WATERTOWN, N.Y. -- The headline in the Watertown Daily Times says it all. "Aubertine has slender lead."
Registered republicans may be double the number of democrats in the 48th Senate district, but a poll by Zogby International and the Watertown Daily Times shows democrat Darrel Aubertine leading Will Barclay by two and a half percentage points.
"My initial reaction was a huge smile on my face. I mean the work we've been doing for the last three or four weeks, maybe even a little longer than that is starting to show," said Jefferson County Democratic Chairman Sean Hennessey.
"Different people are going to do different polls throughout the election process. It's part of the game. It's not going to detract Will from his goal of communicating his message," said Dave Renzi, a spokesman for Jefferson County Republicans.
The headline in the Watertown Daily Times says it all. 'Aubertine has slender lead.'
Zogby called 506 likely voters, and reports 22% of them are still undecided.
But for those who have made up their minds, Aubertine wins big in St. Lawrence and Jefferson Counties, and Barclay is doing the same in Oswego County.
As for favorability, Aubertine has an 11% lead. Voters ranked bringing in more jobs as the biggest issue.
After seeing the numbers, both parties say they have got a lot of work to do
"He's (Barclay) focusing on trying to get his message out which is lower taxes, creating economic opportunities, job creation and promoting our schools," Renzi said.
"Really just getting the word out. Knocking on doors, meeting with our neighbors and making sure everyone understands how significant of an impact this is going to have on our area, Hennessey added.
Both parties admit their candidates know this poll is just that, a poll.
They say the only numbers that will matter are the ones that will start rolling in just after 9 p.m. Tuesday.
The poll made no reference to the impact of the negative campaign advertising. A democrat has never held the Senate seat in the 48th district.