Lipinski Leads Newman By 36 Points In Democratic Primary: Poll

CHICAGO, IL -- A new poll paid for by Congressman Dan Lipinski’s campaign shows him leading challenger Marie Newman in the upcoming democratic primary for Illinois’s 3rd Congressional District. CNN, Politico, The Hill, Huffington Post are touting the race as one of the most pivotal democratic primaries to watch in 2018. The poll found Lipinski strongly favored for renomination.

The poll was conducted by Tulchin Research, a public opinion research firm based in San Francisco. Using professional interviewers and calling both landlines and cell phones, the firm conducted a telephone survey among 400 voters likely to vote in the March 20 Democratic primary election in Illinois’s 3rd Congressional District. The poll showed Lipinski leading Newman 57 to 21 percent. Twenty-two percent were undecided.

Simulating a competitive primary campaign, the poll provided respondents with balanced positive information and comparative information about each of the candidates and “reasking the horse race,” the report said. Lipinski retained 57-percent of voters unchanged from the initial asking, with challenger Newman picking up 6 percent after voters were provided with more information.

>>> Lipinski and Newman To Face Off In Candidate's Forum

Poll findings also indicated that likely Democratic voters gave Lipinski high marks for his performance in Congress, with more than 6 in 10 voters indicating they approved of the job he was doing, as opposed to 1 in 5 who disapproved. The poll also remarked on Newman’s lack of name recognition at just 13 percent among likely primary voters. Due to Newman’s “lack of resources” the poll deemed her growth potential between now the March 20 primary “limited.”

Newman conducted a similar professional phone survey of 400 voters likely to vote in the Illinois 3rd Congressional District primary, which showed her leading 39 to 34 percent. The Newman survey put her at five points ahead of Lipinski after respondents were read a series of simple negative statements against Lipinski detailing his record on choice, LGBT issues, and immigration and voting against Obamacare. The poll claimed to show that respondents were unaware of the congressman’s “socially conservative” voting record on choice, LGBT issues, immigration and Obamacare.

Lipinski is leader of the Blue Dog Coalition, a congressional caucus of fiscally conservative democrats and says he is a proponent of revitalizing American manufacturing and rebuilding the nation's infrastructure. He serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Lipinski has garnered the support of 30 suburban mayors in the 3rd District, and the 900,000-member Illinois AFL-CIO.

Newman is a non-profit founder and anti-bullying advocate. She's heavily endorsed by progressive Democratic groups, as well as the SEIU, the Hispanic Labor Council, Illinois Federation of Teachers and Nurses National United.

Lipinski and Newman will face off against each other in a candidates forum on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at Moraine Valley Community College, 9000 College Parkway, Building M, Room 2. The forum is open to the public and begins at 7 p.m.

Challenger Marie Newman and Congressman Dan Lipinski | Used with permission