http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_regi...endents_tu.html
QUOTE
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Independents, turned off by negative ads, flock to Patrick in new poll
By Andrew Ryan, Globe Correspondent
Democrat Deval Patrick has a commanding 27-point lead in the governor's race as independent voters abandon Republican Kerry Healey because of her negative attacks, according to a new poll released today by 7NEWS and Suffolk University.
Patrick had the support of 53 percent to Healey's 26 percent in the survey of 400 likely voters taken Oct. 20 through Oct. 23.
"The tone of the campaign has moved independents away from Healey," said David Paleologos, Director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. "The tone changed from constructive criticism to negative and really turned off independent voters."
Sixty-one percent of those surveyed said they were unlikely to vote for Healey because of the "tone" of the campaign. Healey has particularly criticized Patrick's record on crime.
In other question, 53 percent of those surveyed said that Patrick was not "soft on crime," compared to 26 percent who thought the former federal prosecutor would go easy on criminals. However, 24 percent of those who participated in the poll said that Healey was tough on crime, while 59 percent said she only talked tough.
The poll, which had a margin of error of 4.9 percent, gave independent Christy Mihos the support of 9 percent of those surveyed, while Green Rainbow nominee Grace Ross had 2 percent. Eleven percent of likely voters remained undecided.
This was the third 7NEWS/Suffolk University poll this month. The first poll released Oct. 5 gave Patrick a 49 percent to 28 percent advantage.
After Healey launched ads attacking Patrick's record on crime, however, the Democrat's lead dropped to 46 percent to 33 percent, or 13 points, in a poll that came out Oct. 12. Today's poll gives Patrick his largest lead at 27 points.
Independents, turned off by negative ads, flock to Patrick in new poll
By Andrew Ryan, Globe Correspondent
Democrat Deval Patrick has a commanding 27-point lead in the governor's race as independent voters abandon Republican Kerry Healey because of her negative attacks, according to a new poll released today by 7NEWS and Suffolk University.
Patrick had the support of 53 percent to Healey's 26 percent in the survey of 400 likely voters taken Oct. 20 through Oct. 23.
"The tone of the campaign has moved independents away from Healey," said David Paleologos, Director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. "The tone changed from constructive criticism to negative and really turned off independent voters."
Sixty-one percent of those surveyed said they were unlikely to vote for Healey because of the "tone" of the campaign. Healey has particularly criticized Patrick's record on crime.
In other question, 53 percent of those surveyed said that Patrick was not "soft on crime," compared to 26 percent who thought the former federal prosecutor would go easy on criminals. However, 24 percent of those who participated in the poll said that Healey was tough on crime, while 59 percent said she only talked tough.
The poll, which had a margin of error of 4.9 percent, gave independent Christy Mihos the support of 9 percent of those surveyed, while Green Rainbow nominee Grace Ross had 2 percent. Eleven percent of likely voters remained undecided.
This was the third 7NEWS/Suffolk University poll this month. The first poll released Oct. 5 gave Patrick a 49 percent to 28 percent advantage.
After Healey launched ads attacking Patrick's record on crime, however, the Democrat's lead dropped to 46 percent to 33 percent, or 13 points, in a poll that came out Oct. 12. Today's poll gives Patrick his largest lead at 27 points.
I had't put two and two together, that they have the same last name. I told him I do not like all those negative ads and do not like her approach or plans. 
