New TX-10 Poll: Doherty Makes Gains, McCaul Vulnerable as Voters Seek Change

Competitive Race Continues to Gain Support, Attention

(Austin, TX) - The results of a new poll conducted for the congressional campaign of Larry Joe Doherty, Democratic nominee for Congress in Texas' 10th District, shows Doherty gaining ground as the election draws near. The poll highlights the vulnerability of Republican incumbent Mike McCaul as voters in the 10th District react to the lack of leadership over the nation's current financial crisis and energy security issues.

The 400-person survey of likely voters in the 10th Congressional District was conducted September 28-30 by Goodwin Simon Victoria Research (GSVR, http://www.gsvresearch.com/).

Key Findings:

• In the initial head-to-head, Doherty is now within five points of McCaul.
• 41% of those polled do not even know McCaul is their Representative. While he has gained six points in name I.D. since May, it has all been negative.
• 67% of those polled did not give McCaul a positive job rating.
• Only 29% of those polled would vote to re-elect McCaul against 35% who would vote to replace him or consider someone else.

"McCaul's weak image scarcely a month before Election Day allows others to fill-in-the-blanks for voters," writes GSVR's Donna Victoria in a memo to the Doherty campaign. "When it comes to McCaul's record on regulating financial malfeasance, those answers aren't pretty."

Voters responded strongly to McCaul's track record of backroom deals with special interests and lobbyists such as Wall Street having contributed more $500,000 to his campaign war chest. This type of pay-for-play politics is highlighted by McCaul's Congressional record of voting against comprehensive Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac reform, and his vote against doing away with golden parachutes for corporate CEO's.

"The voters are tired of McCaul's pay-for-play politics and they are ready to have real representation in our nation's Capitol," said Doherty. "We deserve an independent voice who will hold Washington accountable and bring meaningful oversight to a broken government. I am confident we will win this election against an incumbent who is running away from debating the issues that matter most."

GSVR is a national polling firm with offices in Washington D.C., Los Angeles and San Francisco. A full analysis of the results is available online at: http://larryjoe.com/files/shared/GSVRES--TX-10_100108.pdf.

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