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New York: Democratic Poll Has Tim Bishop Up Big

Rep. Tim Bishop faces a rematch with his 2010 opponent. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Rep. Tim Bishop faces a rematch with his 2010 opponent. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

A new poll from Democratic-aligned House Majority PAC and the Service Employees International Union found Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) in very comfortable shape four months before his rematch with businessman Randy Altschuler (R) in the Empire State’s 1st district.

In a horse-race matchup, Bishop led Altschuler 56 percent to 32 percent, with 12 percent of those polled undecided. The poll of likely voters, conducted by respected Democratic firm Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group and obtained by Roll Call, also found Bishop with a relatively favorable image in the eastern Long Island district.

Forty-five percent had a positive impression of the Congressman, while 27 percent had a negative image of him. Altschuler was less well-known. Twenty-five percent had a positive impression of him, while 24 percent had a negative impression.

The poll found President Barack Obama leading presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in the district, 49 percent to 44 percent. The full polling memo can be found here.

When the pollsters gave positive information about both Congressional candidates to respondents, there was not a significant change in the horse-race matchup numbers.

The rematch initially appeared to be close — Bishop squeaked out a 593-vote victory in 2010. But in the eyes of Democratic and Republican political operatives in New York, the race does not currently appear to be particularly competitive. That said, this poll appears to be very optimistic for Bishop.

Roll Call rates the race as Leans Democratic.

The poll, conducted July 17-18, surveyed 407 likely general election voters in the district by live telephone interviews to cellphones and landlines. The margin of error was 4.9 points.

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