University survey shows a tight primary, Senate race | InsiderAdvantageGeorgia

ATLANTA — The Republican Senate primary and then the general election both appear to have unpredictable outcomes, according to a university survey released Monday.

The poll findings reflect recent media surveys showing the contests too close to call.

Conducted by the Saint Leo University Polling Institute, a Catholic school based in Florida, the poll found retired businessman David Perdue leading the primary with 26 percent.

Second place is essentially shared by Jack Kingston, a Savannah congressman, and Karen Handel, Georgia’s former secretary of state. He has 16 percent to her 15, with the spread smaller than the survey’s 4 percent margin of error.

Congressmen Paul Broun of Athens and Phil Gingrey of Marietta have 13 percent and 8 respectively, and 21 percent remain undecided in the final week of the primary.

In head-to-head matchups before general-election voters against likely Democratic nominee Michelle Nunn, all but Perdue would be behind if the general election were held today. Perdue beats her, 41 percent to her 37, but that range falls within the margin of error resulting in a toss-up.

Nunn leads the other Republicans by 1-6 percentage points.

“Whoever emerges from the July runoff will face the very popular Michelle Nunn, who, like Perdue, has never held public office, but benefits from the fact that her father is former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn,” said Frank Orlando, instructor of political science at Saint Leo University.

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