Democrat Jon Ossoff is hovering around the 50-percent mark in a poll released Thursday by WSB-TV, the latest that shows him and a dead heat against Republican Karen Handel in Georgia's 6th District race.
The poll, conducted by Landmark Communications, has Ossoff leading Handel 49.6-47.1. Only about 3 percent of voters are undecided. The margin of error is about 5 percent.
It’s the first poll released since Tuesday’s televised showdown between Handel and Ossoff, and it shows Ossoff’s numbers have inched up by about a half-point since WSB’s last poll was released last week.
The findings solidify many of the trends that have emerged in public polling of the nationally-watched June 20 runoff. Ossoff has a double-digit lead over Handel among women, leading 54-44. The Republican is beating Ossoff among male voters by a 51-44 margin – a closer gap than some previous surveys. He leads Handel among younger voters, she trounces him among those over 65.
The conservative-leaning district has long been held by Republicans, and Ossoff has tried to appeal to both liberals infuriated with President Donald Trump and moderates and independents who typically vote for the GOP.
He’s capturing about 15 percent of Republican voters and a narrow majority of independents – a crucial voting bloc that typically leans right. It shows almost no cross-over on the flip side; only 1 percent of Democrats say they’re backing Handel.
Stay tuned for more: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will release a comprehensive poll on Friday.
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