Dem Internal Poll Shows Hunter Tied With Challenger
Poll of likely voters shows embattled incumbent, Ammar Campa-Najjar tied at 46 percent
An internal poll by Rep. Duncan Hunter’s Democratic challenger Ammar Campa-Najjar shows the embattled Republican congressman in a tie in California’s 50th District.
Hunter and Campa-Najjar, a former Obama administration official, were tied at 46 percent when voters were asked if the election were held today.
The poll showed 8 percent of voters were undecided.
The poll conducted by Tulchin Research for Campa-Najjar surveyed 400 likely voters by phone between Aug. 27 and Aug. 30. The margin of error for the poll was 4.9 percentage points.
Hunter and his wife Margaret were indicted last month for spending more than $250,000 in campaign cash for personal expenses that included personal vacations to Italy and Hawaii, dental work and flying his family’s pet rabbit across the country.
The Hunters pleaded not guilty at their arraignment.
The survey also found that 87 percent of voters heard information or read about news of Hunter’s indictment.
The poll also showed a 16 percent shift in Hunter’s unfavorable numbers from another poll it did in July.
Now 45 percent of likely voters have an unfavorable opinion of him compared to 36 percent of likely voters who view him favorably.
The negative numbers come as President Donald Trump tweeted about the indictments of Hunter and New York Rep. Chris Collins, both of whom were indicted last month.
Trump blamed the criminal investigations on the Department of Justice being led by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
“Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time,” Trump tweeted. “Good job [Jeff]…”
Two long running, Obama era, investigations of two very popular Republican Congressmen were brought to a well publicized charge, just ahead of the Mid-Terms, by the Jeff Sessions Justice Department. Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time. Good job Jeff……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 3, 2018
Hunter and Collins were the first two members of Congress to back Trump’s candidacy for president.
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race for California’s 50th District as Likely Republican.
