Bruce Starr holds slight lead over Brad Avakian in poll

by NW Spotlight

A recent poll shows Obama’s lead in Oregon cut by 4 points from a year ago, with Obama’s lead now down to only 8 points. “The main reason the state’s so close is that independents have really turned against Obama, and they support Romney by a 52-30 margin.” President Obama won Oregon by 16 points in 2008.

The most promising race for Oregon Republicans in the poll is the race for nonpartisan Labor Commissioner between Sen. Bruce Starr and Democratic incumbent Brad Avakian. The poll shows Bruce Starr leading Brad Avakian 23-21, with 56% of voters still undecided for the race.

The Labor Commissioner election was supposed to have been held in May, but it was moved to November by Secretary of State Kate Brown – a move that was widely criticized and that put Kate Brown at odds with the Oregon Legislative Counsel.

The poll surveyed 686 Oregon voters, and was conducted by Public Policy Polling from June 21-24, 2012.