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Georgia Senate Race Unchanged: Warnock Leads Walker 52% - 45%, Quinnipiac University Georgia Poll Finds; Gov Race Between Kemp And Abrams Remains Too Close To Call

In the wake of a controversy that's landed Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker in the national spotlight, the race for U.S. Senate in Georgia remains essentially unchanged with Democratic incumbent Raphael Warnock leading Walker 52 - 45 percent, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University poll of likely voters in Georgia released today. This compares to a September 14th Quinnipiac University poll when Warnock led Walker 52 - 46 percent.

In today's poll, Democrats (99 - 1 percent) and independents (55 - 40 percent) support Warnock, while Republicans (90 - 7 percent) support Walker.

SENATE RACE: FAVORABILITY & PERSONAL TRAITS

Fifty percent of likely voters have a favorable opinion of Warnock, while 44 percent have an unfavorable opinion of him.

When it comes to Warnock's personal traits, likely voters say:

  • 54 - 40 percent that he is honest;
  • 57 - 38 percent that he has good leadership skills;
  • 57 - 39 percent that he cares about average Georgians.

Thirty-nine percent of likely voters have a favorable opinion of Walker, while 55 percent have an unfavorable opinion of him.

When it comes to Walker's personal traits, likely voters say:

  • 57 - 37 percent that he is not honest;
  • 58 - 33 percent that he does not have good leadership skills;
  • 50 - 46 percent that he does not care about average Georgians.
"With time running out to get to the metaphorical goal line of November 8th and despite repeated penalty flags flying at his honesty and integrity, Herschel Walker is down by seven in the 4th quarter and still has a shot against incumbent Raphael Warnock in Georgia's Senate race," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.

GOVERNOR'S RACE

Georgia's race for governor remains tight as 50 percent of likely voters support Republican incumbent Brian Kemp, while 49 percent support Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams. This is essentially unchanged from Quinnipiac University's September 14th poll when Kemp received 50 percent support and Abrams received 48 percent support.

In today's poll, Republicans (97 - 3 percent) support Kemp, while Democrats (98 - 1 percent) support Abrams. Independents are split with 49 percent supporting Abrams and 48 percent supporting Kemp.

Forty-nine percent of likely voters have a favorable opinion of Kemp, while 44 percent have an unfavorable opinion of him.

When it comes to Kemp's personal traits, likely voters say:

  • 50 - 43 percent that he is honest;
  • 59 - 38 percent that he has good leadership skills;
  • 53 - 43 percent that he cares about average Georgians.

Forty-eight percent of likely voters have a favorable opinion of Abrams, while 47 percent have an unfavorable opinion of her.

When it comes to Abrams' personal traits, likely voters say:

  • 50 - 43 percent that she is honest;
  • 53 - 41 percent that she has good leadership skills;
  • 53 - 43 percent that she cares about average Georgians.
"Kemp vs. Abrams...too close to call, and barely a whisper of change from four weeks ago," added Malloy.

VOTING

For the 2022 general elections, a majority of likely voters (56 percent) plan to vote in person at an early voting location, 33 percent plan to vote in person on Election Day, and 9 percent plan to vote early by mail or absentee ballot.

MOST URGENT ISSUE

Asked to choose the most urgent issue facing Georgia today, inflation (43 percent) ranks by far as the top issue among likely voters followed by abortion (14 percent), election laws (11 percent), and gun violence (10 percent).

Among Republicans, inflation (73 percent) ranks first with no other issue reaching double digits.

Among Democrats, the top issues are abortion (27 percent), election laws (17 percent), gun violence (13 percent), health care (12 percent), inflation (12 percent), and racial inequality (10 percent).

Among independents, inflation (42 percent) ranks first followed by election laws (14 percent), abortion (13 percent), gun violence (10 percent), and health care (10 percent).

ABORTION

Fifty-seven percent of likely voters say abortion should either always be legal (29 percent) or legal with some limitations (28 percent), while 39 percent say abortion should either be illegal except for rape, incest, or to save the mother's life (30 percent) or always be illegal (9 percent).

More than 8 in 10 likely voters (84 percent) say when thinking about this year's midterm elections, it's either very important (59 percent) or somewhat important (25 percent) that a political candidate shares their view on abortion, while 15 percent say it's either not so important (9 percent) or not important at all (6 percent).

JOB APPROVALS

Job approval ratings for Georgia elected officials:

  • Governor Brian Kemp: 51 percent approve, while 43 percent disapprove;
  • Senator Raphael Warnock: 51 percent approve, while 44 percent disapprove;
  • Senator Jon Ossoff: 49 percent approve, while 38 percent disapprove.

Forty-four percent of likely voters approve of the way President Joe Biden is handling his job, while 53 percent disapprove.

TRUMP FAVORABILITY

Forty percent of likely voters have a favorable opinion of Donald Trump, while 54 percent have an unfavorable opinion of him.

1,157 likely Georgia voters were surveyed from October 7th - 10th with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on random samples of adults using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.

Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll

Email poll@qu.edu, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.

Poll Questions