Most Democrats Undecided In Illinois Senate Primary: Hoffman Poll

Most Illinois Democrats have yet to make up their mind whom they intend to vote for in the 2010 U.S. Senate primary, a new poll finds.

The survey of 505 likely Democratic voters, commissioned by David Hoffman's campaign and conducted October 2-4 by pollster Geoffrey Garin, found that the majority of respondents have yet to settle on a candidate with the primary more than three months away.

A full 55 percent said they had yet to get behind a candidate. State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, the first candidate to enter the Democratic race, led the field in both name recognition and support, with 26 percent. Twelve percent back former Chicago Urban League president Cheryle Robinson Jackson and 7 percent support Hoffman, the former Chicago Inspector General.

A fourth Democrat, Chicago attorney Jacob Meister, was not included in the poll.

Giannoulias registered a 47 percent name recognition among respondents, compared with 25 percent who recognized Jackson and 16 percent who knew of Hoffman.

When respondents were read descriptions (see below) of the three candidates and asked again who they would support, Hoffman surged into the lead, registering 36 percent support versus Giannoulias' 27 percent and Jackson's 11 percent. The remaining 26 percent remained undecided.

Garin's memo summarizing the poll results did not include its margin of error.

Read the full memo: