Poll: Oberstar, Cravaack a dead heat

A KSTP/SurveyUSA poll released Friday evening has Rep. James Oberstar ahead by just 1 percent over Republican challenger Chip Cravaack: Oberstar took 47 percent to Cravaack’s 46 percent, with 7 percent undecided. Oberstar’s communications director John Schadl criticized the poll: “Survey USA’s methods generally swing anywhere from two to six additional points to Republican candidates in a given race,” he said. A two- to six-point range is far from the 35 points Oberstar won by two years ago.

Cravaack and Oberstar held on to their own parties in the poll, but independents broke for Cravaack 56 percent compared to Oberstar’s 32 percent. The margin of error is 3.9 percent.

“Ultimately, voter turnout will determine the outcome of this election,” Schadl said in a statement. “Last night over 1,000 people turned out for the DFL rally on the Iron Range. We have more than 1,000 volunteers across the District working for Jim. We are going to win this and Jim Oberstar is going to continue to serve as Minnesota’s Eighth District Congressman.”