Poll: Evan Bayh Leads GOP Opponent By 16 Points Despite Attacks

Former Indiana Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh has maintained his advantage over his opponent, Republican Rep. Todd Young, according to a new poll.

According to a Bayh internal poll from Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group, Bayh has a significant lead over Young:

• Bayh: 55 percent;
• Young: 39 percent;
• Undecided: 6 percent.

A Monmouth University poll released last week gave Bayh a 7-point advantage over his GOP opponent.

"If Bayh can hold on, this will be a crucial pick-up in the Democrats' effort to retake the Senate," said Patrick Murray, director of the university's independent polling institute, in their report.

Bayh has been attacked over his multiple residences, including a condominium in Indianapolis and two houses in Washington. CNN reports that in 2011, Bayh listed his homes in Washington as his main places of residence. When Bayh returned to Indiana last summer, he opted to stay at a hotel rather than his condo, which was only 12 miles away.

"The only time he ever shows up in Indiana is when he wants something from us," Trevor Foughty, Young's campaign manager, told CNN.

"And he's so unbelievably arrogant, he actually thinks Hoosiers don't notice."

Questions of a candidate's main residence have hurt campaigns before in Indiana. Former Sen. Richard Lugar was heavily criticized for living in Washington and not owning a home in Indiana, according to CNN.

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