Polling shows 2010 race for governor will be competitive

Former two-year college system Chancellor Bradley Byrne and U.S. Rep. Artur Davis lead the pack, but other candidates would be competitive in a general election race for governor, according to numbers released Wednesday by a national polling firm.

The Public Policy Polling survey shows that Byrne, a Republican, leads Davis 39-35 in a head-to head match up, but that the Democratic congressman would finish ahead of state Treasurer Kay Ivey, former Chief Justice Roy Moore and Greenville businessman Tim James, all Republicans.

The survey also shows Byrne leading Democratic Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks 41-27, but the commissioner performs better with white voters than Davis, who would be Alabama's first black governor.

Davis's lead over Moore, 41-38, and James, 37-35, is within the margin of error, which is 3.8 percent. His advantage over Ivey is 39-31.

Sparks finished ahead of Ivey, 33-29. He tied with James at 32 percent, and trails Moore 38-36.

"These numbers indicate Alabama is going to have a quite vibrant race for governor next year," said Dean Debnam, president of the polling firm. "Most of these matches look to be competitive at this early stage."

Democrats also have trouble winning over white voters, which would need to improve for Democrats to take back the governor's seat, according to a release from Public Policy Polling.

At least 30 percent of independents are undecided in each of the potential match ups, which the release states will lead to a "tight battle next fall to pick up voters in the middle."

The poll does indicate many people are undecided with as many as 39 percent of people in some potential match ups not knowing who they would vote for.

Public Policy Polling of North Carolina surveyed 667 Alabama voters from June 2 to June 5. The firm uses robocalls in which people enter their choice on the dial pad.

In the poll, 14 percent of people identified themselves as liberal, 37 percent as moderate and 49 percent as conservative.

Forty-one percent of those surveyed identified themselves as Republicans with 38 percent responding Democrats.

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen