(Angus Reid Global Scan) – United States senator Conrad Burns could be defeated in the Treasure State, according to a poll by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. released by Lee Newspapers. 48 per cent of respondents in Montana would vote for Democratic state auditor John Morrison, while 41 per cent would support the incumbent.
(Angus Reid Global Scan) – United States senator Conrad Burns could be defeated in the Treasure State, according to a poll by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. released by Lee Newspapers. 48 per cent of respondents in Montana would vote for Democratic state auditor John Morrison, while 41 per cent would support the incumbent.
Burns—a Republican—was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1988, and earned new terms in 1994 and 2000. In the last election, Burns defeated Democratic candidate Brian Schweitzer with 51 per cent of all cast ballots. Schweitzer went on to win the Treasure State’s gubernatorial race in November 2002.
In a head-to-head contest pitting Burns against state Senate president Jon Tester, the Democrat holds a three-point edge over the Republican incumbent.
Burns has come under intense scrutiny over a bribery and corruption probe of lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The upper house member—who chairs the subcommittee that oversees the budget of the Bureau of Indian Affairs—allegedly supported an appropriation that benefited Indian tribes represented by Abramoff.
The Republican and Democratic primaries will take place on Jun. 6. Burns will face state Senate minority leader Bob Keenan. Earlier this month, Keenan discussed his role in the race, saying, “If I’m on the short end of this election but I get 35 or 40 per cent, then I think the Republican Party and Conrad Burns’s campaign needed this wakeup call.”
The election to the U.S. Senate is scheduled for Nov. 7.
Polling Data
Who would you vote for in the senatorial election?
Option 1
May 2006 | Dec. 2005 | May 2005 | |
John Morrison (D) | 48% | 40% | 34% |
Conrad Burns (R) | 41% | 46% | 49% |
Undecided | 11% | 14% | 17% |
Option 2
May 2006 | Dec. 2005 | May 2005 | |
Jon Tester (D) | 45% | 35% | 26% |
Conrad Burns (R) | 42% | 49% | 50% |
Undecided | 13% | 16% | 24% |
Source: Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. / Lee Newspapers
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 625 registered Montana voters, conducted from May 22 to May 24, 2006. Margin of error is 4 per cent.
