PPP's new poll of the Montana Governor's race finds some momentum for Republican Rick Hill over the last month. He now holds the slightest of leads over Steve Bullock, 43-42. He had trailed 44-39 a month ago. Libertarian Ron Vandevender and independent Bill Coate are each polling at 4%.
Bullock remains a good deal more popular personally than Hill with 44% of voters rating him positively to 28% with a negative opinion. Hill's favorability has improved a net 3 points over the last month but that still leaves him under water at a 37/41 spread. The movement in this race over the last few weeks probably has more to do with the deterioration for Democrats in the state overall following Barack Obama's poor debate performance than anything to do with the candidates themselves.
Closeness is the name of the game in several of the other Montana statewide races as well. Democratic Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau leads Republican challenger Sandy Welch just 41-40. It's a similar story in the Secretary of State contest where Democrat Linda McCulloch is at 42% to 41% for Republican Brad Johnson and 8% for Libertarian Roger Roots.
There are two other races where there's a pretty clear leader right now. Republican Tim Fox has a 45-35 lead over Pam Bucy in the open seat race for Attorney General. And Democratic incumbent Monica Lindeen leads Republican challenger Derek Skees 44-37 for reelection as Auditor.
Montana's 'corporations are not people' amendment continues to lead for passage. 52% of voters say they will support it to 22% who are opposed. Democrats (71/12) and independents (59/17) overwhelmingly support it, while Republicans (28/35) are slightly opposed.
Brian Schweitzer has his usual solid approval numbers this month with 54% of voters approving of him to 36% who disapprove. After seeing some improvement over the course of the year, Max Baucus' numbers have headed back in the wrong direction this month with 35% of voters approving of him to 54% who disapprove.
Full results here
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