An internal poll shows that Dr. David Gill, the Democratic nominee for the 13th U.S. House seat, leads Republican Rodney Davis 40 percent versus 39 percent, while independent John Hartman received 8 percent, according to a survey of 400 registered, likely voters, the News-Gazette of Champaign reported Wednesday.
The poll, financed by the Gill campaign, is within a 4.9-percent margin of error, pollster Donna Victoria told the newspaper.
Davis' staff responded to the poll. "The continued pattern of releasing polls that show Rodney Davis gaining more ground than David Gill is as baffling as his radical positions on the issues. Like we've said from the beginning of this race, there will be lots of polls but the only one that matters is election day," said campaign spokesman Patrick Pfingsten.
Gill, Davis and Hartman are seeking to replace U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Champaign, who is retiring after a decade in office.
The newly drawn 13th U.S. House District covers parts of Madison County, including Edwardsville, Maryville and Collinsville, as well as part of 13 other counties that run northeast toward Champaign, near the Indiana border.
