Rep. Edward Markey the Democratic candidate for Senate in Massachusetts leads Republican challenger Gabriel Gomez 52 percent to 35 percent in a poll of 500 likely voters conducted May 4-7 by
Suffolk University/7NEWS Boston.
That is in stark contrast to the last major poll on the race, which showed Markey ahead by just four points. That survey was conducted May 1-2 by Public Policy Polling.
In that poll, Gomez led 47 to 31 percent among independents, while in the new poll that lead is only 43 to 41 percent.
In the Suffolk poll, Markey has a 53 percent favorable rating, compared to a 30 percent unfavorable rating. For Gomez, the numbers are 38 percent favorable and 23 percent unfavorable, with 32 percent undecided.
The special election to fill the seat of Secretary of State John Kerry is scheduled for June 25.
"Ed Markey begins this race where he left off with his win in the Democratic Primary: exceeding expectations," David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center said in a statement.
"The early perception immediately after the party primaries was that Markey was vulnerable. These findings suggest the opposite of a close race — that Ed Markey begins the sprint to June with a large lead over his Republican opponent who voters are unsure about."
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