Ricketts Leads Osborn by 6 Points in Nebraska Senate Poll as 55% See Independent as Democrat
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 31
Ricketts Leads Osborn by 6 Points in Nebraska Senate Poll as 55% See Independent as Democrat
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 31
Summary
A New York Times/Siena poll found Republican Senator Pete Ricketts ahead of independent Dan Osborn by 6 points in Nebraska’s Senate race.
Osborn’s crossover strategy appears constrained by voter perception: 55% say they see the union leader as more of a Democrat, while only one-third view him as an independent.
That is a liability in a state Donald Trump carried by more than 20 points two years ago, where only a little over one-quarter of voters say they are satisfied with the Democratic Party versus 45% for Republicans.
Nearly half of Nebraska voters approve of the president’s job performance, above the 37% national average, underscoring how difficult the race is for a candidate many voters link to Democrats.
The Oct. 23-29 poll surveyed 809 likely voters and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points, making the contest a test of whether independents can break through in a polarized environment.