Minnesota Independent

SurveyUSA Poll: Slim majority supports gay marriage ban

By Andy Birkey | 05.26.11 | 8:52 am

A SurveyUSA/KSTP poll released Wednesday evening found that a slim majority of Minnesotans would vote for a ballot initiative that would place a ban on gay marriage in the Minnesota Constitution. According to the poll, 51 percent of registered voters surveyed said they would vote in favor of the amendment, while 40 percent say they’d vote against it. Eight percent said they would not vote either way. The poll differs greatly from two other polls conducted on the issue so far this year.

Poll: Majority of Minnesotans oppose anti-gay marriage amendment

By Andy Birkey | 05.13.11 | 11:23 am

The Star Tribune’s Minnesota Poll, released on Friday, shows that 55 percent of Minnesotans oppose inserting a ban on same-sex marriage in the Minnesota Constitution. Only 39 percent favor such a ban, it found. The poll stands in stark contrast to a survey conducted by anti-gay marriage pollster Lawrence Research and paid for by the National Organization for Marriage, two groups that oppose rights for same-sex couples. A bill to propose such an amendment passed the Minnesota Senate on Wednesday.

Gallup: Bachmann, Pawlenty in single digits among possible 2012 candidates

By Andy Birkey | 02.24.11 | 10:15 am

A new Gallup poll of potential 2012 Republican nominees for the White House shows Minnesota’s two contenders, Tim Pawlenty and Rep. Michele Bachmann, in the low single digits among Republican and Republican-leaning voters. Bachmann ranked sixth in the poll with Pawlenty just behind her at seventh.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Photo: IowaPolitics.com, Flickr

Pawlenty scores third in New Hampshire WMUR 2012 poll

By Andy Birkey | 02.15.11 | 9:34 am

While he’s still at single digits among Republicans in New Hampshire, former Gov. Tim Pawlenty scored third place in the WMUR Granite State Poll, which was released on Thursday. Pawlenty polled ahead of Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul, and tied Mike Huckabee at 7 percent. The strong showing by Pawlenty could be an indication of Palin’s sinking support following her “blood libel” remarks in January.

Walz leads by 9 in new SurveyUSA poll

By Andy Birkey | 10.28.10 | 9:15 am

Rep. Tim Walz expanded his lead over Republican challenger Randy Demmer, according to a KAAL-TV/SurveyUSA poll released on Wednesday. The poll found Walz breaking the 50 percent mark, with Demmer getting 41 percent. The poll also found that among voters in the First Congressional District, DFLer Mark Dayton narrowly leads Republican Tom Emmer in the race for governor.

GOP poll shows Oberstar-Cravaack in a close race, Oberstar calls it a push poll

By Andy Birkey | 10.05.10 | 8:05 am

Republican candidate Chip Cravaack held a conference call with Republican bloggers on Monday to release a poll that shows him closing in on Rep. James Oberstar. The poll says Oberstar got the support of 45 percent of voters while Cravaack garnered 42 percent. Oberstar’s campaign says the poll, which was done by Republican polling outfit Public Opinion Strategies, was a push poll.

Dayton leads by 11 in MPR/Humphrey poll

By Andy Birkey | 09.29.10 | 11:22 am

According to a Minnesota Public Radio/Humphrey Institute poll, 38 percent of likely voters support DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton and 27 percent support the GOP’s Tom Emmer, the largest lead posted for Dayton so far in the race. Independence Party candidate Tom Horner got 13 percent and 20 percent were undecided. A similar poll in August showed a dead heat between Dayton and Emmer at 34 percent.

Pawlenty trails pack in another presidential poll

By Andy Birkey | 09.23.10 | 8:30 am

Tim Pawlenty came in fifth in a new presidential poll released by McClatchy-Marist. Minnesota’s governor has consistently finished in the bottom half of presumed presidential contenders in polls conducted in recent months. This one comes as he heads…

Minnesota Family Council wants gay marriage at center stage in guv race

By Andy Birkey | 09.13.10 | 12:39 pm

The Minnesota Family Council released poll numbers on Monday that it says shows an advantage for GOP candidate Tom Emmer when the issue of gay marriage is put before voters. Commissioned by the National Organization for Marriage, the poll shows that DFL candidate Mark Dayton has a strong lead over Emmer — 42 percent to 33 percent — until voters learn of each candidates’ position on gay marriage.

Pawlenty at bottom of CNN presidential poll

By Andy Birkey | 08.13.10 | 3:52 pm

Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s ambitious travel schedule hasn’t quite panned out yet for the possible presidential contender. In a CNN poll (pdf), Pawlenty placed near the bottom of a large pool of potential Republican nominees; he was…