Maffei leads Buerkle in new NY-24 poll; Obama in front of Romney by 10

July 25, 2012

A poll released Wednesday morning shows Democratic candidate Dan Maffei leading U.S. Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, R-Onondaga Hill, by four points in the 24th Congressional District race. 

The House Majority PAC/SEIU poll of 400 likely voters in the 24th District found Maffei leading Buerkle 44 percent to 40 percent, with Green Party candidate Ursula Rozum supported by five percent of voters. Eleven percent of voters are undecided. 

Mark Weiner of the Syracuse Post-Standard first reported the story Tuesday evening. 

House Majority PAC is a Super PAC working to “hold Republicans accountable and help win back the House Majority for Democrats,” according to the group’s website

More from the poll:

– According to the poll memo released by Normington, Petts and Associates, Maffei’s lead increases to nine points (49 percent to 40 percent) “after balanced, positive paragraphs are read about both candidates.” (Note: I have asked for the text of the paragraphs used. I will update this once, or if, I receive them.)

– Maffei’s favorable rating is 37 percent positive and 31 percent negative, the poll found. Buerkle’s is 35 percent positive and 36 percent negative. 

– President Barack Obama, a Democrat, leads Republican challenger Mitt Romney 49 percent to 39 percent in the 24th District, according to the poll. 

From the memo:

“Obama leads Romney 49% to 39% in the district. Obama won this district with 57% of the vote, and Kerry received approximately 52% of the vote. Obama is in good position to win this district again, generating a political environment much different than the one that existed in 2010.”

– The poll’s margin of error was 4.9 percent. 

This isn’t the first NY-24 poll. Back in April, a Republican poll showed Buerkle leading Maffei by a small margin. Buerkle’s lead was four points (42 percent to 38 percent) with 20 percent undecided.