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Iowa Governor: Culver 47%, Nussle 44%

October 30, 2006

- Chet Culver is leading in the Hawkeye State's gubernatorial race, according to the latest poll by Rasmussen Reports. 47 per cent of respondents in Iowa would support the Democrat, while 44 per cent would vote for Republican Jim Nussle.

A mid-October survey by Research 2000 gave Culver a five-point edge over Nussle. Libertarian Party candidate Kevin Litten is also contending.

Tom Vilsack—a Democrat—was first elected in 1998, and earned a new term in the November 2002 election, defeating Republican challenger Doug Gross with 53 per cent of the vote. Vilsack has been mentioned as a possible Democratic presidential nominee in 2008.

Culver has served as Iowa's state secretary since 1998. Nussle was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1998. Culver and Nussle won their respective primaries on Jun. 6. Green Party candidate Wendy Barth is also contending.

The two main candidates have chosen running mates who were originally contenders for the gubernatorial nomination. Culver chose Iowa agriculture secretary Patty Judge, and Nussle picked Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats.

The election is scheduled for Nov. 7. Since 1939, Iowa has had nine Republican and four Democratic heads of government.

Polling Data

Election 2006 - Iowa Governor

Contenders: Chet Culver (D), Jim Nussle (R), Wendy Barth (G)

Culver (D)

Nussle (R)

Date

Method.

MofE

Rasmussen Reports

47%

44%

Oct. 19

Phone, 500 LV

4.5

Research 2000

49%

44%

Oct. 16-17

Phone, 600 LV

4.0

Zogby Interactive

48%

45%

Oct. 10-16

Online, 543 LV

4.2

Selzer & Co.

46%

39%

Oct. 8-11

Phone, 800 LV

3.5

Rasmussen Reports

42%

42%

Oct. 5

Phone, 500 LV

4.5

Zogby
Interactive

46%

46%

Sept. 19-25

Online, 558 LV

4.2

Selzer & Co.

44%

44%

Sept. 10-13

Phone, 600 LV

4.0

Victory
Enterprises

38%

41%

Sept. 5-6

Phone, 506 LV

4.5

Research 2000

48%

43%

Sept. 11-12

Phone, 600 LV

4.0

Rasmussen
Reports

41%

38%

Jul. 27

Phone, 500 LV

4.5

LV: Likely voters
RV: Registered voters
Ad: Adults
MofE: Margin of error

Previous polls from this race