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A new poll shows both former congressman Neil Abercrombie and Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann leading Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona in hypothetical match-ups for governor in November.
Abercrombie leads Aiona 58 percent to 32 percent, with 3 percent preferring other candidates and 6 percent undecided, according to Rasmussen Reports, an independent polling company based in New Jersey. Hannemann leads Aiona 52 percent to 30 percent, with 9 percent favoring other candidates and 9 percent undecided.
The telephone poll was taken on June 24 among 500 likely voters statewide. The results are consistent with a Rasmussen Reports poll in March. The Hawaii Poll, taken for the Honolulu Advertiser in April, also found Abercrombie and Hannemann significantly ahead of Aiona.
The Aiona campaign’s own polling, however, shows the race closer.
“All of the reliable and historically accurate data that we have seen shows a tight race for governor,” Travis Taylor, spokesman for the Aiona campaign, said in a news release.
“No matter who our opponent will be following the September primary, we’re well positioned to mobilize our statewide grassroots network to turn out voters for Duke Aiona on Election Day.
“As the lieutenant governor always says, the only poll that matters is the one on Election Day.”
Abercrombie and Hannemann are competing in the Democratic primary in September. Aiona is up against attorney and former state lawmaker John Carroll in the Republican primary.
