Newly elected Rep. André Carson (D) might have two primaries to worry about on May 6. In addition to recently endorsing Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in the presidential primary that day, a recent poll commissioned by one of Carson’s opponents shows him within striking distance.

Carson was elected in March to serve out the vacancy left by his grandmother, the late Rep. Julia Carson (D). In the meantime, former state Health Commissioner Woody Myers, state Rep. David Orentlicher and state Rep. Carolene Mays declared primary bids to challenge Carson for a full term in the upcoming primary.

Myers, who has put $1.25 million of his own funds into his campaign, released a campaign tracking poll showing he has gained 17 points since mid-March. The poll, performed by the Global Strategy Group, surveyed 402 likely primary voters in the district with a margin of error of 4.9 points.

The most recent poll, taken April 13-15, showed Carson with 34 points, Myers with 28 points, Orentlicher with 13 points, Mays with 7 points and undecided voters with 18 points.

The winner of the Democratic primary likely will face the Republican state Rep. Jon Elrod. Carson defeated Elrod in a March special election by 11 points, and Democrats are expected to keep the district in their column this November.

— Shira Toeplitz