From Deseret News archives:
Huntsman, Shurtleff riding high in polls
Huntsman, who has proven a popular governor, has a commanding lead over his Democratic opponent, Bob Springmeyer.
Likewise, Shurtleff is way ahead of his Democratic challenger, Jean Welch Hill, pollster Dan Jones & Associates found in a survey of registered voters conducted for the Deseret News and KSL-TV.
Huntsman, who seeks a second four-year term, is ahead of Springmeyer, 78-11 percent; with 2 percent mentioning some other candidate, 8 percent not knowing who they'd vote for and 1 percent refusing to answer the question, Jones found. Shurtleff, who seeks a third term, leads Hill, 68-17 percent; 2 percent mentioning another candidate, 13 percent not knowing who they'd vote for and 1 percent refusing to answer.
The survey, taken June 16-19 of 405 registered voters statewide, has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.5 percent. Jones, contracted with by the newspaper and TV station, is an independent pollster who has done work for Huntsman this year.
In addition to the head-to-head matchups, Jones also asked voters if they approve or disapprove of the incumbents' job performance.
Huntsman has an 84 percent job-approval rating. That's a near-record accomplishment. Former Gov. Mike Leavitt, who is now President Bush's secretary of Health and Human Services, in a few polls had a gubernatorial job approval above 80 percent.
Only 12 percent of Utahns disapprove of the job Huntsman is doing.
Shurtleff gets a 72 percent job approval rating; only 16 percent of Utahns don't like the job the attorney general is doing.
Shurtleff could use an easy re-election this year he has just undergone yet another leg operation, this time for an infection on a leg that was badly broken last year in a motorcycle accident.
Springmeyer told the Salt Lake County Democratic Convention that even though he is a long shot, he still has a real chance of beating Huntsman. Like Utah's lone Democratic congressman, Rep. Jim Matheson, Springmeyer would need to get all the Democratic vote and most of the independent vote.
But partly-line numbers show he could be elected, Springmeyer said.
However, Jones' new poll shows that Huntsman gets 71 percent of the independent vote and even 53 percent of the Democratic vote. The GOP governor gets 88 percent of the Republican vote.
Recent comments
Lets not totally rip on good ole Mark to quick, when he was first...
Change | July 1, 2008 at 9:44 a.m.
As Utah Chair of the Libertarian Party, I thank those who have given...
Andrew | June 30, 2008 at 7:54 p.m.
Dan Jones is about as right on this one as he was on Cannon/Chaffetz....
Park City Resident | June 30, 2008 at 7:37 p.m.
- Favre to Rice helps Vikings win 4:19 p.m.
- Photos: A Royal welcome 3:58 p.m.
- Bengals beat Steelers, lead AFC North 3:06 p.m.
- Johnson, Titans beats Bills 41-17 3:05 p.m.
- Bush helps Saints stay unbeaten 3:04 p.m.
- Redskins end skid with 27-17 win 2:58 p.m.
- Keys may help identify body 2:57 p.m.
- Scobee's FG lifts Jags over Jets 2:56 p.m.
- Panthers harass Ryan, beat Falcons 2:50 p.m.
- Henne helps Dolphins rally by Bucs 2:45 p.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
361 - BYU happy to escape with victory
224 - TCU creams U.
215 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
201 - Will state consider gay rights law?
148 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
133 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
130 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - RSL heads to MLS title game
116 - Celtics crush Jazz
104
Sears is holding a special VIP night Sunday, Nov. 15, in stores and online.
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
I am a Bilingual (Spanish/English) North American who speaks Quichua/Quechua...
To: Jeff | 1:13 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009 You are entitled to YOUR beliefs. But...
But not glad to see the Republicans eating alive their best statesmen and...
You posters are mostly nuts. You seem to think that by sending a new group...
Utah's Opponents (that Utah has beaten) are a combined 27 Wins and 54 Loses....
That's the whole point. The definition does not fit. The LGBT fits the...
I am not from Utah, nor do I intend on staying around more than a few more...
You are very wrong miner nation,coaching did blow this game for us and thats...
Let's not overstate the negative side of religious zealotry. During the...
Air Force. That is it. Utes have only beaten ONE team with a winning record:...

