In a race that was a dead heat at 43% in early August, Lt. Governor Charles Fogarty (D) has jumped in front with a five-point lead.  The Democrat now leads incumbent Governor Donald Carcieri (R ) 46% to 41% (see crosstabs). The Rhode Island Senate race is a Toss-UP.

A television ad campaign was launched by Fogarty shortly before this survey was conducted and might account for the challengers dash in front of Carcieri. The incumbents’ campaign has yet to go up on the airwaves.  It will be interesting to see whether Fogarty’s bounce proves to be short-lived or if his momentum will carry through to the next survey.

Both candidates have near equal crossover support with 21% of Republicans saying they’ll support Fogarty and 22% of Democrats saying the same of Carcieri.  The governor fares slightly better with his base, though, earning support from 72% of GOP voters versus 69% of Dems for Fogarty.

Twenty-eight percent (28%) of voters surveyed say they have a “very favorable” opinion of Carcieri; 17% say the same of Fogarty.  When it comes to the extreme opposite end of the spectrum, 16% report a “very unfavorable” opinion of the governor versus just 9% for his second in command.

A plurality of voters considers both candidates political moderates—48% for Carcieri and 35% for Fogarty.  Thirty-nine percent (39%) see Carcieri as conservative while 34% say Fogarty is liberal.

Crosstabs are available for Premium Members.

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