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Helmer Internal Poll Shows Democrat Beating Comstock

Comes as the primary approaches next month

Virginia Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock is considered one of the most vulnerable incumbents in the House. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Virginia Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock is considered one of the most vulnerable incumbents in the House. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

An internal poll by Democratic candidate Dan Helmer in Virginia’s 10th District shows him beating vulnerable Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock in a head-to-head matchup.

Helmer’s campaign released the poll conducted by Public Policy Polling showing him with an 8-point lead over the incumbent. The survey showed Helmer, a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, leading with 48 percent of voters. 

Comstock’s campaign declined to comment on the poll.

Helmer’s campaign would not share whether they polled on other Democrats in the race. Instead, the campaign forwarded a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee poll from March showing Democrats ahead by 12 points in a generic ballot and Comstock trailing by 3 points when asked about named Democratic candidates.

Public Policy Polling surveyed 552 voters from Virginia’s 10th District through automated phone interviews for Helmer’s campaign. The margin of error was 4.2 percent and was done between May 21 and May 22.

Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, PPP has gained a name for itself by occasionally asking outlandish questions of voters and by eschewing live telephone surveys.

The survey comes two weeks before Virginia’s primary on June 12. Helmer is one of six Democrats hoping to emerge as the general election challenger against Comstock. The others are state Sen. Jennifer Wexton, former State Department official Alison Friedman, scientist Julia Biggins, former Justice Department prosecutor Paul Pelletier and former congressional chief of staff Lindsey Davis Stover.

Comstock is considered one of the most vulnerable incumbent Republicans.

Virginia’s 10th District voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016, but Comstock beat her Democratic opponent by almost 6 points that year.

Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race a Toss-up.

Watch: California Primaries Packed With Democratic Candidates Hoping to Make the Cut

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