Poll: Norm Coleman fares poorly in governor matchup

(WDCpix)

A new poll released Thursday by Public Policy Polling (pdf) asked Minnesotans their opinion about former-Sen. Norm Coleman’s chances should he run for governor. The poll found Democrats R.T. Rybak and Mark Dayton out-polling Coleman and that the battle over the recount hurt Coleman’s standing with the public.

The poll, conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday, found that 52 percent of Minnesotans have an unfavorable view of Coleman with just 34 percent reporting a favorable view. The poll asked whether Coleman’s handling of the Senate recount would impact their support for his future attempts at office. Fifty-four percent of respondents said they were now less likely to support him; only 26 percent said it made them more likely to vote for him.

The poll also put Coleman head-to-head with several Democrats in the governor’s race. R.T. Rybak fared the best, beating Coleman 43 percent to 37 percent. Mark Dayton also bested Coleman in the poll with 41 percent to Coleman’s 39 percent.

House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher didn’t do well in the poll. Coleman beats Kelliher in a match-up at 42 percent to 34 percent.

Kelliher’s approval was at only 24 percent with 33 percent disapproving. Rybak had the best favorable numbers with 37 percent to 24 percent. Dayton was found to be slightly unfavorable with 36 percent approving and 37 percent disapproving.