‘Stunner’ Poll: Robitaille Ahead of Caprio
Thursday, October 28, 2010
The race for governor was rocked last night by a new Channel 10 poll that showed Republican John Robitaille pulling ahead of Democrat Frank Caprio, while independent Lincoln Chafee is in first place.
The poll put independent Lincoln Chafee on top with 35 percent of the vote. Robitaille had 28 percent support and Caprio had 25 percent - a result that Channel 10 called a "stunner." Moderate Party candidate Ken Block was in fourth place with 2 percent. The remaining 10 percent were undecided.
The poll, based on a survey of 523 likely voters, had a margin of error of 4 percent, putting all three leading candidates in play, according to NBC 10.
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It's a stomach-churning drop of 12 points from earlier this month, when a Channel 10 poll had Caprio with a narrow lead at 37 percent of the vote. Chafee was close behind at 33 percent, Robitaille was at 22 percent, and Block was at 2 percent.
It is the first independent, non-partisan poll that has shown Robitaille ahead of Caprio and comes just days after Caprio made national headlines after telling President Obama to "shove it." The poll, which was done by retired Rhode Island College professor Victor Profughi, asked voters if Caprio's comments had influenced their opinions about the race - 57 percent said it did not. But of those who said it did, 36 percent said it made them less likely to vote for Caprio while only 7 percent said it made them more likely to support him.
Robitaille: Voters 'not buying ... conservative act'
Robitaille spokesman Mike Napolitano said the new poll shows that voters are turning away from Caprio to Robitaille. "The voters of Rhode Island agree with John's message to cut spending and lower taxes and create a climate for business," Napolitano said. "They're not buying Frank Caprio's conservative act based on his 16 years of raising taxes in the Legislature." He said the poll reflects internal polling that shows it's a three-way race. He said it also shows that Robitaille's strategy of avoiding negative campaigning is working.
In an interview on Channel 10, Caprio stood by his comments, saying the race had been "close all along." Caprio spokesman Nick Hemond and Chafee Campaign Manager Mike Trainor could not be reached for comment.
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