "take us in a new direction," Ashwin Madia led 40 - 16 percent over Paulsen.

The third Congressional district in Minnesota fits the profile of affluent suburban districts which have trended toward Democrats over the past several election cycles.  In 2006, Democrats picked up 11 suburban districts with similar demographics.  Given President Bush's low approval rating (currently 23 percent here) and more and more voters identifying with the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, Democrats are confident that Ashwin Madia enters the final stretch of the campaign in a very strong position.

"With just 29 days to go before Election Day, Ash Madia has captured the momentum," said Carrie James, regional press secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.  "This Marine stands for change, and a career politician such as Paulsen simply cannot compete, especially when he attacks his opponent for not owning a home.  As Paulsen's desperate campaign continues to erode, voters have noticed that Paulsen is embarrassed to attend his own campaign events.  The results of this failed strategy shine through in this poll."