According to a recent survey conducted by Public Opinion Opinion Strategies and Neil Newhouse, East Tennessee voters who hear Jimmy Matlock’s message want the conservative businessman to be their next Congressman. Among those voters, Matlock leads career politician Tim Burchett 41%-40%.
“This is a two-way race between Matlock and Burchett. No other candidate tested on the ballot garners more than 2% of the vote,” said Newhouse.
In addition, two-thirds of potential GOP primary voters in Tennessee’s Second Congressional District say Congressman Jimmy Duncan’s endorsement of Matlock makes them more likely to vote for him. These results “indicate the significant traction and potency of Duncan’s pull among Republicans in the district,” said Newhouse.
Moreover, seven out of ten GOP voters in East Tennessee are less likely to vote for Burchett when they learn about his vote as a state legislator in favor of Democratic leadership and his vote for an increase in the state sales tax.
“These survey results confirm what our campaign has known since we got in this race: the good people of East Tennessee want a political outsider with a proven conservative record to carry on Representative Duncan’s legacy in Congress – not a career politician with a record of voting for tax hikes and Democrats,” said Matlock.
The survey of 300 potential GOP primary voters was conducted in May and had a margin of error of 5.66%. It was taken after Congressman Duncan, a staunch ally of President Trump in Washington, endorsed Matlock.
Newhouse has been the lead pollster in Presidential campaigns, and his firm is the pollster of record for four current Tennessee Congressmen, and many other top Republicans including House Speaker Paul Ryan.