Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican Karen Handel are separated by less than two points in a poll released Thursday by WSB-TV, the latest survey showing the June 20 runoff for Georgia's 6th District is going to be a nail-biter.
The poll showed Ossoff leading Handel 49.1-47.6, well within the poll’s 4 percent margin of error. Only 3 percent were undecided, a sign of the total saturation of the race for the suburban Atlanta district.
More than $36 million has now been spent on the election – the costliest U.S. House contest in history – over what both parties increasingly see as a must-win contest.
The poll, conducted by Landmark Communications, echoed others that showed a yawning gender gap in the race. Handel, aiming to be the first female Republican congresswoman in Georgia history, trails Ossoff by nearly 10 points among women. He trails her by double-digits among men.
Other tidbits buried in the crosstabs: Ossoff leads Handel by a nearly 2-1 margin among voters under 39 and has a sizable edge in the 40-64 age bloc. That advantage is reversed with voters over 65, the most reliable voting bloc.
It's the most recent in a string of polls that show a neck-and-neck race. Aside from a SurveyUSA poll that showed Ossoff with a 7-point lead, other surveys showed a much closer race.
The district, which spans from east Cobb to north DeKalb, has also long been a GOP stronghold. But Trump won the district by less than 2 points, and Democrats hope to deal an early blow to his presidency and the GOP agenda by pulling off an upset victory.
More recent AJC coverage on the 6th District race:
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