An Emerson College poll on the Louisiana governor's race puts incumbent Democrat John Bel Edwards at 48 percent, Republican businessman Eddie Rispone at 25 percent, and Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham at 19 percent.
Polling Director Spencer Kimball says Edwards is a popular figure in the state, nearly as popular as President Donald Trump.
"He’s got a 48 percent overall approval and a 38 percent disapproval," says Kimball. "To put that in comparison, President Trump, who won the state by 20 points in 2016, only has a 50% approval."
Edwards’ initially polled at 46 percent in the survey but rises to 48 percent when you give him Edwards leaning undecided voters.
Kimball says the two Republican candidates are polling neck and neck across south Louisiana, and the race could come down to who brings out the most voters in their north Louisiana strongholds.
"Abraham has a strong group of support in the 5th District that he represents, but if you look next door up in that northwestern part of the state, that’s where Rispone is doing very well," says Kimball.
Gary Landrieu, Patrick Landry, and Oscar Danztler combined to take eight percent of the vote. Kimball says if those numbers hold, it would likely force the Governor into a run-off. However, he said that much support for non-major candidates on election day would be unusual.
"This is a primary governor’s race in October and those who come out to vote usually know what’s going on," says Kimball. "I think you are going to see some melt from that."
The poll surveyed 467 likely voters and has a 4.5 percent margin of error.