Printer-friendly version
By Chris Jennewein
Reprinted from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association
Congressional candidate Doug Applegate greets a supporter. Campaign photo
August 30, 2016 (San Diego) -- A new poll released Monday by the Doug Applegate campaign shows him to be in a statistical dead heat with eight-term Republican Rep. Darrell Issa in the 49th Congressional District.
The poll showed Issa ahead by 45 percent to 42 percent, a three-point gap that is nevertheless within the margin of error. The poll of 599 likely voters was conducted in the second week of August.
Applegate, a Democrat, did better in the June primary than any previous challenger, losing 45 percent to 51 percent in the primary for the district that straddles north San Diego and south Orange counties.
His campaign manager cited Issa’s endorsement of Donald Trump as a reason for Applegate’s unexpected strength among voters. “The poll shows Donald Trump continues to drag down Issa, a vocal supporter of the toxic Republican presidential candidate,” said Robert Dempsey.
The Issa campaign dismissed the new poll, saying that it “shows Issa is well positioned to win re-election this November.”
“Even in a poll conducted at the height of the Democrats’ post-convention bump, Congressman Issa has consistently stayed on top,” said Calvin Moore, communications director. “The voters will send him back based on the strength of his proven record and his tireless work ethic in Congress.”
Applegate is a retired Marine colonel and trial attorney, Issa a successful entrepreneur who achieved national notice as chairman of the House Oversight Committee.
Recent comments